Abstract: A process for preparing polyol. The process can include depolymerizing an isocyanate-based material via a depolymerization reaction to obtain a liquid polyol product and treating the liquid polyol product with an adsorbent to remove an impurity from the liquid polyol product. The isocyanate-based material can be an isocyanate-based scrap material.

Abstract: An article comprising two or more layers. One or more of the layers includes of a polymeric foam tape containing one or more curable resins. One aspect of the present invention is to use the article as an orthopedic casting splint.

Abstract: An article including a polymeric foam having a thickness of less than about 3/16 inch (about 5 mm) and one or more curable resins.

Abstract: An orthopedic casting article comprising a polymeric foam tape containing one or more curable resins. The polymeric foam tape can be a foam having a substantially open cell structure, substantially closed cell structure, or a substantially reticulated cell structure. The curable resin can be a water-curable resin. The casting article can be multi-layered to obtain an article suitable for splinting applications.

Abstract: An activatable material and articles incorporating the same is disclosed. The activatable material includes an isocyanate and an isocyanate reactive compound. The isocyanate is typically blocked such that the activatable material is non-reactive at temperatures below about 100° C. The activatable material is preferably used for sealing, baffling, reinforcing, adhering, sound attenuation, sound damping or the like of an article of manufacture such as an automotive vehicle.

Abstract: An orthopedic casting article comprising a polymeric foam tape containing one or more curable resins. The polymeric foam tape can be a foam having a substantially open cell structure, substantially closed cell structure, or a substantially reticulated cell structure. The curable resin can be a water-curable resin. The casting article can be multi-layered to obtain an article suitable for splinting applications.

Abstract: A process of chemically recycling polyurethane-containing scrap. Polyurethane-containing scrap is subjected to a chemolysis reaction to produce chemolysis polyol products. The chemolysis polyol products are used as initiators in a reaction with alkylene oxide to produce oxyalkylated polyols for preparing polyurethanes.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a protective packaging for protecting an at least one article is disclosed. The protective packaging is comprised of a shape memory foam (SMF) structure conforming to at least a portion of to at least one article for protecting the at least one article. The SMF has a glass transition temperature (Tg).

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymeric foam, preferably a polyurethane foam, having a glass transition temperature, Tg, which is at or above room temperature (21° C.). The foam is rigid at room temperature and elastic above the Tg. The foam has shape memory such that when it is deformed at a temperature above the Tg and the temperature is then lowered to room temperature or below, the foam retains its deformed shape, and when the temperature is then raised above the Tg the foam returns substantially to its original shape. In other words, the foam possesses hibernated elastic memory in the rigid state. The foam is also hydrophobic, which allows it to be used in many applications where hydrophilic foams are unsuitable.

Abstract: The invention involves recycling scrap material having a thermoplastic. The invention includes a method of forming a thermoplastic pre-preg sheet for use in a subsequent molding operation. The method includes shredding a first scrap material having a thermoplastic to form fluff. The fluff has at least about 20 percent weight of thermoplastic. The method further includes sufficiently compacting the fluff into a thermoplastic state sufficient for forming the thermoplastic pre-preg sheet.

Abstract: A horticultural growing medium comprises a polyisocyanate-polyol-based polymer, and at least one filler material. A method of making a horticultural growing medium comprises the steps of mixing at least one filler material with a polyisocyanate-polyol-based quasi-prepolymer composition, to form a quasi-prepolymer/filler mixture and applying water to the quasi-prepolymer/filler mixture to form a hydrophilic growing medium. A method of growing plant seedlings comprising planting a seed or seedling in a horticultural growing medium containing a hydrophilic polyisocyanate-polyol-based polymer and at least one filler material, is also disclosed. A hydrophilic urethane polymer comprises the reaction product of a quasi-prepolymer and water wherein the quasi-prepolymer contains an isocyanate and a hydrophilic polyol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymeric foam, preferably a polyurethane foam, having a glass transition temperature, Tg, which is at or above room temperature (21° C.). The foam is rigid at room temperature and elastic above the Tg. The foam has shape memory such that when it is deformed at a temperature above the Tg and the temperature is then lowered to room temperature or below, the foam retains its deformed shape, and when the temperature is then raised above the Tg the foam returns substantially to its original shape. In other words, the foam possesses hibernated elastic memory in the rigid state. The foam is also hydrophobic, which allows it to be used in many applications where hydrophilic foams are unsuitable.

Abstract: A process of chemically recycling polyurethane-containing scrap. Polyurethane-containing scrap is subjected to a chemolysis reaction to produce chemolysis polyol products. The chemolysis polyol products are used as initiators in a reaction with alkylene oxide to produce oxyalkylated polyols for preparing polyurethanes.

Abstract: A method for recycling materials including a significant portion of polyurethane foam includes forming the foam into a fluff of particle sized 0.25-1.0, and most preferably 0.25-0.50 inch. The material is moved to a mold and molded at an elevated temperature and pressure. Preferably, the glass transition temperature of the foam is exceeded. Other filler materials may be mixed with the fluff material. The invention recycles scrap which includes polyurethane foam, but greatly reduces the complexity of re-utilizing the scrap.

Abstract: A compressed solid produced from a feed mixture of bottom ash and a binder. The feed mixture includes about 80% to 95% by weight bottom ash, or at least about 50% by weight bottom ash in combination with other waste materials, in combination with a polyisocyanate-based binder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the recycling of trim components of vehicles. The method comprises the steps of shredding manufacturing scrap and post-consumer scrap from vehicle headliners into small particles to produce fluff. This fluff is then combined with water and a binder reagent composed of either polyisocyanates, or polyisocyanates combined with various polyols. The solution of fluff, binder reagent and water are mixed, and then placed in a mold where the mixture is formed into a pre-preg sheet. Subsequently, the pre-preg sheet is subjected to compression molding at elevated temperatures to produce a finished composite trim panel. As part of the final compression molding step, a decorative coverstock can be included to produce a finished trim panel having a decorative cover.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polyurethanes are formed from a hydrogenated polydiene diol having from 1.6 to 2 terminal hydroxyl groups per molecule and a number average molecular weight between 500 and 20,000, an isocyanate having two isocyanate groups per molecule, and optionally a chain extender having two hydroxyl groups per molecule. The thermoplastic polyurethanes have excellent resistance to moisture as evidenced by retention of more than 70%, preferably at least 85%, of original tensile strength after aging in water for 7 days at a temperature of at least 70.degree. C. Preparation by a prepolymer method with subsequent addition of the chain extender is preferred.

Abstract: Cast polyurethanes are preferably formed from a hydrogenated polydiene diol having from up to 2 terminal hydroxyl groups per molecule and a number average molecular weight between 1000 and 20,000, an isocyanate having two or more isocyanate groups per molecule. This composition is then reacted with an amine curing agent at 80 to 130.degree. C. to form a cast elastomer with excellent hydrolytic stability. The amine curing agent must be a hindered aromatic amine crosslinker with low polarity and a solubility parameter of less than 10.5.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the recycling of trim components of vehicles. The method comprises the steps of shredding manufacturing scrap and post-consumer scrap from vehicle headliners into small particles to produce fluff. This fluff is then combined with water and a binder reagent composed of either polyisocyanates, or polyisocyanates combined with various polyols. The solution of fluff, binder reagent and water are mixed, and then placed in a mold where the mixture is formed into a pre-preg sheet. Subsequently, the pre-preg sheet is subjected to compression molding at elevated temperatures to produce a finished composite trim panel. As part of the final compression molding step, a decorative coverstock can be included to produce a finished trim panel having a decorative cover.

Abstract: A process for producing nano size powders comprising the steps of mixing an aqueous continuous phase comprising at least one metal cation salt with a hydrophilic organic polymeric disperse phase, forming a metal cation salt/polymer gel, and heat treating the gel at a temperature sufficient to drive off water and organics within the gel, leaving as a residue a nanometer particle-size powder.