Polyurethane foams which are highly flame resistant are described, as well as the production of such polyurethane foams by the reaction between a natural polyol, such as sucrose or a blend of mono- or disaccharides in place of the standard hydrocarbon-based polyol component, a polyisocyanate and water in the presence of a suitable polyurethane forming catalyst and a flame retardant, and optionally one or more components such as surfactants and/or emulsifiers. The resultant polyurethane foam has a bio-based solid content ranging from about 17% to 30%, may be formulated in a variety of foam densities for a variety of applications, and exhibits a high degree of fire and burn resistance, as exhibited by the flame spread index and the smoke spread values.

The present disclosure provides for an isocyanate-reactive composition that can react with an isocyanate compound in a reaction mixture to form a polyurethane-based foam. The isocyanate-reactive composition includes an isocyanate reactive compound and a combustion modifier composition. The isocyanate reactive compound has an isocyanate reactive moiety and an aromatic moiety. The combustion modifier composition includes both phosphorus from a halogen-free flame-retardant compound and a transition metal from a transition metal compound. The combustion modifier composition can have a molar ratio of the transition metal to phosphorus (mole transition metal:mole phosphorous) of 0.05:1 to 5:1.

C

A curable isocyanate free formulation for preparing a polyurethane foam. The formulation includes a compound A chosen from multifunctional cyclic carbonates of a formula (I) or a mixture thereof, a compound B chosen from multifunctional cyclic carbonates containing oxyalkylene groups —OR3- of a formula (II) or a mixture thereof, a compound C chosen from multifunctional amines of a formula (III) or a mixture thereof and a compound D chosen from non-reactive blowing agents, as well as a process for preparing a non-isocyanate polyurethane foam, a foam obtainable by this process, compound B, a mixture of compounds A and B, the use of compound B for enhancing the solubility of a non-reactive blowing agent in a compound A and a foamable system having a first part A containing compound A and compound B and a second part B containing compound C, wherein part A and part B are preferably physically separated.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a rigid polyurethane-polyisocyanurate foam C, comprising the step of reacting (i) an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer B with (ii) an activator component A comprising at least one trimerization catalyst A1 and at least one blowing agent A3 in a reaction mixture to form a foam, characterized in that—there is used an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer B obtained from a reaction of an isocyanate B1 having a mean isocyanate functionality of from ≧2.3 to ≦2.9 with a polyol component B2, and—the activator component A comprises water as the blowing agent A3 in an amount of from ≧5 wt. % to ≦50 wt. %,—the isocyanate index in the reaction mixture is in a range of from ≧400 to ≧500, and—the isocyanate content of the prepolymer B is in a range of from ≧21 wt. % to ≦30 wt. %, based on the total mass of the prepolymer B, and—wherein in the reaction of the prepolymer B and the activator component A a conversion contribution to polyisocyanurate of ≦75% is achieved. Rigid foams C so produced have good flame retarding properties while at the same time having good insulating properties and stability properties. The present invention relates further to a rigid polyisocyanurate foam C produced by the process according to the invention, to the use of such a rigid polyisocyanurate foam C in the production of heat-insulating structural components, and to a heat-insulating structural component comprising such a rigid polyurethane-polyisocyanurate foam.

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 have an internal block comprising polymerized ethylene oxide moieties and an external cap comprising polymerized propylene oxide moieties.

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.

Process for making a foam suitable as plant growth medium by reacting a polyisocyanate, a polyether polyol mixture and water at an isocyanate index of 90-150 wherein the polyol mixture used comprises at least 2 polyols and wherein the polyol mixture comprises less than 50% by weight oxyethylene calculated on the weight of the polyol mixture.

The invention relates to a method for producing polyether carbonate polyols, (i) one or more alkylene oxide(s) and carbon dioxide being added to one or more H-functional starter substance(s) in the presence of a double metal cyanide catalyst or in the presence of a metal complex catalyst based on the metals zinc and/or cobalt, a reaction mixture containing the polyether carbonate polyol being obtained, characterized in that (ii) at least one component K is added to the obtained reaction mixture containing the polyether carbonate polyol, wherein component K is selected from at least one compound that contains a phosphorus-oxygen bond or a compound of phosphorus that can form one or more P—O bonds by reaction with OH-functional compounds.

A spray foam formulation used to form a spray foam insulation layer in a wall structure is described. The formulation may include the reaction product of a polyisocyanate compound and a polyol compound; a fire retardant chosen from at least one of a non-halogenated fire retardant; and a reactive halogen-containing fire retardant, and a carbohydrate. The spray foam insulation layer has an insulative R value of 3.0 to 7.2 per inch, and a density of between about 0.3 to about 4.5 pcf. Further, spray foam insulation made from the spray foam formulation may have fire retardant characteristics that are equivalent to or better than a similar spray insulation foam insulation using non-reactive halogenated fire retardants such as tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TCPP).

The present invention provides a process for preparing a polymer material filled composite element, comprising the steps of: i) providing a partially closed space, wherein a polyurethane foam is disposed at least at part of the periphery of the space to restrain the flow of the polymer material resin, and the polyurethane foam is formed by in situ application of a polyurethane composition and has an air flow value of greater than 1 L/min as determined by ASTM D3574 test; ii) applying the polymer material resin into the space and curing the polymer material resin to form a polymer material that fills the space.