Title: CELLULAR STRUCTURES AND VISCOELASTIC POLYURETHANE FOAMS

 Number/Link: US2013035413

Applicant/Assignee: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES

Publication date: 7-02-2013

“Gist”: The use of high equivalent weight polybutylenoxide monol together with a polyol mixture and TDI to produce a viscoelastic  foam with greatly improved airflow.

Why it is interesting: Most viscoelastic (or “memory”) foams are used in bedding and often have the disadvantage of building up heat and moisture during use, resulting in the loss of viscoelastic properties and deterioration in comfort. Improving the airflow through the foam should reduce this effect. Dow now appears to have cracked the airflow problem by using  a polybutylene oxide monol (preferred) with and eq.wt. of about 4000, together with a conventional blend of high EO and high PO polyols and TDI80 (in the examples).  Air flow indeed seems to be greatly improved and even the cell struts appear to be perforated!  Great stuff.

Foams cells showing porous struts