The present invention relates to a process for producing a rigid polyurethane-polyisocyanurate foam C, comprising the step of reacting (i) an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer B with (ii) an activator component A comprising at least one trimerization catalyst A1 and at least one blowing agent A3 in a reaction mixture to form a foam, characterized in that—there is used an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer B obtained from a reaction of an isocyanate B1 having a mean isocyanate functionality of from ≧2.3 to ≦2.9 with a polyol component B2, and—the activator component A comprises water as the blowing agent A3 in an amount of from ≧5 wt. % to ≦50 wt. %,—the isocyanate index in the reaction mixture is in a range of from ≧400 to ≧500, and—the isocyanate content of the prepolymer B is in a range of from ≧21 wt. % to ≦30 wt. %, based on the total mass of the prepolymer B, and—wherein in the reaction of the prepolymer B and the activator component A a conversion contribution to polyisocyanurate of ≦75% is achieved. Rigid foams C so produced have good flame retarding properties while at the same time having good insulating properties and stability properties. The present invention relates further to a rigid polyisocyanurate foam C produced by the process according to the invention, to the use of such a rigid polyisocyanurate foam C in the production of heat-insulating structural components, and to a heat-insulating structural component comprising such a rigid polyurethane-polyisocyanurate foam.

Isopropylidenediphenol-based polyether polyols, processes for their production, foams produced using such isopropylidenediphenol-based polyether polyols, such as PUR-PIR rigid foams, as well as to processes for producing such foams. The polyether polyols have an internal block comprising polymerized ethylene oxide moieties and an external cap comprising polymerized propylene oxide moieties.

Isopropylidenediphenol-based polyether polyols, processes for their production, foams produced using such isopropylidenediphenol-based polyether polyols, such as PUR-PIR rigid foams, as well as to processes for producing such foams. The polyether polyols include: (a) an alkoxylate of 4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol; (b) an alkoxylate of 2,4′- and/or 2,2′-isopropylidenediphenol; (c) an alkoxylate of components comprising structural elements which are derived from phenol, acetone and/or isopropylidenediphenol, but which are not isomers of isopropylidenediphenol; and (d) an alkoxylate of a diol that has a molecular weight less than the molecular weight of isopropylidenediphenol and that does not contain structural elements derived from phenol, acetone and/or isopropylidenediphenol.

The present invention provides trimerization catalyst compositions having an α,β-unsaturated carboxylate salt and methods to produce a polyisocyanurate/polyurethane foam using such trimerization catalyst compositions.

According to one embodiment, a polyisocyanurate foam board is described. The foam board includes a polyisocyanurate core that is produced from: an isocyanate, a polyol, and a phosphorous containing non-halogenated fire retardant. The foam board also includes a facer material that is applied to at least one surface of the polyisocyanurate core. The polyisocyanurate core has an isocyanate index greater than about 200 and is able to forms a sufficiently stable char when exposed to flame conditions to enable the polyisocyanurate core to pass the ASTM E-84 test. The foam board has an initial R-value of at least 6.40 and exhibits an ASTM E1354-11b test performance that is equivalent with or better than a similar foam board having a halogenated fire retardant, such as tris(2-chloroisopropyl)phosphate (TCPP).

A surfactant and a method of forming the surfactant having the formula (I) where a is an integer from 1 to 10, b is an integer from 0 to 10, R.sub.1 is —CH.sub.3 or —H, n is an integer from 0 to 20, and R.sub.2 is a moiety selected from the group consisting of (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII) or (VIII) where m is an integer from 0 to 4. The surfactant can be used in a method for preparing a rigid polyurethane foam.

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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.

Disclosed are processes, products, and compositions having tetraalkylguanidine salt of aromatic acid. The processes include providing a pre-mix comprising an aromatic carboxylic acid component and contacting a tetraalkylguanidine with the aromatic carboxylic acid component in the pre-mix to form the tetraalkylguanidine salt of aromatic carboxylic acid or producing a catalyst composition by contacting the tetraalkylguanidine with the aromatic carboxylic acid component to form the tetraalkylguanidine salt of aromatic carboxylic acid. The compositions include the tetraalkylguanidine salt of aromatic carboxylic acid. The product is formed by the tetraalkylguanidine salt of aromatic carboxylic acid.

A polyester polyol is formed in a polycondensation reaction between an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, a polyol, and an epoxy compound having a straight chain alkyl or alkenyl group having at least six carbon atoms. The polyester polyol exhibits excellent compatibility with hydrocarbon blowing agents. As such, it is a useful component in rigid polyurethane foam formulations that are contain hydrocarbon blowing agents.

What are described are (a) a composition suitable for production of rigid polyurethane foam, comprising at least one isocyanate component, a polyol component, optionally a catalyst that catalyses the formation of a urethane or isocyanurate bond, optionally blowing agents, where the composition additionally comprises hydrocarbons HC, polyether-modified siloxane and optional polyalkylsiloxane, (b) a process for producing rigid polyurethane foam using hydrocarbons HC, polyether-modified siloxane and optional polyalkylsiloxanes, (c) the rigid polyurethane foam thus obtainable and (d) the use thereof.