Abstract: 1,1,1,3,3-Pentafluorobutane forms azeotropic or pseudoazeotropic compositions with alkanes possessing 5 or 6 carbon atoms. These compositions can be used in particular as blowing agents in polymeric cellular foams.

Abstract: A polyester polyol composition comprising a phthalic anhydride-initiated polyester polyol, a C4-C6 hydrocarbon blowing agent, and an alkylene oxide modified silicone glycol compatibilizing agent having an HLB of from about 5 to about 8 is disclosed. The blowing agent is soluble in the polyol composition, thereby reducing the risks associated with such blowing agents in processes for making rigid polymer foam articles and providing rigid foams having good dimensional stability and improved insulation properties. An alkylene oxide and isocyanate modified silicone glycol compatibilizing agent is also disclosed.

Abstract: New, useful and surprisingly effective polymeric triphenylmethane colorant-containing compositions which exhibit very low color degradation within polyurethane foams. Generally during polyurethane foam production, certain amine-based hydroxyl-group containing catalysts deleteriously attack the nitrogen linking groups within triphenylmethane polymeric colorants. Such compositions require the presence of nominal yet effective amounts of organic cyclic ester materials. The ring systems of such materials appear to open during exposure to heat (during the foaming procedure) and release carboxylic acids into the foaming formulation. The tertiary amines become quenched by the carboxylic acids and thus do not exhibit degradation of the TPM-based chromophore. The resultant foams exhibit substantially uniform color throughout. The processes and resultant foams are also contemplated within this invention.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, water and at least one hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of n-pentane, isopentane, cyclopentane and hexane that are environmentally desirable for use as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, metered dose inhalers, blowing agents for polymer foam, heat transfer media, and gaseous dielectrics.

Abstract: Process for preparing a flexible polyurethane foam by reacting a polyisocyanate and two different polyols under foam forming conditions so as to prepare a rigid foam and by crushing the rigid foam so obtained in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rise of the foam. Flexible foams are obtained which do not show a major glass transition temperature between −100° C. and +25° C. and which have an anisotropy of 1.80 to 4.00.

Abstract: A polyester-polyol being liquid at 40° C. and having a viscosity of not more than 10,000 mPa·s at 60° C., prepared by polycondensation of an acid component including at least one phthalic acid component selected from phthalic anhydride and o-phthalic acid, and an aliphatic polybasic acid, with a polyhydric alcohol; a process for preparing a polyurethane foam including reacting a polyisocyanate component with a polyol component including the polyester-polyol; a process for preparing an isocyanate prepolymer from a polyisocyanate component and a polyol component including the polyester-polyol; and a process for preparing a polyurethane foam including reacting an isocyanate prepolymer prepared from a polyisocyanate component and a polyol component including the polyester-polyol, with a polyol component. The resulting polyurethane foam shows remarkably improved physical properties such as tensile strength and tear strength, while having low density, acceptable appearance and texture.

Abstract: Thermally stable rigid foams based on isocyanate can be produced by reacting a) polyisocyanates with b) compounds containing at least two hydrogen atoms which can react with isocyanate groups, c) water, in the presence of d) physically acting blowing agents, in the presence or absence of e) catalysts and auxiliaries and/or additives, wherein the component b) comprises bi) at least one polyether alcohol having a functionality of at least 1.5 and a hydroxyl number of from 10 to 100 mg KOH/g in an amount of from 0.2 to 80% by mass, based on b), and bii)at least one polyester alcohol in an amount of from 5 to 90% by mass, based on b), the water c) is present in an amount of at most 2% by mass, based on the sum of the components b) to e), and the component d) used comprises hydrocarbons and/or fluorine-containing hydrocarbons in an amount of from 5 to 30% by mass, based on the sum of the components b) to e).

Abstract: Mannich polyols having a viscosity of from 300 to 3,500 cps (0.3 to 3.5 Pa*s) at 25° C. are prepared by admixing a phenol, an alkanolamines, and formaldehyde mixed in molar ratios of from 1:1:1 to 1:2.2:2.2 resulting in an initiator which can be alkoxylated using a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide to prepare polyols that have a nominal functionality of from 3 to 5.4.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for preparing porous polymer materials by a combination of gas forming and particulate leaching steps. The invention is also directed to porous polymer material prepared by the process, particularly having a characteristic interconnected pore structure, and to methods for using such porous polymer material, particularly for tissue engineering.

Abstract: Diisocyanates of the formula (I) where R1 is a C1-C10-hydrocarbon radical and R3 is a C1-Cl2-hydrocarbon group and n is an integer from 1 to 10, are described.

Abstract: Storage-stable, blowing agent-containing halogen-free emulsions for producing rigid foams based on isocyanate comprise a) compounds containing hydrogen atoms which are reactive toward isocyanate groups, b) water, c) physically acting, halogen-free blowing agents and, if desired, d) auxiliaries and/or additives which are customary in polyurethane chemistry, wherein the component a) comprises polyether alcohols having a functionality of greater than 1.5 and a hydroxyl number of from 10 to 100 mg KOH/g in an amount of from 0.2% by mass to 80% by mass, based on the mass of the component a), and the halogen-free, physically acting blowing agents c) used are hydrocarbons having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A superporous hydrogel composite is formed by polymerizing one or more ethylenically-unsaturated monomers, and a multiolefinic crosslinking agent, in the presence of particles of a disintegrant and a blowing agent. The disintegrant, which rapidly absorbs water, serves to greatly increase the mechanical strength of the superporous hydrogel and significantly shorten the time required to absorb water and swell. Superporous hydrogel composites prepared by this method have an average pore size in the range of 10 &mgr;m to 3,000 &mgr;m. Preferred particles of disintegrant include natural and synthetic charged polymers, such as crosslinked sodium carboxymethylcellulose, crosslinked sodium starch glycolate, and crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone. The blowing agent is preferably a compound that releases gas bubbles upon acidification, such as NaHCO3. Improved hydrogel composites formed without a blowing agent are also provided.

Abstract: An open-cell polyisocyanurate foam for fixing and supporting plants, which is prepared from an aromatic isocyanate, a hydroxyl compound having an average number of functional groups of 1.0 or above and an oxyethylene content of 20 wt % or above, an isocyanuration catalyst and a silicone foam stabilizer consisting of a polysiloxyane/polyoxyalkylene copolymer wherein the terminal OH group of the polyether segment is capped with a compound not having any other active hydrogen atom and oxyethylene units are contained in an amount of 30 wt % or above, and which exhibits a density of 8 to 70 kg/m3, an open cell content of 98% or above, a hardness of 0.1 to 2.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for producing polyurethane foam without the assistance of any through-flow mixing device for the precursor components. Air or other safe gas is mixed with a polyol-containing precursor to form a froth, and the froth is directed in a stream via a dispenser into a free space at a first predetermined rate of flow. Liquid isocyanate-containing precursor is directed in a stream via a dispenser at a second predetermined rate of flow into the free space so as to contact and mingle with the stream of froth. The mixed components then fall together into a container where they react to form polyurethane foam. Mixing of the streams is facilitated by a target upon which the two streams impinge in close proximity to each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a flexible foam. This process comprising reacting a liquid, storage stable, allophanate-modified polyisocyanate having an NCO group content of about 20 to about 42%, with an isocyanate-reactive component, in the presence of a blowing agent and at least one catalyst, wherein the relative amounts of the polyisocyanate and the isocyanate-reactive component are such that the NCO index if from about 70 to about 130.

Abstract: Process for preparing a flexible foam by reacting a prepolymer having an NCO value of 3-15% by weight, which is the reaction product obtained by reacting an excessive amount of a polyisocyanate with a polyether polyol or a mixture of such polyols, said polyol or mixture having an average nominal hydroxyl functionality of from 2 to 6, an average hydroxyl equivalent weight of from 500 to 5000 and an oxyethylene content of at least 50% by weight, with water, the amount of water being 15-500 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of prepolymer, at the start of the reaction the temperature of the prepolymer being 10-50° C. and the temperature of the water being 10-50° C. higher than the temperature of the prepolymer and a process for preparing a flexible foam by reacting the above prepolymer with water in the presence of a superabsorbent polymer.

Abstract: A process for producing a rigid foam based on isocyanate comprises reacting an organic and/or modified organic polyisocyanate with a polyol composition and, optionally, a relatively low molecular weight chain extender or crosslinker in the presence of a catalyst, and, optionally, further auxiliaries and/or additives, wherein the polyol composition comprises a phthalic anhydride-initiated polyester polyol, a blowing agent comprising C4-C6 hydrocarbon, and a fatty acid or fatty alcohol ethoxylate compatibilizing agent. The blowing agent is soluble in the polyol composition, thereby reducing the risks associated with such blowing agents in processes for making rigid polymer foam articles and providing rigid foams having good dimensional stability and improved insulation properties.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for the preparation of siloxane-oxyalkylene and siloxane-alkyl copolymer compositions via a hydrosilation reaction in the presence of high boiling point natural vegetable oils as the reaction solvent. The reaction solvent need not be removed from the block copolymer product, and indeed is beneficial to remain with the copolymer particularly when the copolymer is used as a surfactant for polyurethane foam formulations. Soybean oil and linseed oil are the preferred high boiling natural oil solvents when the copolymer product is to be used in the preparation of the surfactants for polyurethane foams. High resiliency polyurethane foam prepared with these natural oils present in the surfactant preparation afforded improved compression sets, wet compression sets and humid aged compression sets.

Abstract: An isocyanate-based polymer foam comprising an isocyanate-based polymer foam matrix having disposed therein a particulate material having an enthalpy of endothermic phase transition of at least about 50 J/g. A process for producing the foam is also described. During the process, the particulate material acts as a heat sink and will undergo an endothermic phase change by absorbing a significant portion of the heat of reaction liberated during the process. This improves the safety of the process by lowering the maximum exotherm experienced by the foam and/or improves product properties.

Abstract: A foam composition and method of making the same. The foam of the present invention comprises a mixture of glutarate ester plasticizer, adipate ester plasticizer, alcohol carboxylic acid ester, cell stabilizer, barium/zinc activator stabilizer, potassium/zinc activator stabilizer, azodicarbonamide blowing agent, low-fogging vinyl dispersion resin, vinyl blending resin, black acrylic pigment dispersion, and oxazoline viscosity reducer. The foam is made by the process of mixing the ingredients until a homogenous liquid mixture is present, de-airing the homogeneous liquid mixture, casting the liquid mixture on a non-fogging release-coated surface, expanding the cast liquid mixture by exposing it to an elevated temperature for a prescribed duration of time, and then either cooling the expanded mixture and winding it into rolls, or coating the stabilized composition with pressure sensitive adhesive, cooling it, and then winding it into rolls.