The Dow Chemical Company

Hugo E Bernardi

Robert Carswell

A flexible or semi-flexible polyurethane foam composition prepared from a formulation comprising a catalytic amount of an additive containing (1) a urea compound, and (2) a transition metal salt of a carboxylic acid wherein the metal is selected from Groups I-B, II-B, V-A, IV-B, V-B, VI-B, VII-B or VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements; the additive containing a sufficient quantity of at least one amine group-containing material such that the transition metal salt is soluble in the additive; and water as a blowing agent. In preferred embodiments water is the sole blowing agent. The polyurethanes exhibit relatively short demolding times and improved mold release properties. They also show a reduced tendency to cause discoloration or staining of vinyl-based polymeric calddings such as polyvinyl chloride.

Polyurethanes containing multipurpose additives

A compatibilized active hydrogen compound-alkylene glycol composition comprises components (A) a relatively high equivalent weight material having an average of at least about 1.8 active hydrogen containing groups per molecule and a weight from about 500 to about 5000 per active hydrogen containing group; (B) an alkylene glycol which is incompatible with component (A) at the relative proportions thereof present in the composition; said composition having dissolved therein: (C) a compatibilizing and catalytic amount of an additive containing (1) a urea compound and (2) a transition metal salt of a carboxylic acid wherein said metal is selected from Groups I-B, II-B, V-A, IV-B, V-B, VI-B, VII-B or VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements; said composition containing a sufficient quantity of at least one amine group-containing material such that component (2) is soluble in said composition. Such compositions are useful in producing polyurethanes, particularly polyurethanes exhibiting relatively short demold times and good mold release properties.

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Lake Jackson, TX, United States of America

Hugo E Bernardi