Process for conversion of polyurethane polymer to polyol and fresh polyurethane polymer therefrom
US5274004A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 15, 1992 |
| Grant date | Dec 28, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 15, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02W30/62
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A process for the recovery of scrap polyurethane polymer in the form of a polyol, and the use of said polyol to prepare a fresh polyurethane polymer. Said process involves thermally treating scrap polyurethane at an elevated temperature with a liquid mixture which consists of an alkanolamine and a metal hydroxide and subsequently reacting the resulting intermediate product with an alkylene oxide comprising propylene oxide to obtain polyol. The recovery process is characterized in that the weight ratio of scrap polyurethane to liquid mixture is from at least 12:1, and the liquid mixture contains the alkanolamine in from about 70 to about 95 weight percent. The recovered polyol can be used to prepare fresh polyurethane foam that exhibits enhanced physical properties at a reduced isocyanate consumption compared to similar foam prepared in the absence of any recovered polyol.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.