Modified lignin products, processes for making them, and their use to produce rigid polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams are disclosed. The processes comprise heating a lignin source with a nitrogen source and a starved concentration of a C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aldehyde to give a reaction mixture comprising a Mannich condensation product, neutralizing the reaction mixture, and isolating the modified lignin product. The process is performed at a mass ratio of lignin source to nitrogen source within the range of 1:1 to 1:5 and at a molar ratio of nitrogen source to C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aldehyde within the range of 3.5:1 to 1:1. Polyol blends and performance additives that contain the modified lignin products are described. Rigid foams that process well and incorporate up to 60 wt.%, based on the amount of polyol component, of the modified lignin contribute to excellent flame retardancy and low-temperature R-value performance.

Processes for producing polymer microcapsules using vicinal functional oligomers are also described. The vicinal functional oligomers can be made by polymerizing an acrylate monomer, a styrene monomer, or both in the presence of a chain transfer agent. The vicinal functional oligomers can be reacted with epichlorohydrin to form vicinal epoxies. The vicinal epoxies can be reacted with polyamines to form epoxy polymer microspheres. The vicinal epoxies can be reacted with carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst to form vicinal cyclic carbonates. The vicinal cyclic carbonates can be reacted with polyamines to form isocyanate-free polymer microspheres. Polymer microspheres made by the processes are also described.

Processes for producing polymer microcapsules using vicinal functional oligomers are also described. The vicinal functional oligomers can be made by polymerizing an acrylate monomer, a styrene monomer, or both in the presence of a chain transfer agent. The vicinal functional oligomers can be reacted with epichlorohydrin to form vicinal epoxies. The vicinal epoxies can be reacted with polyamines to form epoxy polymer microspheres. The vicinal epoxies can be reacted with carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst to form vicinal cyclic carbonates. The vicinal cyclic carbonates can be reacted with polyamines to form isocyanate-free polymer microspheres. Polymer microspheres made by the processes are also described.

Polythiourethane polymer networks that can be processed and/or recycled are provided. Also provided are methods of forming the polythiourethane polymer networks using excess thiol and/or a dual catalyst system and methods for reprocessing and recycling the polyurethane polymer networks. The polythiourethane polymer networks are based on thiourethane dynamic chemistry.

A method of making an isocyanurate polymer is disclosed. An isocyanate including at least one of an aromatic isocyanate and an aliphatic isocyanate is provided. A trimerization catalyst including at least one of an amine catalyst, an organometallic compound, and an imidazole compound is provided. A reaction mixture that is substantially free of reactive hydrogen is formed by mixing less than about twenty percent by total weight of said reaction mixture of an epoxide with said isocyanate. The trimerization catalyst is mixed with the reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is cured to produce a polymer composition including a reaction product of two or more isocyanates.

A method for preparing rigid polyurethane (PUR) foams or rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR) foams in which method the rigid PUR or PIR foam is prepared by reacting a composition (C) comprising: at least one isocyanate-reactive component (B1) having functional groups selected from hydroxyl, amine and thiol groups; at least one isocyanate component (A1) having an average functionality of less than 2.70; and at least one blowing agent [blowing agent (BA), herein after]; with the proviso that the overall average functionality [F.sub.n,avg(A), herein after] of all isocyanate components present in the composition (C) is less than 2.70; wherein the composition (C) is characterized by an isocyanate index X, wherein the rigid PUR or PIR foams are produced by depositing the composition (C) between two gas-tight facing sheets and wherein the rigid PUR or PIR foam is characterized by a difference Δλ between the initial thermal conductivity value λ.sub.ini and the aged thermal conductivity value λ.sub.aged of said rigid PUR or PIR foam wherein: when X≤200 then Δλ<1.35; and when X>200 then Δλ<[6.49−(4.46*F.sub.n,avg(A))−(0.02348*X)+(0.492*F.sub.n,avg(A)*F.sub.n,avg(A))+(0.01343*F.sub.n,avg(A)*X)+0.3].

Polymer polyols (“PMPOs”), processes for their production, and the use of such PMPOs, particularly in the production of flexible polyurethane foams. The PMPOs are produced using an ethylenically unsaturated composition that includes a crosslinker that results in crosslinks in the PMPO polymer particles that may decompose when exposed to flame temperatures. The PMPOs is capable of providing a flexible polyurethane foam that may exhibit combustibility resistance properties.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a curable composition, including a polyfunctional isocyanate compound, a compound selected from the group consisting of a multivalent alcohol and an epoxy compound, and a base amplifier.

The invention is related to a method for reducing the emission of acetaldehyde and/or propionaldehyde from a polyurethane or polyurea foam, by using a reaction mixture comprising at least one isocyanate reactive component selected from the group consisting of a polyether polyol, a polyester polyol, a polyether polyamine and a polyester polyamine; an isocyanate component; and cyanoacetamide.

A two-component composition is described which comprises A) an isocyanate component comprising an isocyanate-terminated urethane prepolymer, B) a water component comprising water, and at least one latent amine hardener in component A). The two-component composition of the invention is suitable as a sealant, in particular as a joint sealant. Particular advantages are that primerless application is possible with good adhesion, even at low temperatures, such as 4.4° C. or below. The substrate to be sealed are preferably concrete substrates.