Six (6) Dow Patents on ‘Conventional’ PIPA Polyols

Title: POLYISOCYANATE POLYADDITION POLYOL MANUFACTURING PROCESS USING STABILIZERS  (and 5 more)

 Number/Link: WO2015038825 WO2015038826 WO2015038827 WO2015038828 WO2015038829 WO2015038830

Applicant/Assignee: Dow

Publication date: 19-03-2015

Gist”: PIPA polyols based on conventional polyols and their applications

Why it is interesting: Polyisocyanate polyaddition or PIPA polyols are a type of polymer polyol consisting of a base polyol and dispersed polyurethane particles. These polyols are prepared by dispersing and reacting in situ an isocyanate and a low molecular weight polyol (e.g. triethanolamine) in a ‘base’ polyol. The reaction is balanced such, that a controlled amount of grafting of the base polyol onto the PU particles results, which stabilizes the dispersion. The need for grafting is the reason why PIPA polyols are always based on EO-tipped (high primary OH) polyols, limiting their use mainly to the production high resilience (HR) foams. The current inventions by Dow devise ways to make PIPA polyols in ‘conventional’ (i.e. low primary OH) polyols either by the use of specific stabilizers (in the WO..25 application) or by pre-reacting part of the iso with the base-polyol before adding the low MW polyol (in the WO..26 application). The WO..27 to WO..29 applications are concerned with the use of these ‘conventional’ PIPA polyols to prepare conventional-, viscoleastic- and combustion modified flexible foams respectively.  W0..30 is concerned with thixotropic PIPA polyols based on urethane-modified isocyanurates.

Flexible foam blocks

Flexible foam blocks

 

Particle-Reinforced Thermoplastic Polyurethane

Title: COMPOSITION AND ARTICLE COMPRISING THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANE AND PARTICULATE ENGINEERING POLYMER

 Number/Link: WO2015/031292

Applicant/Assignee: SABIC

Publication date: 5-03-2015

Gist”: TPU is reinforced with ultrafine particles made from engineering thermoplastics having a melting point of over 200°C.

Why it is interesting: Particulate polyarylsulfone, polyimide, poly(phenylene sulfide) or polyamide, with a melting point or glass transition higher than 200°C and average particle size between 5 and 200 μm, is melt-blended with TPU at a temperature below 200°C and in an amount of 10-30% (w/w).  Alternatively the particles could be mixed (“slurried”) with the polyol and/or isocyanate used to produce the TPU.  The resulting composite is said to have increased hardness, tensile strength and heat resistance.
Sabic is becoming quite active in polyurethane innovation and is apparently looking for synergies with its engineering thermoplastics business.

Poly (1,4-phenylene sulfide) (PPS)

Poly (1,4-phenylene sulfide) (PPS)

Rigid Foams Containing Lignin

Title: PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF LIGNIN BASED POLYURETHANE PRODUCTS

 Number/Link: WO2015/021541

Applicant/Assignee: Enerlab 2000

Publication date: 19-02-2015

Gist”: Dried lignin is mixed with isocyanate before being reacted with a rigid polyol and HFC blowing agent to make rigid foams

Why it is interesting: Lignin is a cheap and abundantly available hydroxy-functional biopolymer and it is no surprise that many attempts are being made to incorporate it into polyurethane materials. This case claims that lignins, dried to a moisture content of (preferably) less than 1% (0.5% in the examples), can be mixed with isocyanates to form a relatively stable mixture with a decent potlife. The mixture can then be used to make polyurethane materials.  In the examples HFC-blown rigid PU and PIR foams are shown containing about 20% of dried lignin and with densities ranging between about 30 to 40 kg/m³.  Interesting development, however claim 41, which states that elastomers and even TPUs can be made with mixtures, is clearly over the top in my opinion.

Part of a typical lignin structure

Part of a typical lignin structure

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