Abstract: Rigid, closed cell polyisocyanurate foams are prepared by reacting together a polyisocyanate and a polyester polyol or a mixture of a polyester polyol and at least one other isocyanate-reactive compound in the presence of (a) a hydrogen-containing blowing agent or a mixture of a hydrogen-containing blowing agent and at least one co-blowing agent and (b) a catalyst mixture comprising (i) a carboxylate salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof, (ii) a tertiary amine, and (iii) a quaternary ammonium carboxylate salt, wherein the mole ratio of carboxylate metal salt: tertiary amine is a value less than about 2:1, and the total moles of quaternary ammonium carboxylate salt are less than the combined moles of the carboxylate metal salt and the tertiary amine.

Abstract: Rigid, closed cell polyisocyanurate foams are prepared by reacting together a polyisocyanate and a polyester polyol or a mixture of a polyester polyol and at least one other isocyanate-reactive compound in the presence of (a) a hydrogen-containing blowing agent or a mixture of a hydrogen-containing blowing agent and at least one co-blowing agent and (b) a catalyst mixture comprising (i) a carboxylate salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof, (ii) a tertiary amine, and (iii) a quaternary ammonium carboxylate salt, wherein the mole ratio of carboxylate metal salt: tertiary amine is a value less than about 2:1, and the total moles of quaternary ammonium carboxylate salt are less than the combined moles of the carboxylate metal salt and the tertiary amine.

Abstract: A closed cell, rigid polyisocyanurate foam which comprises the reaction product of a polyisocyanate and a polyol in the presence of (a) a hydrogen-containing blowing agent or a mixture of a hydrogen-containing blowing agent and at least one co-blowing agent, and (b) a siloxane oxyalkylene copolymer (i) having a molecular weight below about 7500 and an oxyalkylene portion containing greater than 60 weight percent of oxyethylene units and (ii) being prepared by the reaction of an organohydrogensiloxane with a polyoxyalkylene in an essentially solventless system or in the presence of a high boiling point polar polyol.

Abstract: A closed cell, rigid polyisocyanurate foam which comprises the reaction product of a polyisocyanate and a polyol in the presence of (a) a hydrogen-containing blowing agent or a mixture of a hydrogen-containing blowing agent and at least one co-blowing agent, and (b) a siloxane oxyalkylene copolymer (i) having a molecular weight below about 7500 and an oxyalkylene portion containing greater than 60 weight percent of oxyethylene units and (ii) being prepared by the reaction of an organohydrogensiloxane with a polyoxyalkylene in an essentially solventless system or in the presence of a high boiling point polar polyol.

Abstract: Rigid, closed cell polyisocyanurate foams are prepared by reacting together a polyisocyanate and a polyester polyol or a mixture of a polyester polyol and at least one other isocyanate-reactive compound in the presence of (a) a hydrogen-containing blowing agent or a mixture of a hydrogen-containing blowing agent and at least one co-blowing agent and (b) a catalyst mixture comprising (i) a carboxylate salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal or mixtures thereof, (ii) a tertiary amine, and (iii) a quaternary ammonium carboxylate salt, wherein the equivalent ratio of carboxylate metal salt: tertiary amine is a value less than about 3:1, and the quaternary ammonium carboxylate salt is present in an amount which enhances the char structure of polyisocyanurate foams made with the catalyst mixture and subjected to flammability char tests.

Abstract: An isocyanate-terminated quasi-prepolymer is prepared by reacting an organic polyisocyanate and a polyester polyol which comprises the reaction product of a polycarboxylic acid component and ethylene glycol or a mixture of ethylene glycol and at least one other glycol. The use of the quasi-prepolymer in the preparation of rigid cellular polymers, especially polyisocyanurate foams, enhances the thermal insulating properties of the foams, and helps to reduce their cost and blowing agent usage.

Abstract: Rigid cellular polymers are made by reacting an isocyanate-terminated quasi-prepolymer with a polyol component comprising a polyester polyol having a free glycol content of less than about 7 percent by weight of the polyester polyol in the presence of a blowing agent. The combined use of the quasi-prepolymer and the polyester polyol enhances the thermal insulating properties of the foams.

Abstract: A storage-stable premix composition for use in a foam-forming reaction with an organic polyisocyanate in the manufacture of a polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam comprising(a) at least one polyol,(b) at least one halogenated organic blowing agent,(c) at least one amine catalyst, and(d) a stabilizing amount of at least one polyvalent metal-containing organometallic compound.Some organometallic compounds of the invention have a slight catalytic effect but do not have the pronounced activity of conventional urethane and isocyanurate catalysts such as dibutyltin dilaurate and stannous octoate.

Abstract: A polyester polyol suitable for use in a foam-forming reaction with an organic polyisocyanate in the manufacture of a polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam, the polyester polyol being the reaction product of polycarboxylic acid and polyol components, wherein the polyol component solely or partially comprises an oxyalkylated polyol selected from the group consisting of(a) at least one oxyalkylated polyol having at least one primary and at least one secondary hydroxyl group, and(b) an oxyalkylated polyol mixture containing at least one oxyalkylated polyol having at least one primary and at least one secondary hydroxyl group.

Abstract: A polyester polyol suitable for use in a foam-forming reaction with an organic polyisocyanate in the manufacture of a polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam, the polyester polyol being the reaction product of polycarboxylic acid and polyol components, wherein the polyol component comprises(a) at least one alkylene glycol of the formula:HO--R.sub.1 --OHwherein R.sub.1 is a straight or branched chain alkylene group having two to five carbon atoms, and is unsubstituted or substituted by at least one member selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, nitro and amino,(b) at least one higher alkylene glycol, and(c) optionally at least one additional polyol.

Abstract: A polyester polyol mixture is prepared by reacting a polycarboxylic acid component-containing polyol with a terephthalic acid residue, wherein the polycarboxylic acid component has ring units with two ##STR1## groups on adjacent or alternate ring positions, the ring unit content of the polycarboxylic acid component being sufficient for viscosity reduction of the polyester polyol mixture. The polyester polyol mixture is useful in the preparation of cellular foam materials, particularly polyisocyanurate and polyurethane foams, and laminates thereof.

Abstract: Polyoxyalkylene surfactants for cellular foams can be prepared by reacting under free radical polymerization conditions (1) an unsaturated polyoxyalkylene adduct and (2) an esterified unsaturated dibasic acid ingredient, wherein unsaturated diester ingredient (2) either completely or partially comprises a fumarate diester.

Abstract: Polyoxyalkylene surfactants for cellular foams can be prepared by reacting under free radical polymerization conditions (1) an unsaturated polyoxyalkylene adduct and (2) an esterified unsaturated dibasic acid ingredient, wherein unsaturated diester ingredient (2) either completely or partially comprises a fumarate diester.