Processes for making a molded flexible foam. The processes include: (a) depositing a foam-forming reaction mixture onto a surface of a mold cavity, and (b) allowing the foam-forming reaction mixture to react in the mold cavity. The foam-forming reaction mixture comprises: (1) a polyisocyanate present in an amount of less than 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the foam-forming reaction mixture; (2) an isocyanate-reactive composition comprising at least 50% by weight, based on the total weight of polyol in the isocyanate-reactive composition, of a polyether polyol having a functionality of greater than 2, an oxyethylene content of 0 to 50% by weight, based on the total weight of the polyether polyol, more than 50 mol % of primary OH groups, and an OH number of 8 to 112 mg KOH/g; (3) a blowing agent comprising water present in an amount of at least 0.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the foam-forming reaction mixture; and (4) a tin-free metallic catalyst composition comprising a bismuth-based catalyst and a zinc-based catalyst.

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 relates to a curable isocyanate-free formulation for preparing a polyurethane self-blowing foam comprising at least one multifunctional cyclic carbonate having at least two cyclic carbonate groups at the end of the chain (compound A), at least one multifunctional amine (compound B), at least one multifunctional thiol (compound C) and at least one catalyst (compound D), to a process for preparing said foams, to the thus obtained foams and the recycling of said foams.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a polyurethane foam, in particular an aerogel, from at least one polyisocyanate and at least one optionally recycled polyol, and to the use thereof.

Processes for making a molded flexible foam. The processes include: (a) depositing a foam-forming reaction mixture onto a surface of a mold cavity, and (b) allowing the foam-forming reaction mixture to react in the mold cavity. The foam-forming reaction mixture comprises: (1) a polyisocyanate present in an amount of less than 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the foam-forming reaction mixture; (2) an isocyanate-reactive composition comprising at least 50% by weight, based on the total weight of polyol in the isocyanate-reactive composition, of a polyether polyol having a functionality of greater than 2, an oxyethylene content of 0 to 50% by weight, based on the total weight of the polyether polyol, more than 50 mol % of primary OH groups, and an OH number of 8 to 112 mg KOH/g; (3) a blowing agent comprising water present in an amount of at least 0.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the foam-forming reaction mixture; and (4) a tin-free metallic catalyst composition comprising a bismuth-based catalyst and a zinc-based catalyst.

A catalyst composition comprising at least one compound with a general formula I:

##STR00001##

wherein A is N—R.sup.3, R.sup.3 is C.sub.1-C.sub.8 linear or branched, x=0-6, n and m are each independently 1 to 6, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently C.sub.2-C.sub.8 alkyl, and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are —CH.sub.3 groups; or A=O, x=0-6. n and m are each independently 1 to 6. R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently C.sub.2-C.sub.8 alkyl, and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are —CH.sub.3 groups; or A=O or N—R.sup.3, R.sup.3 is C.sub.1-C.sub.8 linear or branched, and N(R.sup.1-R.sup.4) and N(R.sup.2-R.sup.5) each independently represent a C.sub.3-C.sub.7 ring amine moiety of the type:

##STR00002##

The present invention relates to bead foams made of thermoplastic polyurethane and polystyrene produced moldings, to processes for the production of the bead foams and moldings, and also to the use of the moldings for shoe intermediate soles, shoe insoles, shoe combisoles, or cushioning elements for shoes.

The present invention relates to a process for producing translucent polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams by reaction of a component A comprising A1 at least one polyol reactive with the component B; A2 optionally at least one amine; A3 water and optionally formic acid; A4 at least one foam stabilizer; A5 optionally auxiliary and/or additive substances; A6 optionally at least one flame retardant; A7 at least one catalyst; and a component B comprising B1 at least one aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyisocyanate component or a combination thereof; and B2 optionally at least one hydrophilized isocyanate; and B3 less than 20 parts by weight of an aromatic polyisocyanate component, wherein the parts by weight of B3 are based on the sum of the parts by weight of B1 to B3 normalized to 100 parts by weight, characterized in that the reaction of the component A with the component B is carried out at an isocyanate index of at least 150, wherein the obtained translucent polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams have a light transmission according to EN ISO 13468-2:2006 of at least 10% and a haze of at least 70%, determined according to ASTM D1003-13, in each case measured at a layer thickness of 20 mm. The present invention further relates to polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams obtained by the process and to the use thereof as a construction element, as a wall element, as a floor element, in buildings, in vehicles or lamps.

A method of microcellular foam molding an article is provided with, in one embodiment, filling a mold with a polyolefin compound; adding a crosslinking agent to the polyolefin compound to form a crosslinked mold; placing the crosslinked mold in a second mold having vent holes; placing the second mold in a pressure vessel; dissolving gas under high pressure to form a supercritical fluid (SCF) in the pressure vessel; effusing the SCF through the vent holes into the crosslinked mold to form a SCF permeated mold; releasing pressure of the pressure vessel to cause the SCF permeated mold to foam; and finishing a foamed article in the second mold.

Methods are provided for producing bio-oil polyols, alkoxylating bio-oil polyols to provide polyols, and for employing the alkoxylated bio-oil polyols for making polymers or copolymers of polyesters or polyurethanes.