The disclosure relates to methods of making foams comprising aromatic polyester polyether polyol materials derived from the transesterification of polyethylene terephthalate with either glycerin or trimethylolpropane, wherein each of these triols, independently, has a degree of ethoxylation of from 1 to 9. Uses of the foams are further disclosed. The disclosure further relates to selection of blowing agents suitable to generate a selected end use case. Yet further, the disclosure relates to selection of end uses, properties, and environmental profiles of the foams generated according to the methods herein, and selecting formulation variables suitable to obtain the foams.

The present invention relates to sulfur-containing polyester polyols and to the preparation and use thereof.

A reactive mixture comprising a Fire, Smoke and Toxicity retardant (FST) composition for making a polyisocyanurate and/or polyurethane (PIR/PUR) comprising material, said FST composition comprising: a) at least one compound having at least one ethylenically unsaturated moiety having a number average equivalent weight<160 g/mol, and b) optionally one or more radical initiator compound characterized in that the onset temperature for radical polymerization (T.sub.onset) of the ethylenically unsaturated compound with or without the radical initiator is 2° C. up to 40° C. lower than the maximum reaction temperature achieved during the process for making the PIR/PUR material (reaction exotherm (T.sub.reaction)).

A method of producing a polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam is provided which involves the use of a specific combination of hydrofluoroolefin blowing agents and cell nucleators. The resulting foams have excellent long term thermal insulating performance and have reduced thickness in comparison to conventional thermal insulating boards. The rigid polyurethane and polyisocyanurate boards may be used to insulate refrigeration bodies, such as those employed in vehicles comprising refrigeration units, and cold storage containers.

A trimerization catalyst composition suitable for making a polyisocyanurate comprising (insulation) foam, said composition comprising at least a trimerization catalyst compound selected from one or more organic salts from alkoxides wherein said organic salt is selected from alkali metal, earth alkali metal, a transition metal such as Ti and/or quaternary ammonium organic salts.

The invention relates to a method for producing isocyanurates and isocyanurate-containing polyurethanes, comprising the step of reacting an isocyanate in the presence of a catalyst.

A catalyst composition for making polyurethane foam, the catalyst composition including a compound having a general formula R.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3N, wherein each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently selected from the group consisting of: a compound according to formula (I):

##STR00001##

wherein n=1 to 5; and R4, R5 and R6 are each independently hydrogen, methyl, ethyl and propyl groups; hydrogen, a C1-C6 alkyl group compound, a C1-C6 cycloalkyl group compound, a C1-C6 alkenyl group compound, a C1-C6 alkynyl group compound, a C1-C6 aryl group compound, and a C1-C6 aralkyl group compound, each group being substituted or unsubstituted; wherein at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is a compound according to formula (I). A polyurethane composition and method for forming a polyurethane foam are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing polyoxyalkylene polyester polyols by reacting a starter compound having Zerewitinoff-active H atoms, a cyclic dicarboxylic acid anhydride and a fatty acid ester with an alkylene oxide in the presence of a basic catalyst. The invention further relates to polyoxyalkylene polyester polyols resulting from the method and to a preparation method for polyurethanes by reaction of the polyoxyalkylene polyester polyols according to the invention.

A flexible discontinuous process produces a series of at least two articles containing thermally insulating polyurethane foam from at least three streams (A), (B) and (C). The process involves mixing the at least three streams with different mixing ratios and injecting the mixture into cavities of the articles. A production unit can be used for performing this process.

A polyisocyanurate and/or polyurethane (PIR/PUR) comprising material having improved Flame, Smoke and/or Toxicity (FST) retardancy is disclosed and a method for forming said PIR/PUR comprising material. The PIR/PUR material is comprising at least 0.2 wt % of compounds having a number average equivalent weight <160 g/mol and at least one non-polymerized ethylenically unsaturated moiety based on the total weight of the PIR/PUR comprising material, and optionally 0.01 wt % up to 1 wt % of one or more radical initiator compounds based on the total weight of the PIR/PUR comprising material.