Abstract: A method of making a polymer is disclosed. The method includes the following steps: packaging a polymer precursor composition in a sealable container; transferring the polymer precursor composition from the sealable container to a reaction vessel; and polymerizing the polymer precursor composition. A method of making a thermoformable article from a pre-packaged polymer precursor composition is also disclosed. Further, a method of doing business, which includes the step of offering for sale a sealable container containing a polymer precursor composition, is disclosed. In addition, articles of manufacture are disclosed. One article includes a sealable container containing a polymer precursor composition.

Abstract: In multimetal cyanide complexes, more than 30% by weight of the primary particles have a platelet-like habit, i.e. the length and width of the primary particles is at least three times the thickness of the particles.

Abstract: A method of removing and reclaiming a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst from a polyol is disclosed. A polymeric acid that is soluble in the polyol is introduced into the polyol during or after the polymerization reaction. The polymeric acid reacts with the double metal cyanide catalyst thereby causing the double metal cyanide catalyst and the polymeric acid to form an agglomeration in the polyol. The agglomeration is easily separated from the polyol via filtration, for example. The recovered agglomerated DMC catalyst can then be reconstituted using an acid solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mixture that contains (i) at least one isocyanate and (ii) at least one organic and/or inorganic acid anhydride.

Abstract: Catalyst suspensions for the ring-opening polymerization of alkylene oxides comprise a) at least one multimetal cyanide compound having a crystalline structure and a content of platelet-shaped particles of at least 30% by weight, based on the multimetal cyanide compound, and b) at least one organic complexing agent c) water and/or d) at least one polyether and/or e) at least one surface-active substance, with the proviso that at least component a) and at least two of the components b) to e) have to be present.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a method of forming high resilience slabstock polyurethane foam having random cell structures to produce latex-like feel and characteristics. The method includes the first step of providing an isocyanate-reactive component and an isocyanate component to react with the isocyanate-reactive component. A first nucleation gas is provided under low pressure and is added into at least one of the isocyanate-reactive component and the isocyanate component to produce a first cell structure in the polyurethane foam. A second nucleation gas is provided under low pressure, being different than the first nucleation gas, and is added into at least one of the isocyanate-reactive component and the isocyanate component to produce a second cell structure in the polyurethane foam that is different than the first cell structure.

Abstract: An index filtration method is disclosed for filtering graft polyol dispersions. The method allows for the rapid filtration of large volumes of graft polyol dispersion in an economical manner. The process can be highly automated. The resulting filtered graft polyol dispersion mainly has particles of 25 microns or smaller and is stable under a variety of conditions for at least 9 weeks.

Abstract: The polyisocyanate polyaddition products comprise hydrophobic compounds plus at least one further compound selected from the group consisting of: (i) organic, cyclic compounds having a molecular weight of from 200 to 3000 g/mol, (ii) salts of metals of transition groups I, II and/or VIII, (iii) organic and/or inorganic acid anhydrides, (iv) cyclic sulfonic esters and/or sulfones, (v) lactones, lactams and/or cyclic esters and/or (vi) &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acids, &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives, &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated ketones and/or &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated aldehydes.

Abstract: Composite elements have the following layer structure: (i) from 2 to 20 mm of metal, (ii) from 10 to 300 mm of polyisocyanate polyaddition products obtainable by reacting (a) isocyanates with (b) compounds which are reactive toward isocyanates in the presence of from 1 to 50% by volume, based on the volume of the polyisocyanate polyaddition products, of at least one gas (c) and also, if desired, (d) catalysts and/or (f) auxiliaries and/or additives, (iii) from 2 to 20 mm of metal.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a method of forming high resilience slabstock polyurethane foam having random cell structures and displaying latex-like feel and characteristics with superior physical performance to latex foam, including complying with California Technical Bulletin 117 and British Standard 5852:Crib 5 flame tests. The method includes the first step of providing an isocyanate-reactive component and an isocyanate component substantially free of toluene diisocyanate comprising diphenylmethane-2,4′-diisocyanate present in an amount of from 15 parts by weight to 55 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the isocyanate component and diphenylmethane-4,4′-diisocyanate present in an amount from 45 parts by weight to 85 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the isocyanate component to react with the isocyanate-reactive component.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparation of final graft polyols via a continuous process. In, addition, a final graft polyol formed by the process is disclosed. The process includes the steps of reacting a plurality of ethylenically unsaturated monomers and a reaction moderator with a macromer having induced unsaturation in the presence of a carrier polyol, a free radical polymerization initiator, and a first graft polyol. The process provides for the preparation of a final graft polyol having a solids level of from 30 to 70% in a continuous process. The final graft polyol produced by the process has a lower viscosity over a range of solids levels, a reduced amount of very large irregularly shaped particles, a reduced viscosity change in response to a change in reaction temperature compared to a typical graft polyol, a reduced tendency to foul the continuous reactor, and a broader particle size distribution compared to an identical graft polyol prepared by a semi-batch process.

Abstract: A method for the production of polyetherols is disclosed. The method includes the utilization of aluminum phosphonate catalysts for the formation of the very low unsaturation polyether polyols. The aluminum phosphonate catalyst preferably has a general structure of RPO—(OAlR′R″)2, wherein O represents oxygen, P represents pentavalent phosphorous, Al represents aluminum, R comprises a hydrogen, a methyl group, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, and R′ and R″ independently comprise a halide, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, or an aryloxy group. Polyols produced according to the disclosed procedure have properties identical to or more beneficial than those produced utilizing the typical base catalysts.

Abstract: Composite elements having the following layer structure: (i) 2-20 mm of metal, (ii) 10-100 mm of compact polyisocyanate polyaddition products obtainable by reacting (a) isocyanates with (b) polyether polyalcohols, if desired in the presence of (c) catalysts and/or (d) auxiliaries and/or additives, (iii) 2-20 mm of metal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of flexible polyurethane foams by reaction of a) at least one compound having at least two isocyanate-reactive hydrogen atoms, with b) polyisocyanates, wherein the compund used as said compound having at least two isocyanate-reactive hydrogen atoms a) comprises at least one block polyoxypropylene/polyoxyethylene/polyol having a hydroxyl value of from 25 to 45 mg KOH/g and a content of terminally bound ethylene oxide units of from 15 to 17 wt %, based on the total amount of the alkylene oxide, obtained by attachment of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide to an initiator having an average functionality of 3.

Abstract: A compact veneer is based on a reaction mixture comprising a) isocyanate, b) as compounds which are reactive toward isocyanates, a mixture (b1) comprising: b11) from 15 to 90% by weight, preferably from 50 to 80% by weight, based on the weight of the mixture (b1), of at least one polyether polyalcohol having a molecular weight of from 400 to 6000, preferably from 1000 to 4000 and a mean functionality of from 1.5 to 3 and based on hydroxyl-containing initiator substances and propylene oxide and also, if desired, ethylene oxide, b12) from 0 to 20% by weight, preferably from 0 to 10% by weight, based on the weight of the mixture (b1), of at least one polyether polyalcohol having a molecular weight of from 400 to 6000, preferably from 400 to 4000, and a mean functionality of from 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to DMC catalysts which comprise at least 10% by weight, based on the weight of the DMC catalysts, of a crystalline multimetal cyanide compound whose X-ray diffractogram shows sharp reflections at least at the d values of 11.4 ű0.5 Å 8.9 ű0.5 Å 6.3 ű0.5 Å 5.8 ű0.5 Å 5.5 ű0.5 Å 4.5 ű0.5 Å 4.4 ű0.5 Å 3.9 ű0.4 Å 3.7 ű0.4 Å 3.4 ű0.4 Å.

Abstract: A method of forming a polyethercarbonate polyol using a multimetal cyanide compound is disclosed. The method includes providing a multimetal cyanide compound having a crystalline structure and a content of platelet-shaped particles of at least 30% by weight, based on the weight of the multimetal cyanide compound and further including at least two of the following components: an organic complexing agent, water, a polyether, and a surface-active substance. Then an alcohol initiator is reacted with at least one alkylene oxide and carbon dioxide under a positive pressure in the presence of the multimetal cyanide compound, thereby forming the polyethercarbonate polyol.

Abstract: The invention is directed to polyurethane foam shoe soles containing an additive comprising a mixture of polyethylene wax and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), and to polyol components containing the additive. The additive is produced to include the mixture at a density from greater than 0.97 to about 1.1 times the density of the polyol component.

Abstract: Polyester-polyether block copolymers can be prepared by catalytic addition of alkylene oxides onto H-functional initiator substances, using polyester alcohols as H-functional initiator substances and multimetal cyanide compounds as catalysts.

Abstract: A system and method for treatment of soot-laden waste water is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of separating the soot from the waste water initially in a clarifier. The concentrated soot is then treated with an activated sludge mixture in a digester with a very long average hydraulic retention time to effectively digest the materials found in the concentrated soot. Soot-free waste water is treated via standard aerobic, and anoxic reactor basins and a clarifier with activated sludge recirculation. The system effectively removes soot from soot-laden waste water in a cost effective manner.