Polyurethane foam based on combination of polyester resin and polyether polyol

• US 5,552,449 A
• Filed: 12/06/1994
• Issued: 09/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wm. T. Burnett Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Wm. T. Burnett & Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Tolen, George J., Sollers, Joseph S., Fracalossi, Roland N., Greenhouse, Walter V. V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Seidleck, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COONEY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US08/353,996
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 521/155, 521/172, 521/173, 521/174, 521/176
• US Class Current: 521/155
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 18/4018 Mixtures of compounds of group C08G18/42 with compounds of group C08G18/48
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 2110/0008 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 2110/005 < 50kg/m3
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 2110/0083 prepared using water as the sole blowing agent

Abstract

Flexible polyurethane foams based on a blend of polyether and polyester polyols are described. The polyurethane foams of the invention have at least one of (a) enhanced pourability of a predominantly polyether foam; (b) flame laminability to a predominantly polyether foam without having as an essential ingredient an additive; (c) improved flame retardancy of a predominantly polyether or polyester foam; (d) improved hydrolytic stability to a predominantly polyester foam, or (e) increased softness to a predominantly polyether or polyester foam.

Claims

1. A flexible polyurethane foam comprising the foam-forming reaction product of water as a foaming agent, a diisocyanate, a blend of polyether polyol and polyester pelyol which are immiscible with each other, and a foam stabilizing organo-silicone emulsifier;

the ratio of polyether polyol to polyester polyol being from about 90;

10 to 10;

90, and said polyester polyol being based on a dicarboxylic acid and diethyleneglycol, each of said polyols having a molecular weight of from about 1500 to about 7000 and being present in an amount sufficient to impart to said flexible polyurethane foam produced increased softness relative to a flexible polyurethane foam produced solely from a polyether or polyester polyol.

2. The flexible polyurethane foam of claim 1 wherein the ratio of polyether polyol to polyester polyol is from about 80:

20 to 20;

80.

3. The flexible polyurethane foam of claim 2 wherein the polyether polyol is a polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene polymer extended from a starting diol or triol, with the polyoxypropylene being present in a major amount.

4. The flexible polyurethane foam of claim 3 wherein the polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene polymer is grafted.

5. The flexible polyurethane foam of claim 2 wherein the polyester polyol is a polyester based on a dicarboxylic acid, diethyleniglycol, a minor amount of triol, and having a molecular weight below about 5000.

6. The flexible polyurethane foam of claim 5 wherein the dicarboxylic acid is adipic acid, diethyleneglycol, the triol is glycerine, and the molecular weight is approximately 2000.

7. The method of forming a flexible polyurethane foam comprising blending water as a foaming agent, a diisocyanate, a polyether polyol, a polyester polyol, and a foam-stabilizing organo-silicone emulsifier, the ratio of said polyether polyol to polyester polyol which are immiscible with each other being from about 90:

10 to 10;

90, said polyether polyol and polyester polyol having a molecular weight of from about 1500 to about 7000, with said polyester polyol being based on a dicarboxylic acid and diethyleneglycol and said polyols being present in an amount sufficient to impart to said flexible polyurethane foam produced increased softness relative to a flexible polyurethane foam produced solely from a polyether or polyester foam.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the ratio of polyether polyol to polyester polyol is from about 80:

20 to 20;

80.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the polyether polyol is a polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene polymer extended from a starting diol or triol, with the polyoxypropylene being present in a major amount.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the polyester polyol is a polyester based on a dicarboxylic acid and diethyleneglycol, and having a molecular weight below about 5000.