Specific alkoxysily-modified polymers bearing alkoxysilyl groups distributed randomly or in block fashion along the polyether chain, and not just located at the chain termini, a process for preparing these alkoxysilyl-modified polymers, and compositions comprising these alkoxysilyl-modified polymers are provided.

The present technology provides a foam-forming composition comprising at least one polyol, at least one isocyanate, at least one copper catalyst composition, and at least one surfactant. The copper catalyst composition may comprise a copper (II) compound dissolved in a solvent. In one embodiment, the copper catalyst composition comprises (Cu(II)(acac).sub.2) dissolved in DMSO.

To provide a catalyst composition excellent in cell openness properties and initial curing properties, and a method for producing a polyurethane resin using the same. A catalyst composition comprising an amine compound (A) of the formula (1), a hydroxy acid (B) of the formula (2) and a tertiary amine compound (C) is used for the production of a polyurethane resin. [Each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 which are independent of each other, is a methyl group or an ethyl group, R.sub.3 is a C.sub.2-4 linear or branched alkyl group, R.sub.4 is a C.sub.1-18 bivalent hydrocarbon residue, m is an integer of from 1 to 3, and n is an integer of from 1 to 6.] ##STR00001##

Process for making a foam suitable as plant growth medium by reacting a polyisocyanate, a polyether polyol mixture and water at an isocyanate index of 90-150 wherein the polyol mixture used comprises at least 2 polyols and wherein the polyol mixture comprises less than 50% by weight oxyethylene calculated on the weight of the polyol mixture.

A spray foam formulation used to form a spray foam insulation layer in a wall structure is described. The formulation may include the reaction product of a polyisocyanate compound and a polyol compound; a fire retardant chosen from at least one of a non-halogenated fire retardant; and a reactive halogen-containing fire retardant, and a carbohydrate. The spray foam insulation layer has an insulative R value of 3.0 to 7.2 per inch, and a density of between about 0.3 to about 4.5 pcf. Further, spray foam insulation made from the spray foam formulation may have fire retardant characteristics that are equivalent to or better than a similar spray insulation foam insulation using non-reactive halogenated fire retardants such as tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TCPP).

The present invention provides a process for preparing a polymer material filled composite element, comprising the steps of: i) providing a partially closed space, wherein a polyurethane foam is disposed at least at part of the periphery of the space to restrain the flow of the polymer material resin, and the polyurethane foam is formed by in situ application of a polyurethane composition and has an air flow value of greater than 1 L/min as determined by ASTM D3574 test; ii) applying the polymer material resin into the space and curing the polymer material resin to form a polymer material that fills the space.

This invention provides durable, low-ice-adhesion coatings with excellent performance in terms of ice-adhesion reduction. Some variations provide a low-ice-adhesion coating comprising a microstructure with a first-material phase and a second-material phase that are microphase-separated on an average length scale of phase inhomogeneity from 1 micron to 100 microns. Some variations provide a low-ice-adhesion material comprising a continuous matrix containing a first component; and a plurality of discrete inclusions containing a second component, wherein the inclusions are dispersed within the matrix to form a phase-separated microstructure that is inhomogeneous on an average length scale from 1 micron to 100 microns, wherein one of the first component or the second component is a low-surface-energy polymer, and the other is a hygroscopic material. The coatings are characterized by an AMIL Centrifuge Ice Adhesion Reduction Factor up to 100 or more. These coatings are useful for aerospace surfaces and other applications.

Some variations provide a method of forming a transparent icephobic coating, comprising: obtaining a hardenable precursor comprising a first component and a plurality of inclusions containing a second component, wherein one of the first component or the second component is a low-surface-energy polymer, and the other is a hygroscopic material; applying mechanical shear and/or sonication to the hardenable precursor; disposing the hardenable precursor onto a substrate; and curing the hardenable precursor to form a transparent icephobic coating. The coating contains a hardened continuous matrix containing regions of the first component separated from regions of the second component on an average length scale of phase inhomogeneity from 10 nanometers to 10 microns, such as less than 1 micron, or less than 100 nanometers. The transparent icephobic coating may be characterized by a light transmittance of at least 50% at wavelengths from 400 nm to 800 nm, through a 100-micron coating.

A polyurethane foam for comfort application, includes the reaction product of a first composition that includes from 20 wt % to 80 wt % of an aqueous component and from 20 wt % to 80 wt % of a hydrophilic isocyanate-terminated prepolymer component. The aqueous component includes at least 90 wt % of water based on the total weight of the aqueous component and the hydrophilic isocyanate-terminated prepolymer component has a free NCO content from 1 wt % to 15 wt % and is a reaction product of a second composition that includes an isocyanate component and an isocyanate-reactive component. The isocyanate component includes at least 90 wt % of methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and a weight ratio of 4,4′-methylene diphenylisocyanate isomer to 2,4′-methylene diphenylisocyanate isomer greater than 1:1 and less than 10:1, the isocyanate-reactive component including polyethylene glycol and a polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene polyol having a molecular weight of from 3000 g/mole to 7500 g/mole and a polyoxyethylene content of at least 50 wt %, and the hydrophilic isocyanate terminated prepolymer component having an polyoxyethylene content from 45 wt % to 75 wt %, based on the total weight of the second composition.

A hybrid polyurethane/polyurea polymer suitable for forming a coating on a structure which is in contact with water includes the reaction product of a polyol component consisting of one or more polyols, a polyamine, and a curing agent, such as a polyisocyanate. The polyol component includes a Novolac-type polyether polyol.