Patent Title: HYDROPHILIC OPEN CELL FOAMS

 Number/Link: WO2016/044512

Applicant/Assignee: 3M

Publication date: 24-03-2016

“Gist”: Use of sulfonated polyols to make hydrophilic foams

Why it is interesting: Hydrophilic polyurethane foams are well known and often made using polyols with a high ethyleneoxide content.  According to this invention, open celled, hydrophilic foams can be made using a polyol blend containing polyols (or polyamines) having charged functional groups. In the examples a polymeric MDI is reacted with a polyol blend of a 3000MW, 8% EO, triol with up to 40% (w/w) of a sulfonated diol. The sulfonated diol is prepared by reacting 0.25 moles of  dimethyl sodium 5-sulfoisophthalate with 1 mole of PEG 600. The foams have properties useful for use as household sponges.

Dimethyl sodium 5-sulfoisophthalate