![Author ORCID: We display the ORCID iD icon alongside authors names on our website to acknowledge that the ORCiD has been authenticated when entered by the user. To view the users ORCiD record click the icon. [opens in a new tab]](https://chemrxiv.org/engage/assets/public/chemrxiv/images/logos/orcid.png)
Abstract
Chicken egg shells (ES) with 5%wt, 10%wt and 15%wt were incorporated and characterized as fillers in the production of flexible polyurethane foams. The results obtained were compared with conventional application of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Physico-mechanical properties of the foam without fillers (unfilled), gave density of 20.87 kg/m3, compression set at room temperature (2.880C) and at higher temperature (70) had 3.960C, elongation at break (651.60%), tensile strength (112.10 KPa) and Indentation Force Deflection (hardness at 400C) was 187.20N. Subsequently, foams with 5% ES and 5% CaCO3 fillers depicted densities (21.72 and 21.50 kg/m3), compression set at room temperatures (3.66 and 3.450C), temperature at 700C (4.33 and 5.460C), elongation at break (312.70 and 328.50%), tensile strength (78.40 and 81.40 KPa) and Indentation Forces Deflections (Hardness at 400C) were 241.80 and 198N respectively. Foams with 10% CaCO3 and 10% ES also revealed densities of 21.68 and 21.80 kg/m3 respectively, Compression set at room temperature (6.96 and 4.120C), temperature at 700C (5.79 and 6.160C), elongation at break (359.50 and 362.40%), tensile strength (85.00 and 94.00 KPa) and Indentation Forces Deflections (Hardness at 400C) were 203.00 and 186.40N respectively. Consequently, 15% CaCO3 and 15% ES fillers depicted densities (22.14 and 22.39 kg/m3), compression set at room temperatures (5.24 and 3.030C), temperature at 700C (5.50 and 6.250C), elongation at break (383.10 and 397.50%), tensile strength (90.40 and 97.60 KPa) and Indentation Forces Deflections (Hardness at 400C) were 197.00 and 169.90N respectively. In all cases, the physcio-mechanical properties increased with increase in fillers weights. However, Eggshell-filled foams showed better quality in terms of density, compression set at room temperature, elongation at break and tensile strength than CaCO3-filled foams. Unfilled foams (foam without fillers) had the best compression set both at room temperature and intermediate temperature. All foam samples produced fell within the ASTM D-3574 set standard range of 1-10% for compression tests of polyurethane foams.
