Alkoxylation Diisocyanate

The only large-scale application of sucrose ethers appears to be to use poly-(9-(hydroxylpropyl) ethers, generated by alkoxylation with propylene oxide, as the polyol component for rigid polyurethanes —sucrose itself gives only brittle ones—which are used primarily in cushioning applications. The structures of these products, that is, the positions at which sucrose is alkoxylated and then carbamoylated with diisocyanates, and the type(s) of cross-linking involved, are not well defined though. 

Reactions of alkoxylated lignin with diisocyanates produce thermoset materials because the lignin polyol is always polyfunctional with a functionality greater than 2. The isocyanate-alcohol reaction produces a urethane linkage that when repeated creates a crosslinked, nonreformable polyurethane. This is shown in Fig. 6. A broad spectrum of lignin-based urethanes have been made and tested. The data show that these materials match if not exceed the properties of synthetic polyurethanes made without lignin [60]. 

By the hydrolysis of a flexible foam based on toluene diisocyanate (TDI) one obtains toluene diamine (2,4 and 2,6 isomers), the polyether triol and, of course, carbon dioxide. The difficulty of the process is the separation of the amine. The amine may be used for TDI synthesis (after a previous purification), or be transformed into a valuable rigid polyol (aminic polyol) by alkoxylation with PO and EO. 

Toxicity. While many new materials are added to the adhesive chemist s arsenal, some are being removed as well. Compounds which cause health and environmental concern include ethylenimine, methylene-fcw(o-chloroan-iline) (MOCA), hexamethylene diisocyanate, formaldehyde. Some systems are no longer in use in others, modifications have been made. Thus radiation-curing technology is replacing some types of multifunctional acrylate monomers with alkoxylated compounds, because the latter are less irritating and less toxic. An example is trimethylolpropane triethoxy triacrylate. 

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