Quality control of polyols with NIRS

Polyols are a broad class of organic compounds characterized by the presence of two or more hydroxyl groups. Synthetic polyols with varying chemical and physical properties are often used as raw materials in the production of polyurethanes. Quality control of these raw materials is critical prior to polymerization to avoid creating out-of-specification products. Several quality parameters can be determined in polyols like hydroxyl value, acid value (or acid number), moisture content, and viscosity. Titration is usually preferred for the analysis (ASTM D4274 for hydroxyl number, and ASTM D4662 and ASTM D7253 for acid number). This time-consuming method requires reproducible sample preparation, additional toxic and corrosive chemicals, and waste disposal, resulting in elevated running costs. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers a safer, faster alternative for multiparameter analysis of polyols without any sample preparation or chemical reagents. NIRS is recognized by regulatory bodies as a tool for quality control and can be used for the determination of hydroxyl values of polyols (ASTM D6342).

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