Dow Global Technolgoies LLC

Northwestern University

Anthony P Gies

David R Wilson

Sukrit Mukhopadhyay

William Hoy Heath

Arjun Raghuraman

Heather Spinney

Manjiri R Paradkar

SonBinh T Nguyen

Justin M Notestein

Heather A Spinney

A method of producing a polyether polyol includes reacting a low molecular weight initiator with one or more monomers in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, and the low molecular weight initiator has a nominal hydroxyl functionality of at least 2. The one or more monomers includes at least one selected from propylene oxide and butylene oxide. The polymerization catalyst is a Lewis acid catalyst having the general formula M(R)1(R)1(R)1(R)0 or 1, whereas M is boron, aluminum, indium, bismuth or erbium, R, R, R, and Rare each independent, Rincludes a fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, Rincudes a fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group or a fluoro/chloro-substituted phenyl group, Rincludes a fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group or a fluoro/chloro-substituted phenyl group, and optional Rincludes a functional group or functional polymer group, Rbeing different from at least one of Rand R.

Process of manufacturing polyols

A method of producing a polyether polyol that includes reacting a low molecular weight initiator with one or more monomers in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, the low molecular weight initiator having a number average molecular weight of less than 1,000 g/mol and a nominal hydroxyl functionality at least 2, the one or more monomers including at least one selected from propylene oxide and butylene oxide, and the polymerization catalyst being a Lewis acid catalyst having the general formula M(R)(R)(R)(R). Whereas, M is boron, aluminum, indium, bismuth or erbium, R, R, and Reach includes a same fluoroalkyl-substituted phenyl group, and optional Rincludes a functional group or functional polymer group. The method further includes forming a polyether polyol having a number average molecular weight of greater than the number average molecular weight of the low molecular weight initiator in the presence of the Lewis acid catalyst.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Jackson, TX, United States of America

Anthony P Gies