Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an injection fluid comprising liquid or super-critical carbon dioxide (CO2) and alkoxylated alcohols and the use of such fluids in oil recovery processes. More specifically, the invention it relates to the reduction of the miscibility pressure during CO2 injection oil recovery processes by the use of alkox-ylated alcohols. Further, the invention relates to an oil recovery process injecting CO2 and alkoxylated alcohols.

Abstract: A polyurethane foam, polyisocyanurate foam or polyurea foam is obtainable from the reaction of a mixture comprising A) a compound reactive towards isocyanate (“NCO-reactive compound”); B) a blowing agent selected from the group comprising linear, branched or cyclic C1 to C6 hydrocarbons, linear,branched or cyclic C1 to C6 fluorocarbons, N2, O2, argon and/or CO2, where the blowing agent B) is present in the supercritical or near-critical state; C) a polyisocyanate; D) an amphiphilic isocyanate; and E) optionally a surfactant and F) optionally other auxiliaries and additives. The invention further relates to the production of this polyurethane foam, where the blowing agent is emulsified in the isocyanate component containing amphiphilic isocyanate.

Abstract: A polyurethane foam, polyisocyanurate foam or polyurea foam is obtainable from the reaction of a mixture comprising A) a compound reactive towards isocyanate (“NCO-reactive compound”); B) a blowing agent selected from the group comprising linear, branched or cyclic C1 to C6 hydrocarbons, linear,branched or cyclic C1 to C6 fluorocarbons, N2, O2, argon and/or CO2, where the blowing agent B) is present in the supercritical or near-critical state; C) a polyisocyanate; D) an amphiphilic isocyanate; and E) optionally a surfactant and F) optionally other auxiliaries and additives. The invention further relates to the production of this polyurethane foam, where the blowing agent is emulsified in the isocyanate component containing amphiphilic isocyanate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a foamed material, wherein a composition in the form of emulsion with a matrix-forming component, a surfactant component and a near-critical or supercritical blowing agent component is submitted to a lowering of pressure. The blowing agent component further comprises a hydrophobic co-component, which is soluble in supercritical CO2 at a pressure of ?150 bar, is insoluble in subcritical CO2 at a pressure of ?40 bar and is insoluble in the matrix-forming component and furthermore is present in a proportion from ?3 wt % to ?35 wt % of the blowing agent component. It further relates to a composition in the form of emulsion to be used herein and a foamed material obtainable by the process according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a polyurethane foam, where the blowing agent used is present in the supercritical or near-critical state. A reaction mixture is introduced into a closed mould, where the closed mould has been set up in such a way that its interior volume and/or the pressure prevailing in its interior can be altered after the introduction of the mixture by external influence. Through the selection of the surfactant it is possible to obtain microemulsions of the blowing agent in the polyol phase. The invention further relates to a nanocellular polyurethane foam obtainable by the process of the invention.

Abstract: A process for producing a polyurethane foam with bimodal cell size distribution, comprising the following steps: providing a mixture in a mixing head, where the mixture comprises: A) a component reactive towards isocyanates; B) a surfactant component; C) a blowing agent component selected from the group consisting of linear, branched or cyclic C1- to C6-alkanes, linear, branched or cyclic C1- to C6-fluoroalkanes, N2, O2, argon and/or CO2, where blowing agent component C) is present in the supercritical or near-critical state; D) a polyisocyanate component; discharging the mixture comprising components A), B), C), and D) from the mixing head where, during the discharge of the mixture, the pressure prevailing in the mixture is lowered to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Process for producing a polyurethane foam and polyurethane foam obtainable therefrom A process for producing a polyurethane foam with bimodal cell size distribution, comprising the following steps: providing a mixture in a mixing head, where the mixture comprises: A) a component reactive towards isocyanates; B) a surfactant component; C) a blowing agent component selected from the group consisting of linear, branched or cyclic C1- to C6-alkanes, linear, branched or cyclic C1- to C6-fluoroalkanes, N2, O2, argon and/or CO2, where blowing agent component C) is present in the supercritical or near-critical state; D) a polyisocyanate component; discharging the mixture comprising components A), B), C), and D) from the mixing head where, during the discharge of the mixture, the pressure prevailing in the mixture is lowered to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a foamed material, wherein a composition in the form of emulsion with a matrix-forming component, a surfactant component and a near-critical or supercritical blowing agent component is submitted to a lowering of pressure. The blowing agent component further comprises a hydrophobic co-component, which is soluble in supercritical CO2 at a pressure of ?150 bar, is insoluble in subcritical CO2 at a pressure of ?40 bar and is insoluble in the matrix-forming component and furthermore is present in a proportion from ?3 wt % to ?35 wt % of the blowing agent component. It further relates to a composition in the form of emulsion to be used herein and a foamed material obtainable by the process according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reaction mixture in emulsion form, suitable for conversion into polyurethanes, comprising a first phase and a second phase in the emulsion and further comprising the following components: A) polyols; B) blowing agent; C) surfactants; and D) isocyanates, wherein the isocyanate-reactive compounds A) are present in the first phase of the emulsion and the blowing agent B) is present in the second phase. The blowing agent B) is present in the near-critical or supercritical state and the isocyanate D) is present in the second phase in a proportion of ?10% by weight of the total amount of isocyanate D) in the composition. The invention further relates to a method of producing polyurethane foams by providing such a reaction mixture, wherein a polymerization takes place at the freshly formed interface between the polyol phase and the blowing agent phase, to the use of such a reaction mixture for producing polyurethane foams and also to the polyurethane foams obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a polyurethane foam, where the blowing agent used is present in the supercritical or near-critical state. A reaction mixture is introduced into a closed mould, where the closed mould has been set up in such a way that its interior volume and/or the pressure prevailing in its interior can be altered after the introduction of the mixture by external influence. Through the selection of the surfactant it is possible to obtain microemulsions of the blowing agent in the polyol phase. The invention further relates to a nanocellular polyurethane foam obtainable by the process of the invention.

Abstract: A process for producing a polyurethane foam with bimodal cell size distribution, comprising the following steps: providing a mixture in a mixing head, where the mixture comprises: A) a component reactive towards isocyanates; B) a surfactant component; C) a blowing agent component selected from the group consisting of linear, branched or cyclic C1- to C6-alkanes, linear, branched or cyclic C1- to C6-fluoroalkanes, N2, O2, argon and/or CO2, where blowing agent component C) is present in the supercritical or near-critical state; D) a polyisocyanate component; discharging the mixture comprising components A), B), C), and D) from the mixing head where, during the discharge of the mixture, the pressure prevailing in the mixture is lowered to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A method for producing rigid sugar micro-/nanofoams includes providing a solution with at least one sugar, a super- or near-critical fluid and a surfactant component as a (micro)emulsion. The (micro)emulsion is expanded so as to convert the super- or near-critical fluid from a state of liquid-like density to a state of gaseous density so as to thereby obtain a micro-/nanofoam. The micro-/nanofoam is then rigidified so as to obtain a rigid sugar micro-/nanofoam.

Abstract: The invention relates to bicontinuous microemulsions and to the use thereof as a fuel, combustion or heating fluid. Said fuels permit an increased efficiency of internal combustion systems and heating installations of any type and, simultaneously, a minimized emission of pollutants, associated with combustion, to be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to bicontinuous microemulsions and to the use thereof as a fuel, combustion or heating fluid. Said fuels permit an increased efficiency of internal combustion systems and heating installations of any type and, simultaneously, a minimized emission of pollutants, associated with combustion, to be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a foamed material and to a method for the production of said foamed material. According to the inventive method, foamed material is produced with nanosized foam bubbles Z1 without the need to surmount the energy barrier which usually occurs during phase transitions and nucleation processes. The aim of the invention is to produce a foamed material in a controlled manner, said material having a foam bubble density of 1012-1018 per cm3 and an average foam bubble diameter of 10 nm-10 ?m hat. The inventive method is based on the dispersion of a second fluid K2 the form of pools Po in a matrix of a first fluid K1 involving supramolecular interaction of an amphiphile K3. The first fluid K1 is provided as a matrix in the reaction chamber RK and the second fluid K2 is provided in pools. The second fluid K2 is transformed into a near-critical or overcritical state with a near-liquid density by modifying the pressure and/or temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the efficiency of surfactants as well as to a method for suppressing lamellar mesophases in microemulsions. According to the invention, block copolymers having a water-soluble block A and a water-insoluble part B are admixed to the surfactants. The use of these substances as additives can considerably increase the efficiency of the surfactants. Moreover, the addition of the block copolymers suppresses the formation of undesired lamellar mesophases in microemulsions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the efficiency of surfactants and to a method for suppressing lamellar mesophases in microemulsions. Additive block co-polymers with a water-soluble block A and a water-insoluble part B are added to the surfactants. The efficiency of surfactants can be in-creased to a substantial extent by using said compounds as additives. The formation of undesirable lamellar mesophases in microemulsions is suppressed by adding said block co-polymers.