Fiberglas Canada Inc.

Thomas M Burton

Helena Z Kucharska

Quaternary ammonium borohydrides of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be same or different and each is selected from alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl groups and R.sup.4 is selected from alkyl and alkenyl groups having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are not all alkyl or that R.sup.1, R.sup.2 or R.sup.3 is not benzyl when the remainder of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are all methyl or ethyl. The new borohydrides are prepared by either mixing a borohydride salt and a quaternary ammonium salt in alkaline aqueous solution and extracting the resulting quaternary amine borohydride with an organic solvent or by reacting finely divided borohydride salt with an organic solution of quaternary ammonium salt. The new compounds are used for foaming polyester resins.

Blowing agents and their use in preparations of polyester foams

A method of making a foamed, polyester resin comprises mixing a liquid unsaturated polyester composition, with a liquid borohydride blowing agent which is a liquid borohydride complex, a borohydride complex in organic liquid medium or a borohydride salt dispersed in an organic liquid medium, which medium is at least substantially non-reactive with the borohydride salt. The resulting mixture is permitted to foam and gel under the initial influence of the blowing agent. In one embodiment the liquid unsaturated polyester includes a peroxide as a curing agent and a promoter is additionally admixed therewith. In this case a foamed, gelled and cured resin results. The borohydride complexes are usefully quaternary amine borohydrides.

Method of producing polyester foams using borohydride dispersions

Quaternary ammonium borohydrides of the formula ##STR1##

A method of making a foamed, polyester resin comprises mixing a liquid unsaturated polyester composition, with a liquid borohydride blowing agent which is a liquid borohydride complex, a borohydride complex in organic liquid medium or a borohydride salt dispersed in an organic liquid medium, which medium is at least substantially non-reactive with the borohydride salt. The resulting mixture is permitted to foam and gel under the initial influence of the blowing agent. In one embodiment the liquid unsaturated polyester includes a peroxide as a curing agent and an amine promoter is additionally admixed therewith. In this case a foamed, gelled and cured resin results. The borohydride complexes are usefully quaternary amine borohydrides.

Quaternary ammonium borohydrides of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be the same or different and each is selected from alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl groups and R.sup.4 is selected from alkyl and alkenyl groups having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are not all alkyl or that R.sup.1, R.sup.2 or R.sup.3 is not benzyl when the remainder of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are all methyl or ethyl. The new borohydrides are prepared by either mixing a borohydride salt and a quaternary ammonium salt in alkaline aqueous solution and extracting the resulting quaternary amine borohydride with an organic solvent or by reacting finely divided borohydride salt with an organic solution of quaternary ammonium salt. The new compounds are used for foaming polyester resins.

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Sarnia, Canada

Thomas M Burton