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

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.

Polybutylene terephthalate can be used as a gas diffusion barrier for closed-cell rigid polyurethane foams. A thermal insulation element containing a closed-cell, rigid polyurethane foam, which is at least partially covered by a layer system containing at least one layer formed by a polybutylene terephthalate composition, is useful. Articles and devices may contain a corresponding thermal insulation structure, such as refrigerators, insulation panels, pipe insulations, water heaters, and thermally insulated transport boxes.

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.

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.

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.

This document presents algae-derived antimicrobial fiber substrates, and a method of making the same. The fiber may be a synthetic fiber, but can also be formed as a cellulosic (e.g., cotton). In various implementations, an algae-derived antimicrobial fiber substrate can be made to have identical properties and characteristics of nylon-6 of nylon 6-6 polymer or the like, and yet contain antimicrobial, anti-viral, and/or flame retardant algal derived substances. Any of various species of red algae, brown algae, blue-green algae, and brown seaweed (marine microalgae and/or macroalgae) are known to contain a high level of sulfated polysaccharides with inherent antimicrobial, antiviral, and flame-retardant properties, and can be used as described herein. Additionally disclosed are algae-derived flexible foams, whether open-cell or closed-cell, with inherent antimicrobial, antiviral, and flame resistant properties. Further, a process of manufacturing is presented wherein the process may include one or more of 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].