A reaction system, such as for forming a rigid polyurethane foam, includes a flame retardant polyol that is a brominated reaction product of a cardanol component, a bromine component, and an additive component. The cardanol component includes at least 80 wt % of cardanol, based on the total weight of the cardanol component, and the bromine component including at least 80 wt % of bromine, based on the total weight of the bromine component.

A method for forming polyurethane foams in a molding apparatus includes a step of directing one or more polyol compositions into a mold. Each of the one or more polyol compositions include a polyol, water, and a catalyst. The method also includes a step of directing an isocyanate composition into the mold to form a foamed polyurethane. The isocyanate composition includes one or more isocyanates. The one or more polyol compositions and the isocyanate composition is combined into a reaction composition. Characteristically, water concentration is in a range from 1.5 to 2 percent of the weight of the total reaction composition and the amount of isocyanate in the reaction composition is in a sufficient amount such that the isocyanate index is from about 83 to 98. A molded component made by the method is also provided.

Disclosed are a process of producing a polyurethane foam product, a polyurethane foam product pre-mix, polyurethane foam product formulation, and a polyurethane foam product. The process of producing the polyurethane foam product includes contacting a halogen containing composition with a polyurethane foam product pre-mix. The polyurethane foam product pre-mix includes the halogen containing composition. The polyurethane foam product formulation includes a polyol component, an isocyanate component, and a halogen containing compound component. The polyurethane foam product is formed by the pre-mix having the halogen containing composition.

Combinations of gelatinous elastomer and polyurethane foam may be made by introducing a plasticized A-B-A triblock copolymer resin and/or an A-B diblock copolymer resin into a mixture of polyurethane foam forming components including a polyol and an isocyanate. The plasticized copolymer resin is polymerized to form the gelatinous elastomer in-situ while simultaneously polymerizing the polyol and the isocyanate to form polyurethane foam. The polyurethane reaction is exothermmic and can generate sufficient temperature to melt the styrene-portion of the A-B-A triblock copolymer resin thereby extending the crosslinking and in some cases integrating the A-B-A triblock copolymer within the polyurethane polymer matrix. The combination has a marbled appearance. The gel component has higher heat capacity than polyurethane foam and thus has good thermal conductivity and acts as a heat sink. Another advantage of in situ gel-foam is that the gel component provides higher support factors compared to the base foam alone.

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 relates to blowing agent compositions comprising tetrafluoropropene (HFO) and at least one co-blowing agent selected from carbon dioxide, water, alkanes and an alcohol used in the preparation of foamable thermoplastic compositions having low density. The HFOs include, but are not limited too, cis- and/or trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze), 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO 1234yf), or mixtures thereof. The blowing agent compositions are useful in the production of low density insulating foams with improved R value.

Cellular and multi-cellular polystyrene and polystyrenic foams and methods of forming such foams are disclosed. The foams include an expanded polystyrene formed from expansion of an expandable polystyrene including an adsorbent comprising alumina, wherein the multi-cellular polystyrene exhibits a multi-cellular size distribution. The process for forming a foamed article includes providing a formed styrenic polymer and contacting the formed styrenic polymer with a first blowing agent and an adsorbent comprising alumina to form extrusion polystyrene. The process further includes forming the extrusion styrenic polymer into an expanded styrenic polymer and forming the expanded styrenic polymer into a foamed article.

A rigid polyurethane foam formulation comprising a polyester polyol having a hydroxyl number of from 150 to 600 mg KOH/g and a functionality of at least 2, a blowing agent comprising water and an auxiliary blowing agent, a non-silicone organic surfactant, greater than 0.1% to less than 3.7% of a cyclic siloxane, by weight based on the total weight of the foam formulation, a catalyst, and optionally a flame retardant; and a polyisocyanate; such that the isocyanate index is in the range of from 100 to 500, a rigid polyurethane foam formed from the foam formulation; and a method of forming a rigid polyurethane foam.

Disclosed are methods and compositions for forming a flexible, open cell foams which utilize a thermosetting composition comprising one or more components capable of forming a thermoset matrix and a blowing agent comprising at least one chemical blowing agent, such as water, and at least one physical blowing agent includes at least one of HFO-1336mzz, HFO-S1438mzz (preferably E-HFO-1438mzz) and HFO-1447fz, to form a flexible foam.

The present disclosure relates to improving insulation properties of foams by employing an azeotropically-modified blowing agent that preserves or improves R-value at various temperatures such as lower than ambient temperatures (below 24° C.). The present disclosure also provides foams with improved long-term thermal resistance (LTTR).