A molded flexible polyurethane foam having a hardness gradient going from soft to hard from the top to the bottom of the foam. The hardness gradient in the foam is a result of a foam elasticity gradient which arises from a polymer elasticity gradient and/or density gradient. A method for producing a flexible foam having a hardness gradient and a reactive mixture suitable for making said flexible foam is disclosed. Furthermore, the use of the flexible foams having a hardness gradient in matrasses, cushions for seating (more in particular for use in automotive seating), furniture, automotive under-carpets and dash insulators is disclosed.

The present invention provides flexible and integral skin-containing polyurethane foams and two-component foam forming compositions for making them that comprise an aromatic polyisocyanate component, such as a methylene di(phenyl isocyanate), and a polyol component of an autocatalytic aliphatic polyether polyol and a melt modifying catalyst, such as potassium acetate, that exhibit excellent inherent flame retardant properties, passing exacting tests prescribed by the UN/ECE 118.02, Annexes 6, 7 and 8. The foam forming compositions may be all liquid and thus readily processible. Further, the two-component foam forming compositions and the polyurethane foams therefrom are halogen and melamine free and exhibit low emissions and low odor.

The invention provides polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams and methods for the preparation thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to closed-celled, polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams and methods for their preparation. The foams are characterized by a fine uniform cell structure and little or no foam collapse. The foams are produced with a polyol premix composition which comprises a combination of a hydrohaloolefin blowing agent, a polyol, a silicone surfactant, and a non-amine catalyst used alone or in combination with an amine catalyst.

A storage stable isocyanate-reactive composition has ethylene oxide content from 1 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of an isocyanate-reactive component that includes a polyol component, a catalyst component, and a blowing agent component. The polyol component includes at least one polyol, the catalyst component includes at least one amine catalyst, and the blowing agent component includes at least one hydrohaloolefin based blowing agent. The isocyanate-reactive component is storable at least at one of room temperature and a higher temperature for a period of at least 1 day with a less than 10 second change in gel time when reacted with an isocyanate component at an isocyanate index from 100 to 150, compared to when the same isocyanate-reactive component is stored for a period of less than 1 day at room temperature and reacted with the same isocyanate component at the same isocyanate index from 100 to 150.