Milliken + Co

Milliken Research Corporation

Mark E Ragsdale

Sandy G Belue

Eric B Stephens

Jimmy D Chavis

Jusong Xia

Frank Mark Pitman

Haihu Qin

David J Moody

Christopher Thomas Kochanowicz

Philip T Radford

F Mark Pitman

Sanjeev Kumar Dey

Richard Lawson

Michael Hong

Nicholas G Moon

Sharon A Free

A phenol compound comprises a phenyl group, a hydroxy group directly bonded to the phenyl group, and at least one polymeric substituent bound to the phenyl group. The polymeric substituent comprises three or more monomers units. A method for producing a polyurethane polymer comprises the steps of (a) providing a polyol; (b) providing a polyisocyanate compound; (c) providing the phenol compound described above; (d) combining the polyol, the polyisocyanate compound, and the phenol compound to produce a reaction mixture; and (e) allowing the polyol and the polyisocyanate compound to react to produce a polyurethane polymer.

Polymeric phenolic antioxidants

A lubricant composition comprises a lubricant and a stabilizer. The stabilizer comprises a first epoxide group and a second functional group selected from the group consisting of (i) a second epoxide group; (ii) an aliphatic carbon-carbon multiple bond conjugated with a second carbon-carbon multiple bond; (iii) an aliphatic carbon-carbon multiple bond conjugated with an electron withdrawing group; and (iv) an aliphatic carbon-carbon multiple bond conjugated with an aromatic group. A heat transfer composition comprises a lubricant composition as described above and a haloalkane, such as an iodoalkane (e.g., trifluoroiodomethane).

Stabilized lubricant compositions and heat transfer compositions containing the same

Surprisingly effective additive formulations for the reduction of highly undesirable yellowing or other discoloration of white, uncolored, polyurethane foam articles are provided. White polyurethane foam exhibits a susceptibility to yellowing and discoloration to a great extent, particularly in relatively short periods of time, than other types of polymeric articles. The inventive additives impart excellent low-discoloration properties over appreciable amounts of time of regular exposure to harmful elements, thereby according the pertinent industry a manner of providing white polyurethane foams for longer periods of time. Methods of producing such reliably white-colored polyurethane foams are also provided.

Reduction of discoloration in white polyurethane foams

Apparel articles including white polyurethane foams that exhibit a reduction in propensity for discoloring

Polyurethane article black colorants which comprise a novel blue polymeric anthraquinone colorant, rather than the previous standard polymeric triphenylmethane blue-type colorants are provided. Such a novel blend of colorants to produce black colorations within the target polyurethane foams exhibits very low color degradation within polyurthane foams, primarily due to the stability and resiliency of the novel anthraquinone-based polymeric colorant in the presence of high isocyanate levels, as well as large amounts of reactive tertiary amines (from catalyst residue, for example). A black colorant comprising such a novel blue polymeric colorant, as well as polyurethane foams comprising such a novel black coloring agent and methods of producing such foams are all contemplated within this invention.

Methods of producing stable novel black polyurethane articles with polymeric colorants

A new and useful nonaqueous liquid pigment dispersion is provided which is easy to handle and produces thorough and effective colorations within target media, particularly as compared to standard solid pigments or high-viscosity liquid pigment dispersions. More specifically, the present invention relates to liquid pigment dispersions possessing viscosities of at most 5,000 centipoise at standard temperature and pressure. Such a low viscosity is obtained through the addition of relatively low amounts of aprotic viscosity modifiers possessing dipole moments of at between about 1.0 and 5.0, alternatively measured in terms of a flash point between about &minus;20&deg; C. and 180&deg;, such as, most preferably cyclic carbonates. The resultant low-viscosity pigment compositions thus can be incorporated into any standard pigment-coloring method (such as, for example, polyurethane, polyolefin, and the like) without the problems associated with traditionally utilized solid or thickened, high viscosity pigment materials. The method of coloring such target media is also encompassed within this invention.

Low-viscosity nonaqueous liquid pigment dispersions and methods of utilizing such compositions

Polyurethane article black colorants which comprise a novel blue polymeric anthraquinone colorant, rather than the previous standard polymeric triphenylmethane blue-type colorants are provided. Such a novel blend of colorants to produce black colorations within the target polyurethane foams exhibits very low color degradation within polyurethane foams, primarily due to the stability and resiliency of the novel anthraquinone-based polymeric colorant in the presence of high isocyanate levels, as well as large amounts of reactive tertiary amines (from catalyst residue, for example). A black colorant comprising such a novel blue polymeric colorant, as well as polyurethane foams comprising such a novel black coloring agent and methods of producing such foams are all contemplated within this invention.

Stable novel black polyurethane article colorants

New, useful and surprisingly effective antiscorch compositions for utilization within polyurethane foam production methods which utilize very popular tertiary amine catalysts are provided. Such compositions require the presence of nominal yet effective amounts of organic cyclic ester materials. The ring systems of such materials appear to open during exposure to heat (during the curing process) and release carboxylic acids into the curing formulation. The tertiary amines become quenched by the carboxylic acids and thus do not exhibit heat destabilization. The resultant foams exhibit extremely low, if no, areas of excessive heating (i.e., scorch) and thus are substantially uniformly colored throughout. The processes and resultant foams are also contemplated within this invention.

Polyol formulations for producing antiscorch polyurethane slabstock foams

New and useful low viscosity polymeric colorant formulations are provided comprising extremely low amounts of viscosity modifiers that drastically reduce the overall viscosity of the resultant colorant formulation as compared with the viscosity of the colorants themselves. In such a manner, the resultant formulation facilitates the utilization of such polymeric colorants within certain coloring processes and methods requiring low viscosity formulations while simultaneously permitting substantial retention of the same high color strength characteristics of the unmodified colorants. Such an unexpected result thus permits production and utilization of a low viscosity formulation that does not sacrifice colorability to an appreciable degree for target substrates or media. The inventive formulations thus comprise any number of polymeric colorants, (i.e., oxyalkylenated colorants comprising at least one chromophore constituent and at least oxyalkylene chain) and at least one viscosity modifying agent possessing a dipole moment of between 1.0 and 5.0 and/or a flash point of from about &minus;20&deg; C. to about 180&deg; C. Such a modifying agent provides a significant reduction in viscosity at low levels (to permit better pumpability of the desired colorants) with no appreciable differences in coloring performance within final target media, and facilitates removal of such modifiers during or after utilization. Methods of production, utilization, and products produced with such formulations and by such methods are also encompassed within this invention.

Low-viscosity polymeric colorants exhibiting high color strength characteristics

This invention relates to an improved dosing assembly (valve/feed line/liquid collecting vessel) which permits nearly immediate response time to an actuator signal. Such an assembly is used for the controlled introduction of any liquid through a valve into a collecting vessel. In particular, the inventive assembly exhibits substantially no leakage from the feed line into the liquid collecting vessel when the valve is closed and an instantaneous introduction of the feed line liquid into the liquid collecting vessel upon opening of the valve, both when a liquid possessing a surface tension of about 50 dynes/cm is used as the measurement standard. This assembly is particularly and preferably suited for injecting colorants into reactants for the production of polyurethane slabstock foam and permits a substantial reduction in foam waste due to low colorations during an on/off cycle. Preferably, this inventive assembly comprises a ball valve, a manifold, and a connector pipe which may contain at most 30 mL of liquid at any single moment and which is measured in diameter of at most 0.42 inches (about 1.07 cm). Such a connecting pipe permits substantially instantaneous shut-off and -on without appreciable leakage or pressure drop and without the need to utilize a high throughput flow rate. Also, such a specific connecting pipe is wide enough to permit high through-put rates should the need arise. The valve/pipe/manifold configuration is contemplated within this invention.

Method of introduction of liquid additives utilizing an improved dosing assembly

Scorch inhibiting compositions for polyurethane foams

New, useful and surprisingly effective polymeric triphenylmethane colorant-containing compositions which exhibit very low color degradation within polyurethane foams. Generally during polyurethane foam production, certain amine-based hydroxyl-group containing catalysts deleteriously attack the nitrogen linking groups within triphenylmethane polymeric colorants. Such compositions require the presence of nominal yet effective amounts of organic cyclic ester materials. The ring systems of such materials appear to open during exposure to heat (during the foaming procedure) and release carboxylic acids into the foaming formulation. The tertiary amines become quenched by the carboxylic acids and thus do not exhibit degradation of the TPM-based chromophore. The resultant foams exhibit substantially uniform color throughout. The processes and resultant foams are also contemplated within this invention.

Growing community of inventors

Duncan, SC, United States of America

Mark E Ragsdale