Stepan Company

David J Norberg

Daniel Yocius

Warren A Kaplan

Thomas K Johnson, Jr

Rick Tabor

Chunhua Yao

Timothy L Lambert

Sarah Wolek

Andrew Guo

Xiuguang A Guo

Angelo R Gabbianelli

Sean O'Cuanaigh

Laura Schreiner

Methods and systems for determining the integrity of a manufactured board are disclosed. An example system includes a testing platform configured to secure the manufactured board, a sensor configured to measure a parameter corresponding to a flatness of a surface of the board, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify regions on the surface corresponding to one of a peak or a valley based on the parameter, and calculate a score representing the integrity of the manufactured board based on the identified peaks and valleys. The controller adjusts a flow rate, a pressure, a temperature, and position of a deposited substance in a manufacturing process based on a comparison with a height of the peak and/or a depth of the valley to stored peak heights and/or valley depths. In some examples, a mechanical tester determines a compressive strength and a density of the board at the identified regions.

Hardness and flatness tester

Methods and systems for manufacturing a foam board system are disclosed. In some examples, a system includes an applicator to distribute one or more fluids onto a substrate. One or more sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of the one or more fluids. A control circuitry is configured to compare the one or more measured characteristics to one or more threshold characteristics, and to adjust one or more operating parameters of the system in response to a characteristic of the one or more measured characteristics falling outside a threshold of the one or more threshold characteristics.

Systems and methods for computer vision assisted foam board processing

Polyester polyols containing adducts formed from Diels-Alder and Ene reactions are disclosed. Processes for making the polyester polyols and uses of the polyester polyols as polyurethane coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, and foams are also disclosed. In some embodiments, the polyester polyols contain biorenewable adducts based on maleic anhydride and farnesene and have particular application in making rigid and flexible polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams.

Polyester polyols containing diels-alder or ene adducts

A method of improving the mechanical strength of polyurethane foams made from bio-based polyols, the polyol-containing compositions utilized in the method of the invention, and the polyurethane foams produced by the method of the invention are provided. The method of the invention involves the incorporation of aromatic polyester polyol in the polyol-containing composition used to manufacture the foams. In one embodiment, the aromatic polyester polyol is utilized in a polyol-containing composition which is employed in the manufacture of flexible polyurethane foam. In another embodiment, the aromatic polyester polyol transesterified with a natural oil-containing composition to form a transesterification reaction product that is utilized in a polyol-containing composition which is employed in the manufacture of flexible polyurethane foam. Flexible polyurethane foams of the invention exhibit substantial improvements in mechanical strength properties, such as tear strength, tensile strength and elongation relative to foams made from bio-based polyols such as soybean oil-based polyols.

Method of improving mechanical strength of flexible polyurethane foams made from bio-based polyols, the polyol compositions utilized therein and the foams produced thereby

A method for improving the thermal stability of polyurethane-modified polyisocyanurate (PU-PIR) foams is provided. Moreover, a process for producing the PU-PIR foams exhibiting improved thermal stability is provided. The foams have incorporated therein a high molecular weight ammonium polyphosphate (APP). APP is employed as a partial or complete substitute for flame retardants conventionally employed in PU-PIR foams. The foams of the invention exhibit excellent and improved thermal stability characteristics as compared to foams to which no APP has been added.

Growing community of inventors

Grayslake, IL, United States of America

David J Norberg