Polyurethane/polyisocyanurate foam insulation described herein is derived from a composition that contains an organic polyisocyanate, an isocyanate reactive material containing at least about 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of an aromatic polyester polyol, a hydrocarbon blowing agent, a first catalyst selected from the group consisting of a carboxylate salt of an alkali metal, a carboxylate salt of an alkaline earth metal, a carboxylate salt of a quaternary ammonium, and combinations thereof, and a second catalyst comprising a non-reactive tertiary amine, wherein a molar ratio of the first catalyst to the second catalyst is less than about 1.25, the composition gels quickly, and the composition has an isocyanate index greater than about 175. Such an insulating foam has a ratio of thermal conductivity at 75 F. to thermal conductivity at 25 F. between about 0.98 and about 1.10.

Polyurethane/polyisocyanurate foam insulation described herein is derived from a composition that contains an organic polyisocyanate, an isocyanate reactive material containing at least about 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of an aromatic polyester polyol, a hydrocarbon blowing agent, a first catalyst selected from the group consisting of a carboxylate salt of an alkali metal, a carboxylate salt of an alkaline earth metal, a carboxylate salt of a quaternary ammonium, and combinations thereof, and a second catalyst comprising a non-reactive tertiary amine, wherein a molar ratio of the first catalyst to the second catalyst is less than about 1.25, the composition gels quickly, and the composition has an isocyanate index greater than about 175. Such an insulating foam has a ratio of thermal conductivity at 75 F. to thermal conductivity at 25 F. between about 0.98 and about 1.10.

Nanoporous three-dimensional networks of polyurethane particles, e.g., polyurethane aerogels, and methods of preparation are presented herein. Such nanoporous networks may include polyurethane particles made up of linked polyisocyanate and polyol monomers. In some cases, greater than about 95% of the linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers are urethane linkages. To prepare such networks, a mixture including polyisocyanate monomers (e.g., diisocyanates, triisocyanates), polyol monomers (diols, triols), and a solvent is provided. The polyisocyanate and polyol monomers may be aliphatic or aromatic. A polyurethane catalyst is added to the mixture causing formation of linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers. Phase separation of particles from the reaction medium can be controlled to enable formation of polyurethane networks with desirable nanomorphologies, specific surface area, and mechanical properties. Various properties of such networks of polyurethane particles (e.g., strength, stiffness, flexibility, thermal conductivity) may be tailored depending on which monomers are provided in the reaction.

Nanoporous three-dimensional networks of polyurethane particles, e.g., polyurethane aerogels, and methods of preparation are presented herein. Such nanoporous networks may include polyurethane particles made up of linked polyisocyanate and polyol monomers. In some cases, greater than about 95% of the linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers are urethane linkages. To prepare such networks, a mixture including polyisocyanate monomers (e.g., diisocyanates, triisocyanates), polyol monomers (diols, triols), and a solvent is provided. The polyisocyanate and polyol monomers may be aliphatic or aromatic. A polyurethane catalyst is added to the mixture causing formation of linkages between the polyisocyanate monomers and the polyol monomers. Phase separation of particles from the reaction medium can be controlled to enable formation of polyurethane networks with desirable nanomorphologies, specific surface area, and mechanical properties. Various properties of such networks of polyurethane particles (e.g., strength, stiffness, flexibility, thermal conductivity) may be tailored depending on which monomers are provided in the reaction.

An article is prepared by injection molding, wherein the article is formed from a hydrophilic thermoplastic polyurethane composition, wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane composition comprises the reaction product of a hydroxyl terminated polyol intermediate component, an aliphatic isocyanate component, and, optionally, a chain extender component. For injection molding, the hydrophilic thermoplastic polyurethane has a crystallization temperature measured by dynamic scanning calorimetry of at least 75 C.

This invention discloses the use of sulfite salts as catalysts to make polyurethane polymers. In particular, this invention discloses the use of metal salts such as alkali metal salts as well as alkyl ammonium salts such as tetralkyl ammonium salts as catalysts to make polyurethane polymers. The sulfite salts are useful to make a wide variety of polyurethane polymers and polyurethane foam polymer products such as flexible polyurethane foam polymers, rigid foam polyurethane polymers, semi-rigid polyurethane polymer, microcellular polyurethane polymer, and spray foam polyurethane polymer as well as any polymeric material that requires the assistance of catalysts to promote the formation of urethane and urea bonds such as those found in polyurethane emusions for paints, coatings, protective coatings, lacquer, etc as well as other polyurethane or polyurethane containing materials such as thermoplastic polymers, thermoplastic polyurethane polymers, elastomers, adhesives, sealants, etc. Examples of catalysts comprising the invention include sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, lithium sulfite, tetramethylammonium sulfite and the like.

A flame-retardant urethane resin composition comprises a polyisocyanate compound, a polyol compound, a trimerization catalyst, a foaming agent, a foam stabilizer, and an additive, in which the trimerization catalyst is at least one selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen-containing aromatic compound, a carboxylic acid alkali metal salt, a tertiary ammonium salt, and a quaternary ammonium salt, and the additive comprises red phosphorus and at least one selected from the group consisting of a phosphoric acid ester, a phosphate-containing flame retardant, a bromine-containing flame retardant, a boron-containing flame retardant, an antimony-containing flame retardant, and a metal hydroxide.

A flame-retardant urethane resin composition comprises a polyisocyanate compound, a polyol compound, a trimerization catalyst, a foaming agent, a foam stabilizer, and an additive, in which the trimerization catalyst is at least one selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen-containing aromatic compound, a carboxylic acid alkali metal salt, a tertiary ammonium salt, and a quaternary ammonium salt, and the additive comprises red phosphorus and at least one selected from the group consisting of a phosphoric acid ester, a phosphate-containing flame retardant, a bromine-containing flame retardant, a boron-containing flame retardant, an antimony-containing flame retardant, and a metal hydroxide.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a composition (I) at least comprising a compact thermoplastic polyurethane (P1), comprising the providing of at least one compact thermoplastic polyurethane (P1) or a reaction mixture for production of a compact thermoplastic polyurethane (R-P1), the adding of at least one compound (N) that has a conjugated, nitrogen-containing aromatic structure as nucleating agent to the at least one thermoplastic polyurethane (P1) or to the reaction mixture for production of a compact thermoplastic polyurethane (R-P1), wherein the compound (N) is a solid; and the mixing of the nucleating agent and the thermoplastic polyurethane (P1) or the reaction mixture (R-P1) to obtain a composition (I). The nucleating agent is used here in an amount in the range from 0.01% by weight to 2.0% by weight, based on the thermoplastic polyurethane (P1) or the reaction mixture (R-P1). Further relates the present composition comprising at least one compact thermoplastic polyurethane and at least one compound (N) that has a conjugated, nitrogen-containing aromatic structure as nucleating agent, wherein the compound (N) is a solid, and the use of the compounds mentioned as nucleating agents for a compact thermoplastic polyurethane.

Polyurethane/polyisocyanurate foam insulation described herein is derived from a composition that contains an organic polyisocyanate, an isocyanate reactive material containing at least about 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of an aromatic polyester polyol, a hydrocarbon blowing agent, a first catalyst selected from the group consisting of a carboxylate salt of an alkali metal, a carboxylate salt of an alkaline earth metal, a carboxylate salt of a quaternary ammonium, and combinations thereof, and a second catalyst comprising a non-reactive tertiary amine, wherein a molar ratio of the first catalyst to the second catalyst is less than about 1.25, the composition gels quickly, and the composition has an isocyanate index greater than about 175. Such an insulating foam has a ratio of thermal conductivity at 75 F. to thermal conductivity at 25 F. between about 0.98 and about 1.10.