What are BiOH^® polyols?

BiOH polyols are soy-based ingredients for flexible foam in upholstered furniture, mattresses, mattress toppers, pillows, carpet cushion, and automotive seats. Traditional foam and carpet cushion ingredients are made from petroleum-based chemicals. BiOH polyols are made from a renewable resource –soybean oil.

BiOH technology allows our customers to create foam products with typical levels of renewable content from 5 to 20%. Additionally, for every 1 million pounds of BiOH polyols used, over 2,050 barrels of crude oil are saved.

How flexible foam is made

(1) Flexible foam is made from a reaction of two primary ingredients: isocyanates and polyols. The two are mixed together with water and a few additives. The reaction immediately begins to take place where (2). bubbles are formed and the mixture expands and bioh (3) rises to form foam.

There are two basic methods of manufacturing flexible foam:

The slabstock foam process and the molded foam process. (A) With slabstock foam, the mixture is poured onto a moving conveyor with side walls where it reacts, expands and rises into a slab (sometimes referred to as a bun) of foam. (B) It is then cut and allowed to cure for about 24 hours. The cured foam is then (C) cut or fabricated into various shapes for manufacturing purposes. Most foam for upholstered furniture and bedding is made using this method.

(D) With molded foam, the mixture is poured into a mold designed for a specific application where it reacts, rises and is allowed to cure. This is how most foam for the automotive industry is manufactured.