The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

With increasing awareness of environmental issues and tighter regulations, the importance of biodegradable plastics is growing. Polyurethane, known for its excellent processability and wide applicability, is also required to shift toward biodegradable alternatives. In this study, biodegradable polyurethane was fabricated via reaction injection molding and foaming. To optimize these processes, rheological properties and cure behavior of the raw materials and mixtures were carefully analyzed. Based on these results, suitable processing conditions were identified. Molded specimens were evaluated for mechanical properties and shape memory performance. For the foamed samples, internal cell morphology, shape recovery behavior, and sound absorption performance were comprehensively assessed. This study proposes optimized processing guidelines for each manufacturing route, offering a practical direction for the fabrication of high-performance biodegradable polyurethane materials.