Grace Service Chemicals Gmbh

W. R. Grace Co.

Teroson Gmbh

William Krug

Wolfgang Fischer

Gerhard Schuster

Thomas Hattich

A novel aqueous release agent is described, which contains as release-active subtances oil and/or wax emulsified in water as the carrier and which also contains as a further release-active substance one or more aliphatic primary, secondary and/or tertiary amines with at least one C.sub.12 -C.sub.24 alkyl radical and one or more ammonium salts as the emulsifier for the amine or amines. The invention is based on the surprising finding that hydrophobic amines (so-called fatty amines) are release-active substances. It has also surprisingly been found according to the invention that when using ammonium salts as the emulsifier, mould removal characteristics are not only impaired, but often even improved, which is not the case with conventional emulsifiers. The release agent according to the invention is particularly suitable in processes for producing polyurethane foam articles.

Release agent for urethane foam molding

A process for producing polyurethane foam articles is described, in which the article is produced in the conventional manner by foaming in a mould and a release agent is applied to the mould surface prior to filling with the foam-producing components. According to the invention, a solvent-free, aqueous release agent is used in combination with one or more alkali metal and/or ammonium salts of higher fatty acids and one or more higher alcohols and the combination is applied in the hot state, preferably at a temperature of at least 75.degree. C. to the mould surface. In addition, an additive is described, which is suitable for performing the process according to the invention and contains one or more alkali metal and/or ammonium salts of higher fatty acids, one or more higher alcohols and otherwise water. The process according to the invention has the advantage that it not only avoids the use of environmentally prejudicial organic solvents, but also leads to excellent release agent films, from which the water is very largely evaporated within a very short time and namely within the very short cycle times of modern foam plants.

Process for producing articles made from polyurethane foam and additive

A release agent is described, which is suitable for the production of polyurethane foam articles in molds. It is an aqueous emulsion or dispersion of per se known release-effective substances as well as optionally conventional additives, having a water content of at least 60% by weight and preferably 85 to 96% by weight, the water being masked through the effect of lyotropic mesomorphism. Masking and immobilizing the water molecules avoids that the water molecules have a prejudicial effect of the polyol/isocyanate reaction, and is preferably achieved by the combined use of release-effective substances and suitable masking aids. As suitable masking aids especially fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers and ethoxylated fatty alcohols are proposed. The polyurethane articles obtained while using the above described release agent fulfil the standard quality requirements without any of the disadvantageous effects on the environment such as occur with conventional release agents.

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Heidelberg, Germany

William Krug