Arco Chemical Technology, L.p.

Atlantic Richfield Company

Other

Robert G Gastinger

John E Hayes

John A Sofranko

Gangfeng Cai

C Andrew Jones

Shao-Hua Guo

Yuan-Zhang Han

Edrick Morales

Kevin M Carroll

Michael E Brennan

Andrew P Kahn

Barry D Dean

Howard P Withers, Jr

Rangasamy Pitchai

Hsiang-ning Sun

Carl J Sullivan

Philippe C Motte

Highly active and selective epoxidation catalysts are prepared by combining highsurface area silica support or the like, having surface area greater than 1100 m /g, with a titanium source. The titanium source is a non-oxygenated hydrocarbon solution of a titanium halide or a vapor stream of titanium tetrachloride. The impregnated support is then calcined at an elevated temperature (preferably, in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere), and, optionally, reacted with water and/or silylated. The resulting materials are highly active heterogeneous epoxidation catalysts for the reaction of olefins with organic hydroperoxides.

Method for making a heterogeneous epoxidation catalyst

Highly active and selective epoxidation catalysts are prepared by combining high surface area silica support or the like, having surface area greater than 1100 m.sup.2 /g, with a titanium source. The titanium source is a non-oxygenated hydrocarbon solution of a titanium halide or a vapor stream of titanium tetrachloride. The impregnated support it then calcined at an elevated temperature (preferably, in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere), and, optionally, reacted with water and/or silylated. The resulting materials are highly active heterogeneous epoxidation catalysts for the reaction of olefins to with organic hydroperoxides.

Heterogeneous epoxidation catalyst

Highly active and selective epoxidation catalysts are prepared by combining silica or the like with a non-oxygenated hydrocarbon solution of titanium halide, removing solvent, calcining at an elevated temperature (preferably, in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere), and, optionally, reacting with water and silylating. The resulting materials are useful heterogeneous catalysts for transforming olefins to epoxides using organic hydroperoxides.

Epoxidation process using improved heterogeneous catalyst composition

Processes for making poly(thioether ether)s and hydroxy-terminated poly(thioether ether)s are disclosed. The poly(thioether ether)s are made by bulk free-radical polymerization of diallyl ether and an aliphatic C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 dithiol. Liquid polymers are obtained when mixtures of two or more dithiols are used. Hydroxy-terminated products are obtained by reacting the poly(thioether ether)s with allyl alcohol under free-radical conditions.

Process for making poly(thioether ether)s from diallyl ether and dithiols

A process for making poly(2-methyl-1,3-propanediol) is disclosed. The process comprises heating 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol in the presence of an etherification catalyst at a temperature within the range of about 100.degree. C. to about 210.degree. C. The resulting poly(2-methyl-1,3-propanediol) has a degree of polymerization within the range of about 2 to about 20, and a number average molecular weight within the range of about 150 to about 2000. The process enables the synthesis of dimers and trimers of 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, which are useful as reactive diluents or chain extenders for polyurethanes and as diol components for unsaturated polyester resins and thermoplastic polyesters.

Process for making poly(2-methyl-1,3-propanediol)

Propoxylated allyl alcohol homopolymers and copolymers of allyl alcohol and propoxylated allyl alcohol are disclosed. The polymers are soluble in many organic solvents, making them useful in a variety of applications, including polyesters, polyurethanes, alkyds, uralkyds, polyamines, acrylates, crosslinked polymeric resins, and polymer blends.

Polymers from propoxylated allyl alcohol

An improved process for making allyl polymers and copolymers is disclosed. Conversions of the allyl monomers are substantially increased by adding the free-radical initiator gradually during the polymerization. The process is particularly useful for making polymers and copolymers from common allyl monomers such as allyl alcohol, allyl acetate, and propoxylated allyl alcohol.

Process for making allyl polymers and copolymers

Dispersants that are the reaction product of polyoxyalkylene polyether polyols with polymers containing anhydride groups are discussed. These dispersants may be used in the production of polymer polyols having high styrene contents and high solids contents. The polymers containing the anhydride groups may be preformed polymers which are then reacted with the polyol, or may be formed in the polyol directly prior to esterification with the polyol to form the dispersants. Maleic anhydride and methacrylic arthydride and derivatives thereof are examples of monomers suitable for the dispersants. Polymer polyols made using these dispersants may be reacted with polyisocyanates to produce polyurethanes.

Polymer polyol dispersants from polymers containing anhydride groups

Monomers having at least two reactive ethylenically unsaturated sites may be polymerized via a free-radical reaction in the presence of a polyol to produce a dispersant useful in preparing polymer polyols that find uses as coreactants to produce polyurethane foams. The monomers include, but are not limited to, polyethylenically unsaturated maleimides and acrylates. The dispersants prepared in this manner can be used in very small quantities, about 2 to 5 wt. % of the total polyol and still produce a styrene/acrylonitrile polymer polyol with high solids and high styrene levels.

Use of polyethylenically unsaturated monomers in polymers polyol

A polymer polyol composition comprising a continuous phase, a disperse phase within the continuous phase, and a dispersant to enhance the stability of the polymer polyol is disclosed. The dispersant is a grafted polyol-polyacrylate dispersant comprised of a isocyanate vinyl monomer/ethylenically unsaturated monomer random copolymer and a polyoxyalkylene polyether, wherein the random copolymer and the polyoxyalkylene polyether are connected through at least one urethane graft site. Methods of preparing the polymer polyol composition and the grafted polyol-polyacrylate dispersant are provided. The polymer polyol compositions have low viscosities as well as high stability and may be prepared with high levels of dispersed vinyl polymer and high styrene:acrylonitrile ratios in the dispersed vinyl polymer. The polymer polyol compositions are useful for the preparation of polyurethanes, particularly polyurethane foams.

Polymer polyol composition containing a grafted polyol-polyacrylate

Novel polymer polyols based on halogenated aromatic monomers such as tribromostyrene give polyurethane foams with improved flame retardant properties. For example, replacing conventional SAN polymer polyols with tribromostyrene (TBS)/acrylonitrile polymer polyols allows the preparation of polyurethane foams passing British Standard 5852, Part 2, Ignition Source 5 Combustion Test and having better ASTM E-906 values without the need for solid fillers such as melamine or aluminum trihydrate, although these and other flame retardant additives may be optionally employed as well. Elimination of these fillers also provides other improvements such as superior strength and better compression set properties. The TBS dispersions may also be used in conjunction with melamine to eliminate the need for liquid fire retardant additives.

Polymer polyols containing halogenated aromatic monomers

A stable, low viscosity polymer polyol composition comprising a continuous phase, a disperse phase within the continuous phase, and a dispersant for enhancing the stability of the resultant polymer polyol is disclosed. In one embodiment, the dispersant is formed by polymerizing at least one acrylate monomer in a polyether polyol to form a single phase homogeneous liquid intermediate reaction product which is transesterified to form a polyol polyacrylate dispersant.

Polyol polyacrylate dispersants

Tetrahydrofuran is polymerized in the presence of a carboxylic acid anhydride and a solid acid catalyst that has been calcined at a temperature greater than about 600.degree. C. Calcined bleaching earth catalysts give THF polymer products having a narrow molecular weight distribution; calcining amorphous silica-aluminas improves their activity toward THF polymerization.

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West Chester, PA, United States of America

Robert G Gastinger