Monument Chemical begins first US-based production of polyols from renewable carbon

In Indiana, Monument Chemical has begun the first US-based production of polyols from renewable carbon this month at its manufacturing facility in Brandenburg, KY. The new product line of polycarbonate ether (PCE) polyols is based on a process from Econic Technologies that replaces fossil-based feedstocks with captured CO₂ and reduces global warming potential by 20-30%. 

Branded Poly-CO₂, Monument’s new line of PCE polyols can be used to make high-performance polyurethanes for furniture and mattresses, automotive parts, apparel and footwear, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers. Incorporating carbon at the molecular level can impart performance benefits in a range of polyurethane applications from foams to flame lamination to adhesives and elastomers. For example, Poly-CO₂ can improve resilience in mattress foams and durability in coatings.

Poly-CO₂ polyols also have several environmental benefits. In addition to reducing the carbon footprint of end products, they allow companies to design for circularity by keeping carbon in use and out of the atmosphere. Moreover, they can be used alone or together with recycled and bio-based polyols, and they are compatible with emerging recycling systems. 

Thanks to Econic’s proprietary renewable carbon technology, Poly-CO₂ products overcome some of the formulation, processing, storage, and handling challenges sometimes found in other CO₂-based products. For example, foam manufacturers can continue using the same standard surfactants and catalysts used in traditional polyether and polyester polyols. Additionally, with Poly-CO₂, carbon dioxide is more evenly distributed along the backbone of the polymer to ensure performance, quality, and stability.