Abstract: Flexible polyurethane foams are made by reacting a hydrophilic quasi-prepolymer, water and a polymer polyol in the presence of a silicone surfactant and an ethylene oxide/higher alkylene oxide block copolymer. The foams exhibit desirably low densities and compression sets, and have good thermal and moisture-wicking properties. The foams are useful in bedding and other comfort applications in which they are exposed to body heat and bear at least a portion of the weight of the user. The thermal and moisture wicking properties contribute to perceived comfort for the user.

Abstract: Flexible polyurethane foams are made by reacting a hydrophilic quasi-prepolymer, water and a polymer polyol in the presence of a silicone surfactant and an ethylene oxide/higher alkylene oxide block copolymer. The foams exhibit desirably low densities and compression sets, and have good thermal and moisture-wicking properties. The foams are useful in bedding and other comfort applications in which they are exposed to body heat and bear at least a portion of the weight of the user. The thermal and moisture wicking properties contribute to perceived comfort for the user.

Abstract: Carpet backing for residential, commercial and recreational carpet which exhibits a tuftbind greater than 4.5 kg, ASTM D 1335, contains a polyurethane reaction product of a polyisocyanate; an active hydrogen containing compound; and a polyol reaction product. Typically, the polyol reaction product is a reaction product of a polyol and a vegetable oil and contains less than about 50 percent by weight of unreacted vegetable oil. The vegetable oil is preferably selected from palm oil, safflower oil, canola oil, soy oil, cottonseed oil and rapeseed oil. In a preferred embodiment, the vegetable oil is blown. Typically, the amount of unreacted vegetable oil in the polyol reaction product is less than about 34 weight percent. The hard segment of the resulting polyurethane reaction product constitutes at least 20 weight percent of the polyurethane reaction product. The carpet backing of the invention may be used as a precoat, a laminate or foam coating.

Abstract: The method forms a polyurethane article and involves dispersing polyurethane particles in a substantially aqueous liquid, mixing in a fine glass filler such as a post-consumer ground soda-lime glass, casting the filled dispersion and coalescing the particles by removing the liquid such that a polyurethane article having fused particles are formed. The polyurethane articles are useful as carpet backings.

Abstract: A polyurethane having enhanced properties is made from an aqueous polyurethane dispersion having therein a nonvolatile, non-reactive, property enhancing water-soluble (NNPEW) compound such as urea. Even though the NNPEW is soluble in water, the NNPEW remains in the polyurethane after being exposed to water. In another embodiment, the NNPEW may react with a compound present in the dispersion other than the polyurethane particles of the dispersion when removing the water of the dispersion to form the polyurethane or upon subsequent heating.