Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure encompasses a nanocomposite composition comprising a polycarbonate polyol and a nanofiller, wherein the polycarbonate polyol comprises: (a) a polycarbonate polyol derived from copolymerization of CO2 and one or more epoxides; and/or (b) an aliphatic polycarbonate polyol. In a second aspect, the present disclosure encompasses a method for preparing the nanocomposite composition. In a third aspect, the present disclosure encompasses a method of improving a performance property of a polycarbonate polyol, the method comprising the step of forming the nanocomposite composition.

Abstract: A method for breaking an emulsion may include contacting the emulsion with an emulsion-breaking solution to coalesce a dispersed phase and obtain a discrete boundary between an aqueous phase and an oleaginous phase. The emulsion may include a continuous phase and a dispersed phase dispersed within the continuous phase. The emulsion breaking solution includes an emulsion breaking compound that includes carbonate-link monomers and ether-link monomers. The carbonate-link monomers and ether-link monomers may be independently substituted with substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C50) linear or branched hydrocarbyl, substituted or unsubstituted (C3-C50) cyclohydrocarbyl, substituted or unsubstituted (C4-C50) aryl, —NH2, alkyl amines, alkoxylated amines, and substituted or unsubstituted (C1-C50) linear or branched heterohydrocarbyl.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure encompasses a nanocomposite composition comprising a polycarbonate polyol and a nanofiller, wherein the polycarbonate polyol comprises: (a) a polycarbonate polyol derived from copolymerization of CO2 and one or more epoxides; and/or (b) an aliphatic polycarbonate polyol. In a second aspect, the present disclosure encompasses a method for preparing the nanocomposite composition. In a third aspect, the present disclosure encompasses a method of improving a performance property of a polycarbonate polyol, the method comprising the step of forming the nanocomposite composition.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and systems for drying polyol starters, as well as reaction mixtures including such polyol starters, and the preparation of polymers derived from such polyol starters. In some embodiments, the present invention encompasses methods of drying a polyol initiator compound, the method including the step of contacting a composition comprising a polyol initiator compound with one or more molecular sieves.

Abstract: A method of continuously producing a polyol includes: (i) feeding a solid catalyst into a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR); (ii) contacting a reaction mixture comprising one or more epoxides and carbon dioxide with the solid catalyst and a chain transfer agent comprising a plurality of sites capable of initiating copolymerization of epoxides and carbon dioxide in the CSTR; (iii) allowing polymerization reaction to proceed until a desired molecular weight polyol has formed; and (iv) terminating the polymerization reaction.