Arco Chemical Technology, L.p.

Bayer Materialscience, LLC

Bayer Antwerp, N.v.

Veril C Jividen

Stanley L Hager

Jose F Pazos

Nathan L Anderson

Sebastien P Triouleyre

Faouzi Joulak

This invention relates to novel foam modifiers which can be used to prepare flexible foams. These novel foam modifiers provide improved processability and improved properties of the resultant flexible foams. The present invention also relates to the process of preparing these flexible foams and to the resultant foams.

Foam modifier, foams prepared from this novel foam modifier and a process for the preparation of these foams

Viscoelastic foams and a process for making them are disclosed. The foams are produced with a unique isocyanate-reactive mixture that includes a low equivalent weight polyol and from about 15 to about 70 wt. % of a polyester or polyoxyalkylene monol having a number average equivalent weight greater than about 1000. The monol is the key to formulating excellent viscoelastic foams over a broad range of processing conditions and isocyanate indices. A &ldquo;reactive&rdquo; monol gives TDI-based viscoelastic foams with improved &ldquo;hand feel&rdquo; and reduced levels of residual toluenediamines.

Viscoelastic polyurethane foams

Double metal cyanide-catalyzed polyols are made by an improved process in which a starter is continuously added during polymerization of the epoxide. The process includes a continuously added starter (S.sub.c), and optionally, an initially charged starter (S.sub.i). The continuously added starter comprises at least about 2 equivalent percent of the total starter used. The process enables the use of water and low molecular weight polyol starters in DMC-catalyzed polyol synthesis. In addition, the process gives polyether polyols having reduced levels of high molecular weight polyol tail, which can adversely affect polyurethane foam processing.

Foam test for double metal cyanide-catalyzed polyols

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Scott Depot, WV, United States of America

Veril C Jividen