This invention relates to an in-situ formed polyether polyol blend having an overall functionality of 2 to 3 and an overall hydroxyl number of 40 to 220 mg KOH/g. A process for preparing these in-situ formed polyether polyol blends is also disclosed. These in-situ formed polyether polyol blends are suitable for a process of preparing viscoelastic flexible polyurethane foams.

This invention relates to an in-situ formed polyether polyol blend having an overall functionality of 2 to 3 and an overall hydroxyl number of 40 to 220 mg KOH/g. A process for preparing these in-situ formed polyether polyol blends is also disclosed. These in-situ formed polyether polyol blends are suitable for a process of preparing viscoelastic flexible polyurethane foams.

This invention relates to a novel polyether polyol blend having an overall hydroxyl number of 56 mg KOH/g to 140 mg KOH/g, an overall functionality of greater than 2, and an overall content of copolymerized oxyethylene of 20% to 40% by weight. These novel polyether polyol blends may also be in-situ formed novel polyether polyol blends. A process for preparing these novel polyether polyol blends is also disclosed. These novel polyether polyol blends are suitable for preparing viscoelastic flexible polyurethane foams, and in a process for preparing viscoelastic foams.

This invention relates to a novel polyether polyol blend having an overall hydroxyl number of 56 mg KOH/g to 140 mg KOH/g, an overall functionality of greater than 2, and an overall content of copolymerized oxyethylene of 20% to 40% by weight. These novel polyether polyol blends may also be in-situ formed novel polyether polyol blends. A process for preparing these novel polyether polyol blends is also disclosed. These novel polyether polyol blends are suitable for preparing viscoelastic flexible polyurethane foams, and in a process for preparing viscoelastic foams.

To provide a polyether polyol having a high degree of freedom in the design of a polyurethane foam, and capable of providing a polyol system solution excellent in storage stability. A polyether polyol having a polyoxyalkylene chain consisting of oxyalkylene units, and having a degree of unsaturation of at most 0.020 meq/g, a hydroxy value of from 1 to 80 mgKOH/g, a content of oxyethylene units of from 0 to 50 mass %, and a content of ultra-high molecular weight components which have molecular weights of from 12 to 46 times the number average molecular weight of at most 1,000 mass ppm. The number average molecular weight is a molecular weight as calculated as polystyrene measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) method, and the content of ultra-high molecular weight components is a value measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using a charged aerosol detector (CAD).

To provide a polyether polyol having a high degree of freedom in the design of a polyurethane foam, and capable of providing a polyol system solution excellent in storage stability. A polyether polyol having a polyoxyalkylene chain consisting of oxyalkylene units, and having a degree of unsaturation of at most 0.020 meq/g, a hydroxy value of from 1 to 80 mgKOH/g, a content of oxyethylene units of from 0 to 50 mass %, and a content of ultra-high molecular weight components which have molecular weights of from 12 to 46 times the number average molecular weight of at most 1,000 mass ppm. The number average molecular weight is a molecular weight as calculated as polystyrene measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) method, and the content of ultra-high molecular weight components is a value measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using a charged aerosol detector (CAD).

The invention provides a production method that is capable of obtaining a polyalkylene oxide having high whiteness by a simple method, and a polyalkylene oxide.

The method for producing a polyalkylene oxide of the present invention comprises a step of irradiating a high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide with radiation in the presence or absence of an antioxidant to obtain a polyalkylene oxide,

wherein the high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide has a viscosity in a 1% aqueous solution of 1500 to 16000 mPa.Math.s, when the antioxidant is present, the antioxidant is present in an amount of less than 2000 mass ppm relative to the total mass of the high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide, and the following formula (1):

0≤C.sup.3×I×10.sup.−8<30   (1),

wherein C is the concentration of the antioxidant used in the step, and represents the proportion (mass ppm) of the antioxidant relative to the total mass of the polyalkylene oxide, and I represents the irradiation dose (kGy) of the radiation emitted in the above step, is satisfied.

The invention provides a production method that is capable of obtaining a polyalkylene oxide having high whiteness by a simple method, and a polyalkylene oxide.

The method for producing a polyalkylene oxide of the present invention comprises a step of irradiating a high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide with radiation in the presence or absence of an antioxidant to obtain a polyalkylene oxide,

wherein the high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide has a viscosity in a 1% aqueous solution of 1500 to 16000 mPa.Math.s, when the antioxidant is present, the antioxidant is present in an amount of less than 2000 mass ppm relative to the total mass of the high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide, and the following formula (1):

0≤C.sup.3×I×10.sup.−8<30   (1),

wherein C is the concentration of the antioxidant used in the step, and represents the proportion (mass ppm) of the antioxidant relative to the total mass of the polyalkylene oxide, and I represents the irradiation dose (kGy) of the radiation emitted in the above step, is satisfied.

The present invention provides a production method for obtaining, by a simple method, a polyalkylene oxide whose molecular weight and polydispersity are controlled in the desired range.

The method for producing a polyalkylene oxide of the present disclosure comprises step 1 of performing a polymerization reaction of an alkylene oxide in the presence or absence of a chain transfer agent to obtain a high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide; and step 2 of irradiating the high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide obtained in step 1 with radiation to obtain a polyalkylene oxide; wherein the amount of the chain transfer agent when used is less than 300 mass ppm relative to the alkylene oxide, and the high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide has a viscosity in a 1 mass % aqueous solution of 7500 mPa.Math.s or more.

The present invention provides a production method for obtaining, by a simple method, a polyalkylene oxide whose molecular weight and polydispersity are controlled in the desired range.

The method for producing a polyalkylene oxide of the present disclosure comprises step 1 of performing a polymerization reaction of an alkylene oxide in the presence or absence of a chain transfer agent to obtain a high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide; and step 2 of irradiating the high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide obtained in step 1 with radiation to obtain a polyalkylene oxide; wherein the amount of the chain transfer agent when used is less than 300 mass ppm relative to the alkylene oxide, and the high-molecular-weight polyalkylene oxide has a viscosity in a 1 mass % aqueous solution of 7500 mPa.Math.s or more.