HCFO-containing isocyanate-reactive compositions, foam-forming compositions containing such isocyanate-reactive compositions, rigid PUR-PIR foams made using such foam-forming compositions, and methods for producing such foams, including use of such foams as insulation in discontinuous foam panel applications. The isocyanate-reactive composition includes a polyol blend, a blowing agent composition, and a tertiary amine catalyst. The polyol blend includes: (1) an aromatic polyester polyol having a functionality of 1.5 to less than 2.5 and an OH number of 150 to 360 mg KOH/g; (2) an aromatic polyester polyol having a functionality of at least 2.5 and an OH number greater than 360 mg KOH/g, which is present in an amount of at least 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the aromatic polyester polyol in the polyol blend; and (3) an amine-initiated polyether polyol having an OH number of at least 500 mg KOH/g and a functionality of 2.5 to 4. The blowing agent composition includes a hydrochlorofluoroolefin and a carbon dioxide generating chemical blowing agent.

Polymer composite materials and methods of preparation are discussed. The composite material may comprise a polyurethane foam and a plurality of inorganic particles dispersed in the polyurethane foam. The composite material may have moisture movement properties, such that (a) a sample of the composite material having a length of 48 inches has a moisture movement of less than 0.15% along the length, and/or (b) a sample having a length of 6 inches has a moisture movement of less than 0.8% along the length, when submerged in 45° C. distilled water for 14 days.

This invention provides stable polyol compositions at all states and these compositions are stable for at least 24 hours, in some cases for more than 6 months. There is also provided polyol mixture compositions that may be uniformly blended under manufacturing conditions within a time period of less than eight hours, typically less than two hours, i.e., stable—polyol mixtures. The invention provides a composition and a method for making stable polyurethane foams. The polyol mixture comprises at least two polyols of different polyoxyethylene content, catalyst, at least one ethoxylated alcohol of the following formula: RO(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.nH, wherein R is C1-C31 linear or branched alkyl, n is an integer equal to or greater than 1; and wherein the at least one ethoxylated alcohol has a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value equal to or greater than about 3.7.

Described herein is a method for the preparation of a rigid polyisocyanate based foam, including mixing (a) polyisocyanate, (b) at least one compound having at least two hydrogen atoms reactive towards isocyanates, (c) optionally flame retardant, (d) blowing agent, (e) catalyst and (f) optionally further additives, to form a reaction mixture and reacting the reaction mixture to obtain the polyurethane based rigid foam where the compound reactive towards isocyanates (b) includes an aromatic polyetherpolyol (b2) and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an aromatic polyesterpolyol (b1) and a polyetherpolyol (b3) different from polyether (b2). Also described herein is a rigid polyisocyanate based foam obtained from such a method and a polyol component for the production of a polyisocyanate based foam.

It is known that panels moulded for structural use can be subject to undesirable levels of shrinkage and this can complicate their end use or a building made from them. It is an object of the invention to go at least some way to addressing this problem. Accordingly there is provided a method of significantly reducing panel shrinkage in the production of a structural building panel. The method involves spraying polyurethane foam onto a rigid open mould such that the foam substantially embeds mesh, which prevents or significantly reduces shrinkage of the polyurethane foam. A skin of polyurea is then sprayed over the polyurethane to enhance structural strength of the panel.

A process includes calcining a high potassium carbonaceous waste product to form potassium oxide and carbon dioxide and reacting the potassium oxide and carbon dioxide to yield bio-based potassium carbonate. The process also includes catalyzing a reaction of a lignocellulosic biomass with abundant hydroxyl groups into a biopolyol using the bio-based potassium carbonate and brominating using a brominating agent a triglyceride to form a bio-isocyanate. In addition, the process includes reacting the biopolyol and the bio-isocyanate to form a polyurethane foam.

This invention relates to rigid polyurethane foams which are co-blown with a mixture of a hydrocarbon blowing agent and a halogenated olefin blowing agent. This invention also relates to a process for preparing these rigid polyurethane foams, and to an isocyanate-reactive component containing a polyol blend and the mixture of blowing agents. Phase stable isocyanate-reactive blends are also described.

The present invention provides a polyol composition that can secure the stability over time even when a large amount of water is blended in the polyol composition; a flexible polyurethane foam that uses the polyol composition, is low in density and is excellent in durability; and a method for producing the same. The above objects are solved by a polyol composition for molding a flexible polyurethane foam, comprising a polyol component; a catalyst; a foam stabilizer; a foaming agent; and a compatibilizing agent, wherein the compatibilizing agent is an anionic surfactant which has a hydrophilic portion having an alkali metal salt, and which has a hydrophobic portion having an aromatic ring or alternatively a hydrophobic portion not having an aromatic ring but containing 8 or more carbon atoms in total.

Polyurethane foams that are hydrophilic but nonetheless have low compression sets are made from a combination of MDI and TDI prepolymers, water, and a polymer polyol. The foams optionally are made incorporating a phase change material in the foam formulation. The phase change material does not require encapsulation.

A reactive mixture and method for making a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) flexible foam having a predominantly open-cell structure (open-cell content of ≥50% by volume calculated on the total volume of the foam and measured according to ASTM D6226-10) and an apparent density below 200 kg/m.sup.3.