The present invention provides an energy absorbing foam material includes at least one shape memory polymer foam having a non-impact resistant configuration in a first force-application time, an impact resistant configuration in a second force-application time at a working temperature, a first glass transition temperature equal to or lower than a working temperature in the first force-application time, and a second glass transition temperature higher than a working temperature in the second force-application time. A second elastic modulus of the shape memory polymer foam in the second force-application time is at least 10 times than a first elastic modulus of the shape memory polymer form in the first force-application time at the working temperature.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing a polyurethane elastomer, said method comprising the step of reacting at least one isocyanate composition (ZI) and one polyol composition (ZP) comprising a poly-ε-caprolactone polyol and an α-hydro-ω-hydroxy-poly(oxytetramethylene) polyol to obtain an isocyanate-functional prepolymer and the step of reacting the prepolymer obtained as per step (i) with at least one chain extender (KV). The present invention further relates to a polyurethane elastomer obtained or obtainable according to a method of the invention and also to the method of using a polyurethane elastomer according to the invention or a polyurethane elastomer obtained or obtainable according to a method of the invention in the manufacture of a shaped article, especially a damping element, a shock absorber or a stop buffer or part of a shoe or of a shoe sole, for example part of an insert sole or of a midsole.

The present invention relates to polyol mixtures comprising (b1) at least one polyether polyol having a hydroxyl value of 10 to 60 mg KOH/g and having a high proportion of ethylene oxide, (b2) at least one polyether polyol having a hydroxyl value of 10 to 100 mg KOH/g, a low proportion of ethylene oxide, and not less than 40% primary OH groups, and (b3) at least one polyether polyol having a hydroxyl value of 10 to 100 mg KOH/g, a low proportion of ethylene oxide, and not more than 30% primary OH groups, and b5) from 0.25 to 10 further parts by weight of polyurea, based on 100 parts by weight of components b1) to b3), optionally present as a constituent of a dispersion polyol based on one or more of components b1) to b3).

The invention further relates to a process for producing flexible polyurethane foams using the mixtures according to the invention, to the thereby obtainable flexible polyurethane foams, and to the use of the thereby obtainable flexible polyurethane foams as a cushioning element for furniture or as a seat element.

The invention relates to the use of aqueous dispersion adhesives on the basis of a mixture of aqueous polyurethane or polyurethane-urea dispersions for bonding foam substrates according to the spray coagulation method.

Provided is a polyurethane foam having excellent heat resistance and the like. The polyurethane foam is obtained from a material that contains a polyol and a polyisocyanate, in which the polyol contains a polyester polyol, the polyisocyanate contains a diphenylmethane diisocyanate-based isocyanate, it is preferable that the polyester polyol has one or more side chains composed of an alkyl group, and the polyurethane foam may be used as a soundproof material for vehicles.

A polyester with ultra-high flowability and good stability over time is provided. The polyester can be polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or another aliphatic polyester, whose intrinsic viscosity (IV) is less than 0.6 dL/g and a carboxylic end group (CEG) content is 15 meq/kg or less, and characterized by having a melt volume rate (MVR) of greater than 400 cm.sup.3/10 min at 250° C. A resin composition of this polyester is provided, which can be meltblown into microfibers of a uniform diameter and a concentrated diameter distribution, forming a fabric with a uniform small pore size.

Polyamide foams which do not propagate fire are obtained by mixing (i) a liquid isocyanate component which comprises at least one polyisocyanate and in which the molar ratio of aromatic isocyanate groups to the sum of aromatic and aliphatic isocyanate groups is at least 60 mol %, with (ii) at least one liquid isocyanatereactive component which comprises a reactive diluent, and the reactive diluent 10 comprises (a) a chain-extending and/or crosslinking reactive diluent selected from among aliphatic branched C.sub.24-66-polycarboxylic acids, alicyclic C.sub.24-66-polycarboxylic acids and partial esters of polycarboxylic acids having at least two unesterified carboxyl groups and/or (b) a chain-terminating reactive diluent selected from among aliphatic branched C.sub.24-66-monocarboxylic acids, alicyclic C.sub.24-66-monocarboxylic acids and partial esters of polycarboxylic acids having one unesterified carboxyl group, wherein the liquid isocyanate-reactive component comprises an aromatic C.sub.8-18-polycarboxylic acid and/or an anhydride thereof.

Modified 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (2,4-TDI) and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate (2,6-TDI) isomer mixtures and methods of producing the modified TDI isomer mixtures are provided. The modified TDI isomer mixture is a low-cost alternative to expensive commercially available TDI mixtures with high 2,6-TDI ratio, and produce a flexible PU foam with desirable foam properties.

Flexible polyurethane foams are made by reacting a polyether mixture and water with a polyisocyanate. The foams have excellent suite of properties for use in seating applications, as they are supporting, comfortable and resilient foam. A further advantage is these properties can be obtained at isocyanate indices of close to or even greater than 100.

A hybrid material contains a matrix of polyurethane and foamed particles of thermoplastic polyurethane contained therein. A process can be used for producing such hybrid materials and these hybrid materials can be used as bicycle saddles, upholstery and shoe soles.