Modified lignin products, processes for making them, and their use to produce rigid polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams are disclosed. The processes comprise heating a lignin source with a nitrogen source and a starved concentration of a C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aldehyde to give a reaction mixture comprising a Mannich condensation product, neutralizing the reaction mixture, and isolating the modified lignin product. The process is performed at a mass ratio of lignin source to nitrogen source within the range of 1:1 to 1:5 and at a molar ratio of nitrogen source to C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aldehyde within the range of 3.5:1 to 1:1. Polyol blends and performance additives that contain the modified lignin products are described. Rigid foams that process well and incorporate up to 60 wt.%, based on the amount of polyol component, of the modified lignin contribute to excellent flame retardancy and low-temperature R-value performance.

A polyurethane foam article comprises the reaction product of an isocyanate component and isocyanate-reactive composition in the presence of a blowing agent. The isocyanate component includes an isocyanate prepolymer comprising the reaction product of a first polyether polyol and a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. The isocyanate-reactive composition comprises a second polyether polyol having secondary terminal hydroxyl groups and an amine-initiated catalytic polyether polyol having primary hydroxyl groups. A method of making the polyurethane foam article comprises the steps of reacting the first polyether polyol and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate to form the isocyanate prepolymer and reacting the isocyanate prepolymer with the isocyanate-reactive composition in the presence of the blowing agent to form the polyurethane foam article.

This document discloses algae-derived flexible foams, whether open-cell or closed-cell, with inherent antimicrobial and flame resistant properties, wherein a process of manufacturing includes the steps of: harvesting algae-biomass; sufficiently drying the algae biomass; blending the dried algae biomass with a carrier resin and various foaming ingredients; adding an algal-derived antimicrobial compound selected from various natural sulfated polysaccharides present in brown algae, red algae, and/or certain seaweeds (marine microalgae); and adding a sufficient quantity of dried algae biomass to the formulation to adequately create a fire resistant flexible foam material.

A method for preparing rigid polyurethane (PUR) foams or rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR) foams in which method the rigid PUR or PIR foam is prepared by reacting a composition (C) comprising: at least one isocyanate-reactive component (B1) having functional groups selected from hydroxyl, amine and thiol groups; at least one isocyanate component (A1) having an average functionality of less than 2.70; and at least one blowing agent [blowing agent (BA), herein after]; with the proviso that the overall average functionality [F.sub.n,avg(A), herein after] of all isocyanate components present in the composition (C) is less than 2.70; wherein the composition (C) is characterized by an isocyanate index X, wherein the rigid PUR or PIR foams are produced by depositing the composition (C) between two gas-tight facing sheets and wherein the rigid PUR or PIR foam is characterized by a difference Δλ between the initial thermal conductivity value λ.sub.ini and the aged thermal conductivity value λ.sub.aged of said rigid PUR or PIR foam wherein: when X≤200 then Δλ<1.35; and when X>200 then Δλ<[6.49−(4.46*F.sub.n,avg(A))−(0.02348*X)+(0.492*F.sub.n,avg(A)*F.sub.n,avg(A))+(0.01343*F.sub.n,avg(A)*X)+0.3].

In the composition according to the embodiment, the content of an unreacted diisocyanate monomer in a urethane-based prepolymer may be controlled to control the physical properties thereof such as gelation time. Thus, since the micropore characteristics, polishing rate, and pad cut rate of a polishing pad obtained by curing the composition according to the embodiment may be controlled, it is possible to efficiently manufacture high-quality semiconductor devices using the polishing pad.

The present invention relates to foam. In particular, the present invention relates to profiled foams and processes for profiling absorbent foam products. More particularly, the present invention relates to processes for producing a profiled absorbent polyurethane foam product, comprising the steps of foaming, curing, profiling and drying, wherein profiling occurs before drying; and absorbent aliphatic polyurethane foam products having at least one profiled surface.

Described herein are anti-microbial and UV-protective biological devices and extracts produced therefrom. The biological devices include microbial cells transformed with a DNA construct containing genes for producing proteins such as, for example, zinc-related protein/oxidase, silicatein, silaffin, and alcohol dehydrogenase. In some instances, the biological devices also include a gene for lipase. Methods for producing and using the devices are also described herein. Finally, compositions and methods for using the devices and extracts to kill microbial species or prevent microbial growth and to reduce or prevent UV-induced damage or exposure to materials, items, plants, and human and animal subjects are described herein. Also disclosed are biological devices producing polyactive carbohydrates and carbo sugars, as well as compositions and articles incorporating both extracts from these devices and the anti-microbial and UV-protective extracts.

A catalyst system useful in the production of polyurethane and/or polyisocyanurate foams using hydrohaloolefin blowing agents.

Rigid polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams, polyester polyols used to produce them, and methods for formulating the foams are disclosed. The foams comprise a reaction product of a polyisocyanate, a polyester polyol, water, a surfactant, a catalyst and optional ingredients. The polyester polyols comprise a phthalimide-containing polyacid, a phthalimide-containing polyol, or a combination thereof. Rigid foams produced from the polyester polyols exhibit higher thermal stability and/or greater intumescence when compared with foams made from other polyester polyols. The phthalimide-containing polyester polyols should allow formulators to improve the flammability performance of rigid foams with reduced levels of flame retardants and/or lower index and should facilitate the production of thinner insulation panels.

A foam-forming composition for producing a rigid polyurethane foam including: (a) at least one isocyanate component; and (b) at least one isocyanate-reactive composition including: (bi) a rigid polyol compound; and (bii) a flexible polyol compound; (c) a catalyst package including at least one latent gelling catalyst; and (d) at least one blowing agent.