Abstract: An intumescent composition comprising a resinous binder, an inorganic acid source, a carbon source and a blowing agent, the blowing agent comprises(a) a 2-amino s-triazine of general formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same of different and are each selected from hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl and amino groups and alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl and substituted alkenyl groups containing up to 6 carbon atoms and(b) a saturated or unsaturated polybasic carboxylic acid containing no more than 2 non-carboxyl carbon atoms per carboxyl group.

Abstract: Composite materials composed of an organic polymer containing a fire-retardant together with a blowing agent and a hydroxy group-containing organic acid or a salt thereof, or a reaction product of the blowing agent and said acid or salt.

Abstract: Improved polyfuran foams are prepared by polymerizing or copolymerizing furfuryl alcohol, alone or in combination with prepolymers or precopolymers of furfuryl alcohol, as liquid feed material in the presence of a liquid acidic compound, the liquid feed material containing at least 20% of free furfuryl alcohol and wherein at least 50% of the hydroxyl groups in the mixture are present as free furfuryl alcohol. The liquid acidic compound or mixture of acidic compounds having a pKa value in water of from 1 to 4 or having a pka value in water of less than 1 and being uniformly distributed in mono alcohols that do not polymerize in the presence of said acidic compound or mixture of acidic compounds. The polyfuran foam having non-flammability characteristics as determined by the muffle furance test.

Abstract: Foamed plastics with improved combustion characteristics are produced by condensing an aqueous solution of formaldehyde-urea and/or melamine precondensates with polyisocyanates and optionally a polyol in the presence of an acid catalyst, being present in an amount of 1 part by weight per at least 20 parts by weight of precondensate, whereby this catalyst is added to the isocyanate before mixing with the precondensate or to the mixture of isocyanate and precondensate, but separately from the precondensate.

Abstract: Urethane-modified isocyanurate foams are prepared by catalytically condensing an organic polyisocyanate in the presence of a polyol and from 5% to 50% by weight based on the weight of the organic polyisocyanurate of an ammonium phosphate. The resulting foams are characterized by improved flame retardancy and strength properties.

Abstract: Polyester foam is formed by simultaneously cross-linking an unsaturated polyester resin and generating carbon dioxide as a blowing agent. The foam-forming components are divided into two equal volume parts which are metered together to effect the simultaneous reactions and form the foam. Apparatus is described for effecting the foam-forming method.

Abstract: Foamed articles are made by causing the cross-linking of a thermosetting in, preferably a polyester resin, concurrently with the production of carbon dioxide by the reaction of a carbonate with an inorganic acid. The carbonate is mixed with the resin and the acid then folded in in a progressively accelerated blending operation, whereupon carbon dioxide is generated to foam the resin, the carbonate, acid and setting time of the resin being selected to obtain an appropriate match between the progress of the foaming operation and the setting of the foam. The foam may be made in a mold coated with resin impregnated glass fibers, the impregnating resin becoming cross-linked with the foam. The impregnating resin may also be cross-linked with a resin gel coat, the glass fibers forming a tough layer between the gel coat and the foam.

Abstract: A high compressive strength phenolic resin foam is made by: adding between about 0.5 to 5.0 parts of a dual surfactant system and about 8 to 25 parts of a blowing agent, to 200 parts of a phenolic resole resin to form a pre-mix; agitating this pre-mix with about 20 to 70 parts of an aqueous dual sulfuric-phosphoric acid solution to provide a foaming phenolic material; immediately thereafter pouring or injecting the material into a mold or onto a suitable substrate, to provide a phenolic foam having a substantially uniform compressive strength of at least 40 psi. at between about 20% to 50% compression, at a deflection rate of between about 2 in./min. to about 5 in./min.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to hydrophobic inorganic-organic lightweight foams produced from aqueous suspensions of finely divided water-insoluble inorganic materials and polyisocyanates. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for the production of highly filled, hydrophobic, lightweight polyurea foams comprising reacting(a) liquid, water insoluble polyisocyanates free from ionic groups, having viscosities of more than 200 cP at 25.degree. C. and having isocyanate functionalities of greater than 2.1, with(b) an aqueous suspension of inorganic filler, said suspension having a solids content of from 30 to 80 percent by weight and having a pH value of above 8, at least 50 percent by weight of the suspended fillers having a particle size of less than 50 microns,(c) in the presence of the foam stabilizer of the polyether/polysiloxane type and in the presence of a tertiary amine catalyst,The weight ratio of components (b) to component (a) being better 1:2 and 6:1.