Flexible polyurethane foams made from alkoxylated natural oil

US8598248B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Bayer MaterialScience AG · DE

Inventors

• Stanley L. Hager · Cross Lanes, US
• Edward P. Browne · Cologne, DE
• Jack R. Reese · Hurricane, US
• Don S. Wardius · Shelby, US
• Micah Moore · Red House, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 16, 2010
• Grant date: Dec 3, 2013
• Expiry date: Jul 16, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08J2375/04
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides flexible conventional polyurethane foams made from at least one polyisocyanate and at least one vegetable oil alkoxylated in the presence of a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst, optionally at least one non-vegetable oil-based polyol, generally in the presence of a blowing agent and optionally in the presence of a surfactant, pigment, flame retardant, catalyst or filler. The alkoxylated natural oil must have (a) an ethylene oxide content in the alkoxylated segment greater than 20% by weight, (b) a primary hydroxyl group content of at least 10%, with the sum of (a)+(b) being at least 30% but no greater than 60%, The alkoxylated natural oils are environmentally-friendly, bio-based polyols which can be used to increase the “green” content of polyurethane foams without having detrimental effects on foam properties.