High-strength black polyurethane foams

Abstract

Black polyurethane foams that exhibit higher strength black colorations without the need for concomitant increases in black colorants therein are provided. Such a resultant jetter black foam article is possible through the unexpectedly effective introduction of small amounts of certain toner compounds or combinations that exhibit specific measurable appearance characteristics. Such toners exhibit at least one absorption peak within a specific range of wavelengths (e.g., from about 560 to 610 nm) and specific ranges of half-height bandwidths (from 40 to 130 nm). Furthermore, such a compound or combination of compounds, is preferably liquid in nature (at room temperature) or in dispersion form and may thus be easily incorporated within target polyurethane precursor compositions for admixture with either black pigments (or dispersions thereof), black polymeric (liquid) colorants, or both. Methods of high strength black polyurethane foam production as well as separate pigmented and liquid polymeric colored foams of such type including the necessary toner compounds and/or combinations, as noted above, are also encompassed within this invention.