Disclosed is a polyurethane foam and a method of preparing the same which utilizes only bio-renewable polyols and no petroleum derived polyols. The polyol is derived from a bio-renewable source and has a bio-renewable content of at least 70% by weight. The produced foams have mechanical and performance properties that are equal to or exceed those of similar polyurethane foams produced using petroleum derived polyols. The foams are preferably formed into sponges and other cleaning products for use by consumers and in industrial settings.

Polyurethane foam is formed by foaming raw materials that includes either an aliphatic isocyanate or a melamine derivative, a urethane emulsion, and an anionic foam stabilizer. The compression set (JIS K6401) of the polyurethane foam, specifically, the compression set (JIS K6401) after the polyurethane foam being allowed to stand for 22 hours in a state of 50% compression under condition of 70 C., is 40% or less. By this, it is possible to obtain polyurethane foam that is low density, pliable and resistant to collapse, i.e., polyurethane foam having high recovery properties.

The present disclosure relates to a method for preparing a foamed structure, comprising: providing a preform prepared from one or more of thermoplastic materials, in which the preform has corresponding shape of the foamed structure; subjecting the preform to a first treatment with a first supercritical fluid at a first temperature and a first pressure; optionally, subjecting the preform treated with the first supercritical fluid to a second treatment with a second supercritical fluid at a second temperature and a second pressure; and foaming the resulting preform into a structure having predetermined shape and size.

A curable composition for preparing a low density cast silicone foam includes a first part and a second part. The first part includes particular amounts of an alkenyl-terminated polyorganosiloxane; an alkenyl-substituted copolyorganosiloxane; an alkenyl-substituted MQ polyorganosiloxane; a cure catalyst; an inorganic filler; and a chemical blowing agent. The second part includes a hydride-substituted polyorganosiloxane. The resulting silicone foams advantageously have a density of less than 240 kg/m.sup.3; and a closed cell content of at least 50%. Cured silicone foams and methods for the manufacture thereof are also described.

Antimicrobial polyurethanes and methods of producing an antimicrobial polyurethane may comprise mixing a plurality of hydrophobic antimicrobial metal compound particles to the reaction mixture. The reaction mixture may comprise a polyol and an isocyanate. The method may comprise mixing the polyol with the plurality of hydrophobic copper oxide particles to produce a polyol slurry and, subsequently, mixing the polyol slurry with an isocyanate to form a polyurethane foam. Other polyurethane articles and methods may be utilized.

What are described are shaped hot-cure flexible PU foam articles, preferably mattresses and/or cushions, wherein the hot-cure flexible polyurethane foam has been obtained by reaction of at least one polyol component and at least one isocyanate component in the presence of at least one compound of formula (1a) and at least one compound of formula (1b) and at least one blowing agent and at least one catalyst.

The present invention provides for the use of nitrogen compounds of formula (I) and/or of corresponding quaternized and/or protonated compounds for production of polyurethanes, compositions containing these compounds and polyurethane systems, especially polyurethane foams, which have been obtained using the compounds.

The present disclosure relates to pyrrolidine-based catalysts for use in a polyurethane formulation. The polyurethane formulation includes the pyrrolidine-based catalyst, a compound containing an isocyanate functional group, an active hydrogen-containing compound. The use of such catalysts produces high quality polyurethane foam while reducing environmental concerns that can arise during the production of polyurethane foam as well as in the foam that is produced.

A reaction system for forming polyurethane elastomers includes a cardanol modified epoxy polyol. In particular, the reaction system has an isocyanate-reactive component that includes the cardanol-modified epoxy polyol and an isocyanate component that includes at least one polyisocyanate. The cardanol-modified epoxy polyol is a reaction product of an epoxy component and an epoxy-reactive component at a ratio of epoxy groups to epoxy reactive groups from 1:1 to 1:5, and the epoxy-reactive component includes a cashew nutshell liquid having a cardanol content of at least 85 wt %, based on a total weight of the cashew nutshell liquid.

Flame retardant polyesters obtainable by reacting an aromatic or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and/or ester of anhydride thereof, with an aliphatic polyol or mixtures thereof and with melamine, are provided. Methods of making said polyesters are also provided.