Recycle-content polyester polyols

US10273332B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• RESINATE MATERIALS GROUP, INC. · US

Inventors

• Rick Tabor · Plymouth, US
• Eric David Vrabel · Ferndale, US
• Kevin Anthony Rogers · Farmington, US
• Shakti L. Mukerjee · Canton, US
• Matthew J. Beatty · Ann Arbor, US
• Adam W. Emerson · Belleville, US
• Matthew T. Brown · South Lyon, US
• Jack Rogers Kovsky · Livonia, US
• Michael D. Kellerman · Chicago, US
• Michael Robert Christy · Howell, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 30, 2015
• Grant date: Apr 30, 2019
• Expiry date: Nov 21, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02W30/62
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Polyester polyols made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) and processes for making them are disclosed. The rPET is heated with a C3-C10 glycol reactant to give a digested intermediate comprising glycols and a terephthalate component, which comprises 45 to 70 wt. % of bis(hydroxyalkyl)terephthalates, and preferably lesser amounts of terephthalate dimers and trimers. Treatment of the digested intermediate with activated carbon gives a polyester polyol having a color index less than 20. The polyols have desirable hydroxyl numbers, viscosities, appearance, and other attributes for formulating polyurethane products and are a sustainable alternative to bio- or petrochemical-based polyols.