Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparation of polyether alkoxylated carbonates. These products may also be referred to as polyether polycarbonates. This process simultaneously transcarbonates and alkoxylates a mixture of one or more carbonate compounds, and one more hydroxyl group containing compounds, with at least one alkylene oxide in the presence of a mixture of catalysts. The catalyst mixture contains at least one DMC catalyst and at least one non-alkaline transesterification catalyst. This invention also relates to novel polyether polycarbonates, a process for preparing polyurethane foams from these novel polyether polycarbonates and to foams comprising these novel polyether polycarbonates.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel double metal cyanide catalysts and to a process for the production of these double metal cyanide catalysts. These DMC catalysts can be used to prepare polyoxyalkylene polyols which have low amounts of high molecular weight tail compared polyoxyalkylene polyols prepared from DMC catalysts of the prior art.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel process for preparing an aliphatic hybrid ester/ether polyol. This process simultaneously transesterifies and alkoxylates a mixture of at least one ester group containing compound which is free of ether groups, and at least one or more hydroxyl group containing compound which is free of ester groups; with the proviso that the mixture has an overall hydroxyl number of less than or equal to 350; with at least one alkylene oxide; in the presence of a mixture of catalysts. The catalyst mixture comprises at least one DMC catalyst, and at least one non-alkaline transesterification catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel double metal cyanide catalysts and to a process for the production of these double metal cyanide catalysts. These DMC catalysts can be used to prepare polyoxyalkylene polyols which have low amounts of high molecular weight tail compared polyoxyalkylene polyols prepared from DMC catalysts of the prior art.

Abstract: The present invention provides polyurethane foams and elastomers made with an alkoxylated vegetable oil hydroxylate replacing at least a portion of the typically used petroleum-based polyol(s). Also provided are processes for making the inventive foams and elastomers and for making alkoxylated vegetable oil hydroxylates. The alkoxylated vegetable oil hydroxylates are environmentally-friendly, bio-based polyols which advantageously also offer the potential of improved hydrophobicity in polyurethane foams and elastomers. The inventive polyurethane foams and elastomers may find use in a wide variety of products such as automobile interior parts, polyurethane structural foams, floor coatings and athletic running tracks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyether carbonate polyol made by copolymerizing a starter molecule with carbon dioxide, at a pressure ranging from about 10 psia to about 2,000 psia, and an alkylene oxide, at a temperature ranging from about 50° C. to about 190° C. and in the presence of from about 0.001 wt. % to about 0.2 wt. % of a substantially non-crystalline double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst, wherein the polyol has an incorporated carbon dioxide content of from about 1 wt. % to about 40 wt. %, wherein the ratio of cyclic carbonate by-product to total carbonate is less than about 0.3 and wherein the weight percentages are based on the weight of the polyol. The inventive polyether carbonate polyols may find use in producing polyurethane foams, elastomers, coatings, sealants and adhesives with improved properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyether carbonate polyol made by copolymerizing a starter molecule with carbon dioxide, at a pressure ranging from about 10 psia to about 2,000 psia, and an alkylene oxide, at a temperature ranging from about 50° C. to about 190° C. and in the presence of from about 0.001 wt. % to about 0.2 wt. % of a substantially non-crystalline double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst, wherein the polyol has an incorporated carbon dioxide content of from about 1 wt. % to about 40 wt. %, wherein the ratio of cyclic carbonate by-product to total carbonate is less than about 0.3 and wherein the weight percentages are based on the weight of the polyol. The inventive polyether carbonate polyols may find use in producing polyurethane foams, elastomers, coatings, sealants and adhesives with improved properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyether carbonate polyol made by copolymerizing a starter molecule with carbon dioxide, at a pressure ranging from about 10 psia to about 2,000 psia, and an alkylene oxide, at a temperature ranging from about 50° C. to about 190° C. and in the presence of from about 0.001 Wt. % to about 0.2 wt. % of a substantially non-crystalline double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst, wherein the polyol has an incorporated carbon dioxide content of from about 1 wt. % to about 40 wt. %, wherein the ratio of cyclic carbonate by-product to total carbonate is less than about 0.3 and wherein the weight percentages are based on the weight of the polyol. The inventive polyether carbonate polyols may find use in producing polyurethane foams, elastomers, coatings, sealants and adhesives with improved properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of an alkylphenol ethoxylate involving charging a portion of product from a previous preparation (a “heel”) or an ethoxylate to a reactor, optionally, charging from about 0.2 wt. % to an amount equal to or greater than the weight of the heel of an alkylphenol starter to the reactor, charging ethylene oxide to activate a double metal cyanide (“DMC”) catalyst, adding the alkylphenol starter simultaneously with ethylene oxide for a portion of the process and continuing ethylene oxide addition following completion of the simultaneous alkylphenol starter and ethylene oxide addition. The process of the present invention provides significant improvements in cycle time and safety in producing ethoxylates which may find use in or as surfactants.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of an alkylphenol ethoxylate involving charging a portion of product from a previous preparation (a “heel”) or an ethoxylate to a reactor, optionally, charging from about 0.2 wt. % to an amount equal to or greater than the weight of the heel of an alkylphenol starter to the reactor, charging ethylene oxide to activate a double metal cyanide (“DMC”) catalyst, adding the alkylphenol starter simultaneously with ethylene oxide for a portion of the process and continuing ethylene oxide addition following completion of the simultaneous alkylphenol starter and ethylene oxide addition. The process of the present invention provides significant improvements in cycle time and safety in producing ethoxylates which may find use in or as surfactants.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of an ethoxylate involving charging a portion of product from a previous preparation (a “heel”) or an ethoxylate to a reactor, optionally, charging from about 0.2 wt. % to an amount equal or greater than the amount of heel of a C1-C56 non-phenolic alcohol to the reactor, charging ethylene oxide to activate a double metal cyanide (“DMC”) catalyst, adding C1-C56 non-phenolic alcohol simultaneously with ethylene oxide for a portion of the process and continuing addition of ethylene oxide following completion of the simultaneous C1-C56 non-phenolic alcohol and ethylene oxide addition. The process of the present invention provides significant improvements in cycle time and safety in producing ethoxylates which may find use in or as surfactants.

Abstract: The present invention provides a continuous process for the preparation of a polyoxyalkylene polyether product of number average molecular weight N employing continuous addition of starter, involving a) establishing in a continuous reactor a first portion of a catalyst/initial starter mixture effective initiate polyoxyalkylation of the initial starter after introduction of alkylene oxide into the continuous reactor, b) continuously introducing into the continuous reactor one or more alkylene oxides, c) continuously introducing into the continuous reactor one or more continuously added starters which may be the same or different than said initial starter, d) continuously introducing into the reactor fresh catalyst and/or further catalyst/further starter mixture such that the catalytic activity is maintained, wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of modified oxides and hydroxides of calcium, strontium and barium, lanthanum phosphates or lanthanide series (rare earth) phosphates and hydrotal

Abstract: The present invention provides continuous processes for the production of an alkylphenol ethoxylate from an alkylphenol in the presence of a double metal cyanide (“DMC”) catalyst. The products made by the inventive continuous processes may offer advantages where the alkylphenol ethoxylate is used in or as a surfactant.

Abstract: The present invention provides continuous processes for the production of an ethoxylate from a C1-C26 non-phenolic alcohol in the presence of a double metal cyanide (“DMC”) catalyst. The inventive multi-stage continuous process produces an ethoxylate product with an essentially equivalent molecular weight distribution as compared to the same ethoxylate made by basic catalysis. The inventive single-stage continuous process produces ethoxylate products having only a slightly broader molecular weight distribution than the multi-stage process. The products made by the inventive multi-stage continuous process may offer advantages where the ethoxylate product is used in or as a surfactant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the double metal cyanide (DMC)-catalyzed production of low unsaturation polyethers from boron-containing starters. The polyethers produced by the inventive process may be reacted with one or more isocyanates to provide polyurethane products including coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, foams and the like. The inventive process may be used to prepare fuel additives from C9-C30 boron-containing polyethers, more particularly from C13 alcohols.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyether carbonate polyol made by copolymerizing a starter molecule with carbon dioxide, at a pressure ranging from about 10 psia to about 2,000 psia, and an alkylene oxide, at a temperature ranging from about 50° C. to about 190° C. and in the presence of from about 0.001 wt. % to about 0.2 wt. % of a substantially non-crystalline double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst, wherein the polyol has an incorporated carbon dioxide content of from about 1 wt. % to about 40 wt. %, wherein the ratio of cyclic carbonate by-product to total carbonate is less than about 0.3 and wherein the weight percentages are based on the weight of the polyol. The inventive polyether carbonate polyols may find use in producing polyurethane foams, elastomers, coatings, sealants and adhesives with improved properties.

Abstract: Oleophilic polyoxyalkylene monoethers having reduced water affinity are disclosed. The monoethers have a hydrocarbyl residue, a polyoxyalkylene moiety, and a hydroxyl end group. The monoethers contain less than about 6 mole percent of alkoxylated unsaturates, and preferably less than about 5 mole percent of polyoxyalkylene diols. The monoethers offer substantial advantages for fuel compositions, particularly reduced water affinity. By using deposit-control additives based on the monoethers, formulators can offer better fuels for cleaner engines.

Abstract: Oleophilic polyoxyalkylene monoethers having reduced water affinity are disclosed. The monoethers have a hydrocarbyl residue, a polyoxyalkylene moiety, and a hydroxyl end group. The monoethers contain less than about 6 mole percent of alkoxylated unsaturates, and preferably less than about 5 mole percent of polyoxyalkylene diols. The monoethers offer substantial advantages for fuel compositions, particularly reduced water affinity. By using deposit-control additives based on the monoethers, formulators can offer better fuels for cleaner engines.

Abstract: Acidification, neutralization, or removal of basic impurities from acid sensitive low molecular weight starter or acidification of a reactor heel prior to addition of acid sensitive low molecular weight starter allows direct oxyalkylation of continuously added acid sensitive low molecular weight starter to produce polyoxyalkylene acid sensitive low molecular weight starter-initiated or co-initiated polyols in the presence of a double metal cyanide catalyst. The preferred acid sensitive low molecular weight starter is glycerine.

Abstract: Unique, well defined macromonomers containing hydroxyl-functionality, unsaturation-functionality, and polyoxyalkylene segments are prepared by oxyalkylating an unsaturated initiator molecule having at least one oxyalkylatable hydrogen in the presence of an effective amount of a double metal cyanide complex catalyst, optionally, when necessary, in the presence of a free radical polymerization inhibitor. The resulting unsaturated macromonomers are eminently suitable for such uses as copolymerization with ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing carboxylic acid-based groups such as acrylic acid to form effective superplasticizers and water reducers for cement and concrete applications.