The disclosure relates to methods of making foams comprising aromatic polyester polyether polyol materials derived from the transesterification of polyethylene terephthalate with either glycerin or trimethylolpropane, wherein each of these triols, independently, has a degree of ethoxylation of from 1 to 9. Uses of the foams are further disclosed. The disclosure further relates to selection of blowing agents suitable to generate a selected end use case. Yet further, the disclosure relates to selection of end uses, properties, and environmental profiles of the foams generated according to the methods herein, and selecting formulation variables suitable to obtain the foams.

A process is described for producing PU foams, especially rigid PU foams, based on foamable reaction mixtures containing polyisocyanates, compounds having reactive hydrogen atoms, blowing agents, foam stabilizers, and possibly further additives, wherein polymer particles are additionally used, the average particle size of the polymer particles being <100 μm, preferably <70 μm, especially 5 to 50 μm.

The present invention relates to a molding made of reactive foam, wherein at least one fiber (F) is arranged partially inside the molding, i.e. is surrounded by the reactive foam. The two ends of the respective fiber (F) not surrounded by the reactive foam thus each project from one side of the corresponding molding. The reactive foam is produced by a mold foaming process. The present invention further provides a panel comprising at least one such molding and at least one further layer (S1). The present invention further provides processes for producing the moldings according to the invention from reactive foam/the panels according to the invention and also provides for the use thereof as a rotor blade in wind turbines for example.

Inorganic infrared attenuation agent blends have been developed to improve the thermal insulation properties of polymeric foams such as polystyrene low density foams. The inorganic infrared attenuation agent blends can include two or more metal oxides such as silicon dioxide, manganese (IV) oxide, iron (III) oxide, magnesium oxide, bismuth (III) oxide, cobalt oxide, zirconium (IV) oxide, molybdenum (III) oxide, titanium oxide, and calcium oxide. In some preferred embodiments, the inorganic infrared attenuation agent blends can include four or more of these metal oxides.

The present disclosure relates to a polyol resin blend for use in a polyurethane formulation. The polyol resin blend generally includes (a) an amine having a pKa value between about 6 and about 8.5 and a protonated amine obtained by contacting a methylamino-containing tertiary amine or primary etheramine having a pKa value greater than about 9 and an acid compound, (b) a polyol, and (c) a halogenated olefin. The present disclosure also provides polyurethane formulations containing the polyol resin blend and methods of making polyurethane foam from such polyurethane formulations.

A polyol formulation for producing flameproof polyurethane/polyisocyanate rigid foams (referred to individually or jointly in the following as “PUR/PIR rigid foams”), containing a polyester polyol having an OH number ≤250 mg KOH/g, a functionality of 1.5 to 2.5 and a free glycol content with Mn<150 g/mol of <6 wt. %, a polyethylene glycol with an average molecular weight of <700 g/mol and an average functionality of <2.5 and specific polyethyleneglycol alkylphenyl ethers, and methods for producing PUR/PIR rigid foams using said polyol formulation and to the PUR/PIR rigid foams obtained thereby are provided.

A polyol pre-mix containing at least one halogenated hydroolefin blowing agent and having improved shelf life stability is provided, wherein each polyol combined with the halogenated hydroolefin blowing agent has an apparent pH of between 3 and 11.4. Controlling the apparent pH of the polyol(s) enables the polyol pre-mix to be stored for extended periods of time and then used in combination with organic polyisocyanate to produce foam formulations having gel times and tack free times not significantly different from those exhibited when freshly prepared polyol pre-mix is used.

A polyisocyanate component, a polyurethane foaming system, and an article made therefrom, wherein the polyisocyanate component includes (a) a preformed mixture including an aromatic oxazolidone compound that is the reaction product of at least one aromatic epoxide and at least one first polyisocyanate having an average isocyanate functionality of no more than 2.7 and greater than 1.8, in the presence of at least one catalyst, the aromatic oxazolidone compound includes at least one free isocyanate group and at least one aromatic oxazolidone group, the aromatic oxazolidone group includes an aromatic group and an oxazolidone group, and (b) at least one second polyisocyanate has an average isocyanate functionality equal to or greater than 2.7 and less than 6.0. The second polyisocyanate is added to the preformed mixture to form the polyisocyanate component. The polyisocyanate component has a viscosity of no more than 4.0 Pa-sat 25° C., an aromatic oxazolidone group content of 2 weight percent to 10 weight percent based on a total weight of the polyisocyanate component, and an average isocyanate functionality of from 1.8 to 6.0.

Disclosed is an organic amine salt foaming agent, that is, a composite polyurethane foaming agent, comprising: 1) hexafluorobutene; and 2) an alkanolamine salt mixture (MAA), the alkanolamine salt mixture (MAA) contains an organic amine salt compound having the following general formula (I): A.sup.n−[B.sup.m+].sub.p (I); wherein A.sup.n− is one or two or three selected from the following anions: (b) carbonate: CO.sub.3.sup.2−; (c) formate: HCOO.sup.−; (d) bicarbonate: HO—COO.sup.−. A polyurethane foaming method using carbon dioxide and an organic amine in combination is also disclosed, in which carbon dioxide is added to a polyurethane composition for foaming. A method for preparing an alkanolamine carbonate salt with low water content from ammonium carbonate and an epoxide is additionally disclosed, in which a liquid alkanolamine salt mixture is used as a dispersion medium or as a solvent for reaction raw material.

The present invention provides compositions having a phase transfer trimer catalyst and methods to produce polyisocyanurate/polyurethane foam using such compositions.