The invention relates to a process for producing a ring-opening polymerization product by reacting at least one polyisocyanate and 2-oxo-1,3-dioxolane-4-carboxylic acid and subjecting the reaction product to a temperature within the range of from about 40 to about 150 C. in the presence of a catalytic amount of at least one non-nucleophilic base. The obtained polymerization product may be present as a foam and is suitable as binder, insulation material, sealant or coating and in the production of mattresses or wound pads.

The present invention provides for the use of nitrogen compounds of formula (I) and/or of corresponding quaternized and/or protonated compounds for production of polyurethanes, compositions containing these compounds and polyurethane systems, especially polyurethane foams, which have been obtained using the compounds.

Compositions suitable for production of polyurethane foams, comprising at least one OH-functional compound (OHC) obtainable by the partial or complete hydrogenation of ketone-aldehyde resins, wherein the OH-functional compound contains at least one structural element of the formula (1a) and optionally of the formulae (1b) and/or (1c),

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with R=aromatic with 6-14 carbon atoms, (cyclo)aliphatic with 1-12 carbon atoms, R.sup.1=H, CH.sub.2OH, R.sup.2=H, or a radical of the formula (CH.sub.2CH(R)O).sub.yH where R is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or phenyl and y=1 to 50, k=2 to 15, preferably 3 to 12, more preferably 4 to 11, m=0 to 13, preferably 0 to 9, l=0 to 2,
where the sum of k+l+m is from 5 to 15, preferably from 5 to 12, and k>m, are described.

The present disclosure relates to pyrrolidine-based catalysts for use in a polyurethane formulation. The polyurethane formulation includes the pyrrolidine-based catalyst, a compound containing an isocyanate functional group, an active hydrogen-containing compound. The use of such catalysts produces high quality polyurethane foam while reducing environmental concerns that can arise during the production of polyurethane foam as well as in the foam that is produced.

The present invention relates to a one-pot process for the production of poly carbodiimide cured polymers. comprising a reaction of (a) at least one polycarbodiimide with two or more carbodiimide functionalities per molecule. (b) at least one polyol with two or more hydroxyl functionalities per molecule, and (c) at least one cyclic carboxylic anhydride.

A process for producing polyurethane foams includes reacting at least one polyol component with at least one isocyanate component in the presence of one or more catalysts that catalyse the isocyanate-polyol and/or isocyanate-water and/or isocyanate trimerization reactions, at least one foam stabilizer and optionally one or more chemical or physical blowing agents. The polyol component includes recycled polyol.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a cured composition, which has at least one oxazolidinone ring and at least one isocyanurate ring and is crosslinked thereby, starting from a liquid reaction mixture comprising: (a) at least one liquid, aromatic epoxy resin; (b) at least one liquid, aromatic polyisocyanate; and (c) a catalyst composition; relative to the at least one polyisocyanate, the at least one epoxy resin is used in amounts such that the molar equivalent ratio of epoxide groups to isocyanate groups is at least 0.4; and curing the reaction mixture to give a cured polymer composition comprising at least one oxazolidinone ring and at least one isocyanurate ring, and also to the cured compositions obtainable by these methods.

Polyester polyol compositions are disclosed. The polyol compositions, which comprise recurring units of a digested thermoplastic polyester, a glycol, and castor oil, ricinoleic acid, or a mixture of castor oil and ricinoleic acid, have hydroxyl numbers within the range of 20 to 150 mg KOH/g and average hydroxyl functionalities within the range of 2.5 to 3.5. The invention includes flexible polyurethane foams that incorporate the polyester polyols. Sustainable polyester polyols made completely or in substantial part from recycled, post-industrial, and/or biorenewable materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, glycols, and castor oil are provided. The polyols have desirable properties for formulating flexible polyurethane foams and other products.

A method of producing an optical member includes: a first step of using a mold member and a substrate provided with a depressed portion including a bottom portion and an opening, to place the mold member at the opening, thereby defining a space between the depressed portion and the mold member; a second step of placing, in the space, a polymerizable composition containing a monomer for an optical material; and a third step of curing the monomer for an optical material in the polymerizable composition, thereby obtaining a cured product of the polymerizable composition. The opening of the depressed portion has a larger area than the area of the bottom portion.

A polymeric material includes a polyisobutylene-polyurethane block copolymer and a tertiary amine catalyst. The polyisobutylene-polyurethane block copolymer includes soft segments including at least one polyisobutylene diol residue, and hard segments including at least one diisocyanate residue. The polymeric material is free of an organometallic catalyst.