Hydrophilic polyurethane foam is made from a diphenylmethane-based quasi-prepolymer having specified isocyanate and oxyethylene contents. The foams have an unusually good capacity for retaining water even when under compressive forces. They also exhibit at most moderate swelling when saturated with water. The foam is useful as a layer of a water containment system such as a green roof or blue roof system.

A polyurethane composition is provided. The polyurethane composition comprises (A) one or more prepolymers prepared by reacting at least one isocyanate compound with a first polyol component; and (B) a second polyol component; wherein at least one of the first polyol component and the second polyol component comprises an ester/ether block copolymer polyol synthesized by reacting a starting material polyether polyol with a C.sub.4-C.sub.20 lactone. The foamed or non-foamed polyurethane product prepared by using the polyurethane composition can achieve inhibited internal heat buildup, high thermal stability, improved curing speed, light stability, heat stability and superior mechanical strength. A method for preparing the polyurethane composition and a method for improving the performance property of the polyurethane product are also provided.

To provide a catalyst composition excellent in cell openness properties and initial curing properties, and a method for producing a polyurethane resin using the same. A catalyst composition comprising an amine compound (A) of the formula (1), a hydroxy acid (B) of the formula (2) and a tertiary amine compound (C) is used for the production of a polyurethane resin. [Each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 which are independent of each other, is a methyl group or an ethyl group, R.sub.3 is a C.sub.2-4 linear or branched alkyl group, R.sub.4 is a C.sub.1-18 bivalent hydrocarbon residue, m is an integer of from 1 to 3, and n is an integer of from 1 to 6.] ##STR00001##

A process can be used for producing a thermoplastic polyurethane, where the process at least involves converting at least one isocyanate composition and a polyol composition, to obtain a prepolymer having isocyanate groups, and reacting the resulting prepolymer with at least one chain extender. The at least one isocyanate composition contains an isocyanate selected from naphthylene 1,5-diisocyanate (NDI), diphenylmethane 4,4′-diisocyanate (MDI), p-phenyl diisocyanate (PPDI), o-tolidine diisocyanate (TODI), ethylene diphenyl diisocyanate (EDI), or mixtures thereof. The polyol composition contains a polytetrahydrofuran or a derivative thereof. A thermoplastic polyurethane obtained or obtainable by such a process is useful, and a foamed pellet material can be produced containing such a thermoplastic polyurethane. The foamed pellet material of the invention can be used for production of a molded article.

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).

A polyurethane foam for comfort application, includes the reaction product of a first composition that includes from 20 wt % to 80 wt % of an aqueous component and from 20 wt % to 80 wt % of a hydrophilic isocyanate-terminated prepolymer component. The aqueous component includes at least 90 wt % of water based on the total weight of the aqueous component and the hydrophilic isocyanate-terminated prepolymer component has a free NCO content from 1 wt % to 15 wt % and is a reaction product of a second composition that includes an isocyanate component and an isocyanate-reactive component. The isocyanate component includes at least 90 wt % of methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and a weight ratio of 4,4′-methylene diphenylisocyanate isomer to 2,4′-methylene diphenylisocyanate isomer greater than 1:1 and less than 10:1, the isocyanate-reactive component including polyethylene glycol and a polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene polyol having a molecular weight of from 3000 g/mole to 7500 g/mole and a polyoxyethylene content of at least 50 wt %, and the hydrophilic isocyanate terminated prepolymer component having an polyoxyethylene content from 45 wt % to 75 wt %, based on the total weight of the second composition.

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.

A process and composition is described for the inclusion of polyether polyols in concentrations greater than 10% loading on the B-side formulation with a catalyst package less than 1% loading on the B-side formulation. In one specific example, the use of glycerin as a fluorine ion scavenger is utilized to improve performance of the polyurethane systems through a twelve-month shelf life.

This disclosure provides methods for the chemical modification of triglycerides that are highly enriched in specific fatty acids and subsequent use thereof for producing functionally versatile polymers.

Described herein is a process for producing polyurethane foams having a density of 30 g/dm.sup.3 to 70 g/dm.sup.3, in which (a) aromatic polyisocyanate is mixed with (b) polymeric compounds having isocyanate-reactive groups, (c) optionally chain extender and/or crosslinking agent, (d) catalyst, (e) blowing agent including water, (f) 0.1% to 5% by weight of lactam, and (g) optionally additives, at an isocyanate index of 50 to 95 to form a reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture is converted to the polyurethane foam, wherein the catalyst includes metal catalyst and amine catalyst, and the amine catalyst has tertiary nitrogen atoms and the content of tertiary nitrogen atoms in the amine catalyst is from 0.0001 to 0.003 mol/100 g of foam. Also described herein is a polyurethane foam and a method of using such a flexible polyurethane foam for the production of cushions, seat cushions, or mattresses.