Econic Technologies Limited

Rakibul Kabir

Michael Kember

James Leeland

Kerry Riley

Charlotte Katherine Williams

Anthony Chartoire

Emmalina Hollis

David Muir

Andrew Carruthers

Fernando Valera

Mark Andrews

Charlotte Williams

A process for producing a polyol block copolymer in a multiple reactor system including a first and second reactor in which a first reaction takes place in the first reactor and a second reaction takes place in the second reactor. The first reaction is the reaction of a carbonate catalyst with COand epoxide, in the presence of starter and/or solvent to produce polycarbonate polyol copolymer and the second reaction is the reaction of DMC catalyst with the polycarbonate polyol compound of the first reaction and epoxide to produce polyol block copolymer. The product of the first reaction is fed into the second as crude reaction mixture, the epoxide and the polycarbonate polyol compound of the first reaction are fed in a continuous or semi-batch manner, and/or the product of the first reaction has neutral or alkaline pH on addition to the second. The invention further relates to the copolymers and products incorporating such copolymers.

Polyol block copolymer, compositions and processes therefor

A polyol block copolymer comprising a polycarbonate block, A (-A'-Z′—Z—(Z′-A′)-), and polyethercarbonate blocks, B. The polyol block copolymer has the polyblock structure:B-A′-Z′—Z—(Z′-A′-B)wherein n=t−1 and wherein t=the number of terminal OH group residues on the block A; and wherein each A′ is independently a polycarbonate chain having at least 70% carbonate linkages, and wherein each B is independently a polyethercarbonate chain having 50-99% ether linkages and at least 1% carbonate linkages; and wherein Z′—Z—(Z′)is a starter residue. A process of producing a polyol block copolymer from a two step process carried out in two reactors, and products and compositions incorporating such copolymers.

The method of preparing the polycarbonate ether polyol or high molecular weight polyether carbonate using controlled addition of materials during polymerisation includes the steps of: mixing catalyst of formula(I), double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst and optionally carbon dioxide and/or solvent with epoxide and optionally starter compound and/or carbon dioxide; or mixing DMC catalyst and optionally starter compound, carbon dioxide and/or solvent with epoxide and optionally carbon dioxide and/or solvent; or mixing epoxide, catalyst of formula(I), starter compound and carbon dioxide and optionally solvent; or mixing catalyst of formula (I), DMC catalyst and optionally starter compound, epoxide, carbon dioxide and/or solvent to form in each case a mixture (α); and adding one or more of starter compound, epoxide, carbon dioxide, catalyst of formula(I), DMC catalyst and/or solvent to mixture (α) to form mixture (β) comprising starter compound, epoxide, carbon dioxide, catalyst of formula(I), DMC catalyst and optionally solvent,

Methods for forming polycarbonate ether polyols and high molecular weight polyether carbonates

A method for quenching a polymerisation process is described. The reaction of carbon dioxide with an epoxide in the presence of a bimetallic metal complex catalyst to produce a polymer comprises the quenching step of deactivation of the catalyst by contacting the catalyst with an acid effective to deactivate the catalyst. The deactivated catalyst may be removed from the polymer product by contacting the catalyst and polymer product with a solid phase and/or by precipitation; and the catalyst may also be optionally reactivated by contacting the deactivated catalyst with an anion. The acid may contain an anion effective to initiate the polymerisation process and effective to deactivate the catalyst and the molar ratio of acid to catalyst in the deactivation step may be less than or equal to 20:1 of the acid to catalyst mole ratio for the reaction.

Method for quenching a polymerisation process

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a polycarbonate ether polyol, by reacting an epoxide and carbon dioxide in the presence of a catalyst of formula (I), a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst and a starter compound. The catalyst of formula (I) is as follows: 

Growing community of inventors

London, United Kingdom

Rakibul Kabir