Abstract: A process and a polyurethane material for molding a semi-rigid integral skin foam which comprising an integral skin having a low degree of foaming and a core having a high degree of foaming. The process includes evacuating a mold cavity to reduce the pressure thereof below atmospheric pressure; injecting into the evacuated mold cavity a polyurethane material; and foaming the material to fill the cavity. The polyurethane material contains a polyol component and an isocyanate component with, at most, 5 parts by weight of a solvent for 100 parts by weight of the polyol component, in the absence of freon.

Abstract: Provided is a method of making a multi-property polyurethane part by RIM having a surface layer and an interior layer. The surface layer and the interior layer have different properties. The pressure in the cavity of the mold is reduced and a surface forming RIM polyurethane material is injected into the evacuated cavity, whereby the surface layer of the molded part is formed by RIM. An interior forming RIM polyurethane material is injected into the evacuated cavity, whereby the interior of the molded part is also formed by RIM.

Abstract: A process for molding a semi-rigid integral skin foam which comprising an integral skin having a low degree of foaming and a core having a high degree of foaming. The process includes evacuating a mold cavity to a pressure of from above 50 to 700 Torr; injecting, into the evacuated mold cavity, a polyurethane material which contains a polyol component and an isocyanate component with air bubbles introduced therein by air loading, in the substantial absence of a foaming agent; and foaming the material to fill the cavity.

Abstract: A shock absorbing material suited for use in automobile steering wheel comprises a core portion and a skin layer integrally formed on the core portion by foaming. The core portion and the skin layer are formed of isocyanurate ring-containing foam obtained by reacting polyhydroxy compounds having a hydroxyl value of 200 to 700, triethanolamine and polymethylene having a mean functional group number of 2.3 to 3.5 in an equivalent ratio of NCO/OH=2.5 to 5 in the presence of foaming agents and trimerization catalysts followed by foaming. It is important that the density of the skin layer is higher than that of the core portion. When the driver beats against the steering wheel in car accidents, the shock absorbing materials are deformed by absorbing impact force, thereby protecting the driver.