Abstract: Disclosed are linear, water-dispersible sulfopolyesters incorporating a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and blocks of a high molecular weight polyethylene glycol. The block sulfopolyesters have improved toughness, abrasion resistance, flexibility, and adhesion. Particular utility is realized in polyester fiber sizing applications and as an adhesive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to porous polymers comprising a perfluoropolyether unit, to a process for producing such porous polymers, in particular to a process for polymerising or copolymerising monomers incorporating perfluoropolyethers to form porous polymers, to articles made of or comprising porous polymers comprising a perfluoropolyether unit, such as membranes or ophthalmic devices, and to the use of porous polymers comprising perfluoropolyether units as articles, such as membranes or ophthalmic devices. The perfluoropolyether units are preferably of the formula (PFPE):--OCH.sub.2 CF.sub.2 O(CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2 O).sub.x (CF.sub.2 O).sub.y CF.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O-- wherein the CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2 O and CF.sub.2 O units may be randomly distributed or distributed as blocks throughout the chain and wherein x and y may be the same or different such that the molecular weight of the perfluorinated polyether is in the range of from 242 to 4,000.

Abstract: Molded polyurethane articles are made by reacting polyisocyanates with polyol compositions obtained by chemical decomposition of polyurethane and/or polyurea waste in a mold. The polyol compositions employed in this invention have an OH value of from about 100 to about 500 mg KOH/g, a water content of from 0 to about 5 wt. % and a viscosity at 20.degree. C. of more than 2,000 mPa.s. These molded polyurethane articles preferably have a sandwich structure in which the core is a polyurethane and there is at least one outer layer made from an optionally fiber-reinforced plastic material. These molded polyurethane articles are useful in the motor vehicle, furniture, machine and equipment manufacturing industries.

Abstract: The invention concerns biologically degradable polyesterS which are degraded under the action of micro-organisms in the natural environment. Said polyesters are high molecular weight satistical copolyesters which are made using an aliphatic polyalcohol, an aromatic polycarboxylic acid and also an aliphatic polycarboxylic acid as monomer components. They contain constitutional repeating or recurrent units comprising (i) a polyalcohol and an aromatic polycarboxylic acid and (ii) a polyalcohol and an aliphatic polycarboxylic acid, where over 90% of the units of type (i) are directly bonded with none or at most one other unit of type (i). The polyesters are produced by using a di-isocyanate as an additional monomer component, less isocyanate being used than any of the other monomer components. The present invention also concerns materials made from said biodegradable polyester and a process for producing said polyesters.

Abstract: These compositions encompass products made of flexible plasticized PVC, usually formulated as a dispersion of high molecular weight PVC resins in a special blend of plasticizers. Both PVC resins and plasticizers are chosen from a vast selection of each to best conform to the needs of the end use. Huge macro molecules of highly ordered PVC pack and interlock to form a rigid polymer. Properly chosen plasticizers lead to flexible floor coverings useful in anti-fatigue mats and launderable, walk off mats.

Abstract: Process for preparing a rigid and a flexible polyurethane foam by reacting a polyisocyanate and two different polyols under foam forming conditions, the polyisocyanate being reacted with said polyols in the absence of compounds comprising primary, secondary or tertiary amines. Flexible foams are obtained which do not show a major glass transition temperature between -100.degree. C. and +25.degree. C.

Abstract: A process and a device are described for the continuous production of block foam by the foaming of a mixture which reacts to form polyurethane and which contains carbon dioxide dissolved under pressure, wherein the pressure of the reactive mixture is reduced on passing through a pressure reduction zone in the form of an aperture, and blockage of the aperture is prevented by the relative movement of the aperture-delimiting faces with respect to each other.

Abstract: High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs), porous polymeric materials made therefrom, and methods for making and using the same. Specific embodiments of the invention include water-in-oil high internal phase emulsions having at least 70 volume percent of an internal aqueous phase and less than 30 volume percent of an external oil phase wherein the oil phase comprises a vinyl polymerizable monomer and a surfactant effective to stabilize the emulsion. The subject surfactants are oil soluble and preferably include an oxyalkylene component.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of a polyurethane backing and air frothed foam on a substrate comprising the steps of a) mixing a polyisocyanate and a polyol blend in the presence of a catalyst to form a reaction mixture, b) applying the reaction mixture to a substrate, and c) curing the reaction mixture to form a polyurethane backing an/or an air frothed foam on the substrate. Suitable catalyst compositions for the present invention include those corresponding to the formula: ##STR1## wherein: each R: independently represents a linear or branched C.sub.1 to C.sub.24 (preferably from 5 to 16 carbon atoms and most preferably from 8 to 12 carbon atoms) alkyl group, or a cyclic group containing from 4 to 24 carbon atoms (preferably from 5 to 16 carbon atoms and most preferably from 8 to 12 carbon atoms).

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an insulation board comprising a rigid polyisocyanurate foam core having two major surfaces and a facing material on at least one of the major surfaces, comprising (a) conveying a facing material along a production line for attachment to one major surface of the core; (b) applying a foam-forming mixture of polyisocyanurate to the facing material such that the mixture is applied along the entire width of the facing material; (c) optionally conveying a second facing material along the production line for attachment to the other major surface of the core; (d) conveying the facing material with applied foam-forming mixture into a laminator which comprises a gap for foam expansion and allowing the mixture to foam and expand to fill the gap within the laminator; and (e) curing the foam. The process provides excellent boardstock thickness control, minimal wasted densification at the foam/facer interface, greater compressive strength and high line speed.

Abstract: A method for preparing a flexible polyurethane foam by reacting an organic polyisocyanate with a polyol in the presence of urethane catalyst, water as a blowing agent, optionally a silicone surfactant, and a cell opener characterized in that the cell opener comprises an active methylene- or methine-group containing compound.

Abstract: A soft polyurethane foam which has a rebound resilience percentage of not higher than 30% and whose temperature dependency of a compression force deflection that is represented by a difference between a 25%-compression force deflection value at -20.degree. C. and a 25%-compression force deflection value at +20.degree. C. is not larger than 0.030 kg/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: A blowing agent for foaming polystyrene consisting essentially of at least one low permeability compound (preferably a volatile organic compound (VOC)), at least one low volatility compound (preferably a non-VOC) and, optionally, at least one high volatility compound (preferably a non-VOC). In one embodiment, the low permeability volatile organic compound is selected from the group consisting of isopentane and isobutane, the low volatility non-volatile organic compound is acetone and the high volatility non-volatile organic compound is carbon dioxide. The blowing agent of the present invention may be used to foam a polystyrene foam structure. The blowing agent is directed to achieving low fugitive VOC emissions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hot melt moisture cure polyurethane composition which is the reaction product of a polyether polyol formed from a compound selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, 1,2-butylene oxide, 1,4-butylene oxide and mixtures thereof; a low molecular weight polyalkylene glycol having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms; a crystalline polyester polyol having a melting point from about 40.degree. C. to about 120.degree. C.; and at least one polyfinctional isocyanate component wherein said composition has a moisture vapor transmission rate of greater than about 100 g/m.sup.2 /day film thickness of from about 450 to about 500 g/m.sup.2, and hydrolysis resistance.

Abstract: Improved low density polyurethane foams are prepared from an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer having an NCO content of more than about 31 to about 33.5% by weight comprising:(a) a polyphenylene polymethylene polyisocyanate comprising(i) about 30 to about 100% by weight of diphenylmethane diisocyanate and(ii) the remainder selected from the group consisting essentially of higher homologues of polyphenylene polymethylene polyisocyanate, isocyanate-containing ester groups, urea groups, biuret groups, aliphatic groups, carbodiimide groups, isocyanurate groups, uretdione groups and urethane groups; and(b) a polyoxyalkylene polyol having an oxyethylene content of about 30 to about 90%, a molecular weight of about 1000 to about 12000 and a functionality of about 2 to about 8.

Abstract: When it is intended to obtain foamed particles having a high expansion ratio upon the production of foamed particles of a polyolefin resin, there has been a problem that foamed particles uneven in cell diameter are produced. Any molded article produced with such foamed particles has involved a drawback that it is poor in dimensional stability, and its surface profile becomes uneven.The invention relates to foamed particles comprising a polyolefin resin as a base resin, wherein the base resin contains a metal salt (excluding alkali metal salts) of boric acid in such a manner that the content of the metal salt of boric acid in the raw resin amounts to 50-50,000 ppm. Zinc borate, magnesium borate or the like is used as the metal salt of boric acid.

Abstract: The invention provides a fire retardant composition comprising a dispersion of a solid fire retardant such as melamine, ammonium polyphosphate or guanidine carbonate in a liquid organic polyisocyanate which contains dispersed polymer particles. The preferred content of solid fire retardant is from 10 to 100% by weight and the preferred content of polymer particles is from 2 to 30% by weight. The compositions of the invention are suitable for the preparation of flexible and rigid polyurethane foams.

Abstract: PET foam is processed into flakes. The flakes are densified in a pellet mill at between about 300.degree. F. and about 350.degree. F. to produce pellets. The pellets are then dried in a desiccant dryer at about 350.degree. F. for about 6 hours, so that the dew point of the pellets reaches about -40.degree. F. The dried pellets have an intrinsic viscosity about equal to virgin PET and a crystallinity greater than 20%. This material can be reused as if it were virgin PET.

Abstract: A process is described for the continuous production of polyurethane block foam using carbon dioxide which is physically dissolved under pressure as a foaming agent, wherein before the polyol and isocyanate components are mixed the carbon dioxide is dissolved in the polyol component and air or nitrogen is dissolved in the isocyanate component, both components are fed to a mixing chamber in which a pressure prevails which is 70 to 150% of the solution pressure of the CO.sub.2 in the polyol component, the isocyanate component is fed to the mixing chamber at a pressure of at least 30 bar and is injected therein with depressurization down to the mixing chamber pressure, wherein air or nitrogen in an amount of at least 1 g per kg CO.sub.2 is dissolved in the isocyanate component, and after emerging from the mixing chamber the mixture is depressurization to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A polyethylene microporous film excellent in mechanical strength, permeability and productivity and having a very high reliability such that the safety of a battery may be secured even under severe circumstances which film has a crosslinked structure and has a porosity of 20-80%, a gel fraction of 1% or more, and an average pore diameter determined by the permeation method of 0.001-0.1 .mu.m, and a process for producing the polyethylene microporous film.