Abstract: The present invention provides an environmentally-friendly, fully recyclable composite mining screen which has sufficient rigidity to replace existing metal and metal covered plastic mining screens. The inventive composite screen insert contains stiff reinforcing fibers (glass, carbon, etc.) and exhibits the rigidity of metal and metal-covered plastic mining screen inserts so as to minimize deflection in use. The inventive mining screen is also completely recyclable because at the end of its useful life, the broken and used screen can be ground into polymer particles and the particles incorporated into new screens or other parts.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel macromers that comprise a polyether polyol having (meth)acrylate unsaturation. These novel macromers are the polymerization product of a glycidyl (meth)acrylate, with a polyether polyol, and optionally, an alkylene oxide, in the presence of a double metal cyanide catalyst. This invention also relates to preformed stabilizers prepared from these macromers, and to polymer polyols prepared from these novel macromers and novel preformed stabilizers. The present invention also relates to processes for preparing these compositions, to polyurethane foams comprising these polymer polyols, and to processes for preparing these polyurethane foams.

Abstract: A method of producing a graphical depiction of a value of a property of a material is provided. The method comprises generating, by a processing unit, a plot defining a geometric shape, a first axis comprising a plurality of first variables, and a second axis comprising a plurality of second variables. The processing unit generates a plurality of points arranged in a matrix based on the first variables and the second variables, each of the points define a value of a property of a material formed by a combination of one of the first variables and one of the second variables. An output device displays a visual representation of the respective values of the property of the material at least two of the plurality of points in a range of indicia. The range of indicia represents a comparison of the respective value of the property and a constraint.

Abstract: A polyaspartate composition is provided which comprises a reaction product of a diamine and a diester reacted at a ratio of diamine equivalents to diester equivalents of from 1:0.95 to 1:0.50. The polyaspartate compositions of the invention may be combined with polyisocyanates to produce polyurea compositions, e.g., coatings, adhesives, sealants, composites, castings, and films, which exhibit a faster cure time along with faster development time for physical properties such as hardness and tensile strength.

Abstract: Hydrofluoroolefin (“HFO”)-containing isocyanate-reactive compositions, foam-forming compositions containing such isocyanate-reactive compositions, rigid foams made using such foam-forming compositions, and methods for producing such foams, including use of such foams as panel insulation. The isocyanate-reactive compositions include a polyol composition, a blowing agent composition, and a catalyst composition. The polyol composition includes 50% to 80% by weight, based on total weight of the polyol composition, of an aromatic polyester polyol having a functionality of 1.5 to 2.5 and an OH number of 150 to 360 mg KOH/g, and an amine-initiated polyether polyol having an OH number of more than 500 mg KOH/g and a functionality of 2.5 to 4. The blowing agent composition includes a hydrofluoroolefin and water. The catalyst composition includes a morpholine, an imidazole, a quaternary ammonium carboxylate, and a metal carboxylate.

Abstract: A flexibilizing capped prepolymer can include a reaction product of reaction mixture including a polyisocyanate and an isocyanate-reactive component at an equivalent ratio of polyisocyanate equivalents to isocyanate-reactive component equivalents of from 1.4:1 to 2.1:1. The isocyanate-reactive component can include a polyol component and a branching agent component. The branching agent component can include a monoglyceride, a diglyceride, a triglyceride, or a combination thereof having a number average functionality of from 3 to 6 NCO-reactive functional groups. The reaction product is terminated with a capping agent to form the flexibilizing capped prepolymer.

Abstract: Polyurethane foam-forming compositions, methods of producing polyurethane foams, polyurethane foams produced from such compositions made by such methods, as well as isocyanate-reactive compositions. The polyurethane foam-forming compositions include a polyol blend, a blowing agent composition, and a polyisocyanate. The polyol blend includes an aromatic amine-initiated polyether polyol, a saccharide-initiated polyether polyol, and an aromatic polyester polyol and has a content of —C2H4O— units of 3 to 6% by weight, based on the total weight of the polyurethane foam-forming composition. The blowing agent composition includes a hydrochlorofluoroolefin and a carbon dioxide-generating chemical blowing agent.

Abstract: Polyurethane foam-forming compositions, methods of producing polyurethane foams, polyurethane foams produced from such compositions made by such methods, as well as isocyanate-reactive compositions. The polyurethane foam-forming compositions include a polyol blend, a blowing agent composition, and a polyisocyanate. The polyol blend includes an aromatic amine-initiated polyether polyol, a saccharide-initiated polyether polyol, and an aromatic polyester polyol and has a content of —C2H4O— units of 3 to 6% by weight, based on the total weight of the polyurethane foam-forming composition. The blowing agent composition includes a hydrochlorofluoroolefin and water.

Abstract: Polyurethane foam-forming compositions, methods of producing polyurethane foams, polyurethane foams produced from such compositions made by such methods, as well as isocyanate-reactive compositions. The polyurethane foam-forming compositions include a polyisocyanate; a polyol blend, and a physical blowing agent composition. The polyol blend includes an aromatic amine-initiated polyether polyol having an OH number of at least 200 mg KOH/g and a functionality of at least 3, wherein (i) the aromatic amine-initiated polyether polyol having an OH number of at least 200 mg KOH/g is present in amount of at least 20% by weight, based on the total weight of polyol, and (ii) the polyol blend has a content of —C2H4O— units of 2 to 7% by weight, based on total weight of the polyurethane foam-forming composition. The physical blowing agent composition includes cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene.

Abstract: Processes for making a molded flexible foam. The processes include: (a) depositing a foam-forming reaction mixture onto a surface of a mold cavity, and (b) allowing the foam-forming reaction mixture to react in the mold cavity. The foam-forming reaction mixture comprises: (1) a polyisocyanate present in an amount of less than 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the foam-forming reaction mixture; (2) an isocyanate-reactive composition comprising at least 50% by weight, based on the total weight of polyol in the isocyanate-reactive composition, of a polyether polyol having a functionality of greater than 2, an oxyethylene content of 0 to 50% by weight, based on the total weight of the polyether polyol, more than 50 mol % of primary OH groups, and an OH number of 8 to 112 mg KOH/g; (3) a blowing agent comprising water present in an amount of at least 0.

Abstract: A polyaspartate composition is provided which comprises a reaction product of a diamine and a diester reacted at a ratio of diamine equivalents to diester equivalents of from 1:0.95 to 1:0.50. The polyaspartate compositions of the invention may be combined with polyisocyanates to produce polyurea compositions, e.g., coatings, adhesives, sealants, composites, castings, and films, which exhibit a faster cure time along with faster development time for physical properties such as hardness and tensile strength.

Abstract: HCFO-containing isocyanate-reactive compositions, foam-forming compositions containing such isocyanate-reactive compositions, rigid PUR-PIR foams made using such foam-forming compositions, and methods for producing such foams, including use of such foams as insulation in discontinuous foam panel applications. The isocyanate-reactive composition includes a polyol blend, a blowing agent composition, and a tertiary amine catalyst. The polyol blend includes: (1) an aromatic polyester polyol having a functionality of 1.5 to less than 2.5 and an OH number of 150 to 360 mg KOH/g; (2) an aromatic polyester polyol having a functionality of at least 2.5 and an OH number greater than 360 mg KOH/g, which is present in an amount of at least 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the aromatic polyester polyol in the polyol blend; and (3) an amine-initiated polyether polyol having an OH number of at least 500 mg KOH/g and a functionality of 2.5 to 4.

Abstract: Polyol premixes and thermally insulating rigid polyurethane foams, such as those that can be used as a thermal insulation medium in the construction of refrigerated storage devices, are disclosed. A polymer polyol having a OH number of greater than 260 mg KOH/g is utilized. The resulting polyurethane foams can exhibit improved thermal insulation properties without sacrificing other important physical and processing properties.

Abstract: A polyisocyanate resin can include from 25 wt % to 50 wt % of a first cycloaliphatic polyisocyanate and from 50 wt % to 75 wt % of a flexibilizing component based on a total weight of the polyisocyanate resin. The first cycloaliphatic polyisocyanate can have an NCO % of from 12 wt % to 20 wt % based on ISO 11909:2007. The flexibilizing component can include a linear aliphatic polyisocyanate having a number average isocyanate functionality of from 2 to 3 based on gel permeation chromatography and an isocyanate-terminated reaction product of a second cycloaliphatic polyisocyanate and an isocyanate-reactive material, the reaction product having a Tg of less than ?30° C. based on a Differential Scanning Calorimetry (2nd Heating) temperature scan from ?100° C. to 150° C. using 20° C./min heating and cooling ramps. The isocyanate-terminated reaction product and the linear aliphatic polyisocyanate can be present at a weight ratio of from 0.5 to 2.5.

Abstract: Modified and connected foam wall structures and methods for making them are described. The wall structures include a frame, a foam panel attached to the frame, a foam layer disposed in a cavity defined by the frame, and a structural adhesive. The structural adhesive may be disposed in at least one of: (A) an aperture located within the foam layer, and (B) an aperture located between the foam layer and a frame member. In some cases, a cured structural adhesive is located between connecting members of adjacent foam wall structures.

Abstract: This invention relates to an in-situ formed polyether polyol blend having an overall functionality of 2 to 3 and an overall hydroxyl number of 40 to 220 mg KOH/g. A process for preparing these in-situ formed polyether polyol blends is also disclosed. These in-situ formed polyether polyol blends are suitable for a process of preparing viscoelastic flexible polyurethane foams.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for operating a rectification column (1000) for separating a mixture (S) containing a component A and a component B having a boiling point higher than that of the component A at an operating pressure of the rectification column (1000) which is lower than ambient pressure, wherein the method comprises a step for controlling the mass fraction of the component B in the product stream of the component A (P1) to a value within a first target range from 0.1% to 5.0% and the mass fraction of the component A in the product stream of the component B (P2) to a value within a second target range from 0.1% to 5.0%, wherein the control is carried out as a function of a controlling temperature (TC) for which a setpoint TCsetpoint is calculated according to the equation TCsetpoint=T2+F·(T1?T2), where F is a factor which is in the range from 0.1 to 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polyaspartic composition comprising a reaction product of a polyamine and a Michael addition receptor reacted in the presence of a catalyst comprising a phenolic compound, with the proviso that the phenolic compound is not a phenol which is substituted with tert-butyl groups in both ortho positions to the oxygen. Suitable phenolic compounds include phenols, phenolic aldehydes, alkylphenols, benzenediols, cashew nut oil, and combinations thereof. Coatings, adhesives, sealants, composites, castings, and films comprising a polyurea composition may be made by reacting a polyisocyanate with the inventive polyaspartic composition. In particular, floor coatings made with the inventive polyaspartic composition have an elongated work time and a short walk-on time compared to current floor coatings.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing foam wall structures are described. The methods include placing a wall structure proximate to a robotic arm, orienting an imaging device so that the imaging device on the robotic arm faces a cavity in the wall structure, surveying the cavity using the imaging device, determining a spray foaming pattern to fill the cavity to a selected depth with a foam layer, orienting the spray nozzle so the spray nozzle faces the cavity, and spray-applying the foam-forming composition into the cavity to the selected depth by passing the foam-forming composition through the spray nozzle to form the foam layer. Foam wall structure manufacturing systems that are suitable for carrying out such methods are also described.

Abstract: Processes are described for producing an aromatic diamine-initiated polyether polyol having a measured OH number of 300 to 500 mg KOH/g and a viscosity at 25° C. of 5000 to 50,000 mPas. The processes include a first alkoxylation step in which an alkylene oxide consisting essentially of propylene oxide is reacted with a starter consisting essentially of aromatic diamine at a molar ratio of propylene oxide to aromatic diamine of 1.4:1 to 2.0:1 to form an alkoxylated product; and a second alkoxylation step in which an alkylene oxide consisting essentially of propylene oxide is reacted with the alkoxylated product, in the presence of an added catalyst, until the ratio of moles of propylene oxide added in the process to the moles of aromatic diamine added in the process is 4:1 to 9:1.