Abstract: A new class of polyols derived from renewable resources, including polyglycerol and vegetable oils, the use of such polyols in polyurethane foams and cast resins, and methods for making the polyols and polyurethanes are provided.

Abstract: A method of making a biobased-petrochemical hybrid polyol is provided. This method includes reacting a cyclic ether with a vegetable oil-based polyol in the presence of a cationic catalyst or a coordinative catalyst that includes a vegetable oil-based polyol ligand to form the biobased-petrochemical hybrid polyol. The biobased-petrochemical hybrid polyol that is created has a number average molecular weight of about 3,000 to about 6,000 and has a structure that is about 22% to about 36% biobased. In one aspect of the present invention, the cyclic ether is propylene oxide, and the propoxylated polyol formed from the propylene oxide and vegetable oil-based polyol is then reacted with ethylene oxide in the presence of a superacid catalyst to create a block copolymer with a terminal polyethylene oxide block having a high percentage of terminal primary hydroxyl groups.

Abstract: A soy-based polyol is mixed with an isocyanate and aggregate to produce a soy-based polyurethane having superior mechanical properties. The aggregate composition may be varied to obtain different mechanical properties, as can the amount of resin. The resin may be crosslinked using a low molecular weight polyol, such as glycerine, to also improve structural performance. A catalyst may be added to accelerate curing time without reducing structural performance.

Abstract: Methods of making unsaturated modified vegetable oil-based polyols are described. Also described are methods of making oligomeric modified vegetable oil-based polyols. An oligomeric composition having a modified fatty acid triglyceride structure is also described. Also, methods of making a polyol including hydroformylation and hydrogenation of oils in the presence of a catalyst and support are described.

Abstract: Methods of making unsaturated modified vegetable oil-based polyols are described. Also described are methods of making oligomeric modified vegetable oil-based polyols. An oligomeric composition having a modified fatty acid triglyceride structure is also described. Also, methods of making a polyol including hydroformylation and hydrogenation of oils in the presence of a catalyst and support are described.

Abstract: A new class of polyols derived from renewable resources, including polyglycerol and vegetable oils, the use of such polyols in polyurethane foams and cast resins, and methods for making the polyols and polyurethanes are provided.

Abstract: Methods of making unsaturated modified vegetable oil-based polyols are described. Also described are methods of making oligomeric modified vegetable oil-based polyols. An oligomeric composition having a modified fatty acid triglyceride structure is also described. Also, methods of making a polyol including hydroformylation and hydrogenation of oils in the presence of a catalyst and support are described.

Abstract: A method for making natural oil-based polyols directly from vegetable or animal oil using a consecutive two-step process involving epoxidation and hydroxylation is provided. Specifically, this process comprises adding a peroxyacid to a natural oil wherein said natural oil and said peroxyacid react to form an epoxidized natural oil and adding said epoxidized natural oil to a mixture of an alcohol, water, and a fluoboric acid catalyst. The catalytic amount of fluoboric acid is less than about 0.5% by weight of the entire reaction mixture, and the amount of water is about 10 to 30% by weight of the entire mixture. The epoxidized natural oil undergoes hydroxylation and forms a natural oil-based polyol. The present invention further includes a method for making natural oil-based polyols from epoxidized oil by hydroylating the epoxidized oil in the presence of fluoboric acid, alcohol and water in the amounts discussed above.

Abstract: A vegetable oil-based polyol is made by adding a peroxyacid to vegetable oil wherein said peroxyacid reacts with said vegetable oil to form epoxidized vegetable oil and adding said epoxidized vegetable oil to a mixture of an alcohol, water, and a catalytic amount of fluoboric acid so as to form a vegetable oil-based polyol. A further embodiment of the present invention involves making a vegetable oil-based polyol using an epoxidized vegetable oil as the starting material. The epoxidized vegetable oil undergoes hydroxylation by the same process as outlined above. According to another aspect of the present invention, the vegetable oil-based polyol formed by the novel methods of this invention may be reacted with an isocyanate to form a polyurethane. Alternatively, a filler such as silica may be combined with the vegetable oil-based polyol before it is reacted with the isocyanate. These polyurethanes made from vegetable oil-based polyols may be used to form electroinsulating casting resins.

Abstract: A soy-based polyol is mixed with an isocyanate and aggregate to produce a soy-based polyurethane having superior mechanical properties. The aggregate composition may be varied to obtain different mechanical properties, as can the amount of resin. The resin may be crosslinked using a low molecular weight polyol, such as glycerine, to also improve structural performance. A catalyst may be added to accelerate curing time without reducing structural performance.

Abstract: A method for making natural oil-based polyols directly from vegetable or animal oil using a consecutive two-step process involving epoxidation and hydroxylation is provided. Specifically, this process comprises adding a peroxyacid to a natural oil wherein said natural oil and said peroxyacid react to form an epoxidized natural oil and adding said epoxidized natural oil to a mixture of an alcohol, water, and a fluoboric acid catalyst. The catalytic amount of fluoboric acid is less than about 0.5% by weight of the entire reaction mixture, and the amount of water is about 10 to 30% by weight of the entire mixture. The epoxidized natural oil undergoes hydroxylation and forms a natural oil-based polyol. The present invention further includes a method for making natural oil-based polyols from epoxidized oil by hydroylating the epoxidized oil in the presence of fluoboric acid, alcohol and water in the amounts discussed above.

Abstract: A vegetable oil-based polyol is made by adding a peroxyacid to vegetable oil wherein said peroxyacid reacts with said vegetable oil to form epoxidized vegetable oil and adding said epoxidized vegetable oil to a mixture of an alcohol, water, and a catalytic amount of fluoboric acid so as to form a vegetable oil-based polyol. A further embodiment of the present invention involves making a vegetable oil-based polyol using an epoxidized vegetable oil as the starting material. The epoxidized vegetable oil undergoes hydroxylation by the same process as outlined above. According to another aspect of the present invention, the vegetable oil-based polyol formed by the novel methods of this invention may be reacted with an isocyanate to form a polyurethane. Alternatively, a filler such as silica may be combined with the vegetable oil-based polyol before it is reacted with the isocyanate. These polyurethanes made from vegetable oil-based polyols may be used to form electroinsulating casting resins.

Abstract: The invention provides a conforming medium containing gels for customized fitting components, such as those used in a shoe. The invention further includes environmentally-responsive gels that are temperature-responsive so that they will react to body heat to transition from a liquid to a gel state or a gel state to a liquid state. Furthermore, the invention is directed to an article for conforming to the contours of an object having isolation means, such as a ladder of a flexible member, to contain the environmentally-responsive gel therein.

Abstract: A shoe that conforms to foot contours and provides cushioning is comprised of a shoe sole and a shoe upper attached to the shoe sole. The shoe upper is comprised of an outer layer, an inner layer and a conforming layer therebetween, wherein a first portion of the conforming layer is comprised of environmentally-responsive gel. The environmentally-responsive gel is a temperature-responsive gel that will react to the heat emanating from a foot inserted into the shoe to express a liquid.

Abstract: The invention provides a conforming medium containing gels for customized fitting components, such as those used in a shoe. The invention further includes environmentally-responsive gels that are temperature-responsive so that they will react to body heat to transition from a liquid to a gel state or a gel state to a liquid state. The invention optionally includes thermally-sensitive dyes and other colorants in the environmentally-responsive gels. Furthermore, the invention is directed to an article for conforming to the contours of an object having isolation means, such as a bladder of a flexible member, to contain the environmentally-responsive gel therein.