Stepan Company

Zhenhua Cui

Warren A Kaplan

Sarah Wolek

Polyether- or polyester-epoxide polymer (PEEP) compositions are disclosed. The compositions comprise reaction products of a polyepoxide compound and a polyol composition. The polyol composition has a melting point within the range of 20° C. to 100° C. and a hydroxyl number less than 35 mg KOH/g. The PEEP composition is a solid-solid phase-change material. As measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at a heating/cooling rate of 10° C./minute, the PEEP composition has a transition temperature within the range of −10° C. to 70° C., a latent heat at the transition temperature within the range of 30 to 200 J/g, and little or no detectable hysteresis or supercooling upon thermal cycling over at least five heating/cooling cycles that encompass the transition temperature. The PEEP compositions should enable formulators to manage thermal energy changes in many practical applications, including automotive, marine or aircraft parts, building materials, appliance insulation, electronics, textiles, garments, and paints or coatings.

Solid-solid phase-change materials

A rigid PU or PU-PIR foam comprising a reaction product of water, a catalyst, a foam-stabilizing surfactant, a polyisocyanate, a blowing agent and a blend comprising: (a) 90 to 99 wt. % of an aromatic polyester polyol having a hydroxyl number within the range of 150 to 400 mg KOH/g; and (b) 1 to 10 wt. % of a fatty acid derivative selected from the group consisting of Cto Cfatty acid esters and Cto Cfatty acid amides.

Polyol blends and rigid foams with improved low-temperature r-values

Blends comprising an aromatic polyester polyol and a 1 to 10 wt. % of a fatty acid derivative are disclosed. The fatty acid derivative is a Cto Cfatty acid ester or a Cto Cfatty acid amide. Also disclosed are rigid PU or PU-PIR foams that comprise a reaction product of water, a catalyst, a foam-stabilizing surfactant, a polyisocyanate, a blowing agent, and the polyester polyol/fatty acid derivative blends. Surprisingly, low-temperature R-values of rigid foams based on pentane blowing agents can be improved significantly by using blends of aromatic polyester polyols and a minor proportion of readily available fatty acid derivatives. In some aspects, the difference between initial R-values of the foam measured at 75° F. and 40° F. is at least 5% greater than that of a similar foam prepared in the absence of the fatty acid derivative.

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Glenview, IL, United States of America

Zhenhua Cui