Allophanate

C2H4N2O3, NH2CONHCOOH. Unknown in the free state as it breaks down immediately to urea and COi- The NH4, Ba, Ca, K and Na salts are known and are prepared by treating ethyl allophanate with the appropriate hydroxide. The esters with alcohols and phenols are crystalline solids, sparingly soluble in water and alcohol. They are formed by passing cyanic acid into alcohols or a solution of an alcohol or phenol in benzene. The amide of allophanic acid is biuret. Alcohols are sometimes isolated and identified by means of their allophanates. 

Allophane and Imogolite. AUophane is an amorphous clay that is essentially an amorphous soHd solution of sUica, alumina, and water (82). In allophane less than one-half of the aluminum is held in tetrahedral coordinations and the Si02 to AI2O2 ratio typically varies between 1.3 and 2.0, but values as low as 0.83 have been reported. The typical morphology of allophane is cylindrical (37). AUophane may be associated with haUoysite, smectite minerals, or it may occur as a homogeneous mixture with evansite, an amorphous soHd solution of phosphoms, alumina, and water. Its composition, hydration, and properties vary. Chemical analyses of two allophane samples are given in Table 5. 

The index of refraction of allophane ranges from below 1.470 to over 1.510, with a modal value about 1.485. The lack of characteristic lines given by crystals in x-ray diffraction patterns and the gradual loss of water during heating confirm the amorphous character of allophane. Allophane has been found most abundantly in soils and altered volcanic ash (101,164,165). It usually occurs in spherical form but has also been observed in fibers. 

Not only are these reactions of importance in the development of the cross-linked polyurethane networks which are involved in the manufacture of most polyurethane products but many are now also being used to produce modified isocycuiates. For example, modified TDI types containing allophanate, urethane and urea groups are now being used in flexible foam manufacture. For flexible integral foams and for reaction injection moulding, modified MDIs and carbodi-imide MDI modifications cU"e employed. 

The water reaction evolves carbon dioxide and is to be avoided with solid elastomers but is important in the manufacture of foams. These reactions cause chain extension and by the formation of urea and urethane linkages they provide sites for cross-linking, since these groups can react with free isocyanate or terminal isocyanate groups to form biuret or allophanate linkages respectively (Figure 27.5). 

Catalysts such as dibutyl tin dilaurate or tertiary amines are added to promote the urethane reaction and/or subsequent moisture cure. Dimorpholine diethyl ether is particularly effective at promoting moisture cure without promoting allophanate side reactions at the application temperature (which leads to instability in the hot melt pot) [29]. 

The allophanate linkage is formed by the reaction of urethane with isocyanate, as shown in the fourth item of Fig. 1 [7], Isocyanates can react with many active hydrogen compounds. The active hydrogen of the urethane linkage is not very reactive, but if reaction temperatures get high enough (usually in excess of 100°C), or in the presence of certain allophanate catalysts, this reaction can actually become favored over the urethane reaction (see pp. 180-188 in [6]). 

In most cases, the allophanate reaction is an undesirable side reaction that can cause problems, such as high-viscosity urethane prepolymers, lower pot lives of curing hot-melt adhesives, or poor shelf lives of certain urethane adhesives. The allophanate reaction may, however, produce some benefits in urethane structural adhesives, e.g., additional crosslinking, additional modulus, and resistance to creep. The same may be said about the biuret reaction, i.e., the reaction product of a substituted urea linkage with isocyanate. The allophanate and biuret linkages are not usually as thermally stable as urethane linkages [8]. 

Reactions of urethane and urea groups to form allophanates and biurets. 

Glycolysis is the most promising approach for the chemical recycling of polyurethanes.1 The chemistry of PUR depolymerization is complicated by the presence of other chemical groups in the polymer, such as ureas, allophanates, and biurets. 

Alkali metal (haloarylsulfonyl)thio-phenoxides, 364 Alkaline hydrolysis of nylon-6,6, 568-569 of PET, 549-550 Alkyd resins, 18, 30-31, 59-60 synthesis and cure of, 102 Alkylphenolic resins, 376 Alkylphenols, 376, 400 Allophanates, 227... 

Secondary minerals. As weathering of primary minerals proceeds, ions are released into solution, and new minerals are formed. These new minerals, called secondary minerals, include layer silicate clay minerals, carbonates, phosphates, sulfates and sulfides, different hydroxides and oxyhydroxides of Al, Fe, Mn, Ti, and Si, and non-crystalline minerals such as allophane and imogolite. Secondary minerals, such as the clay minerals, may have a specific surface area in the range of 20-800 m /g and up to 1000 m /g in the case of imogolite (Wada, 1985). Surface area is very important because most chemical reactions in soil are surface reactions occurring at the interface of solids and the soil solution. Layer-silicate clays, oxides, and carbonates are the most widespread secondary minerals. 

Lastly, of course, the main reaction of interest is the formation of urethane groups by reaction of isocyanate groups and hydroxy-groups of the polyester or polyether. Even these reactions do not exhaust the possibilities available to the highly reactive isocyanate group. It will then go on to react with the urethane links to form a structure known as an allophanate (see Reaction 4.13). 

Carbamates (substituted urethanes) are prepared when isocyanates are treated with alcohols. This is an excellent reaction, of wide scope, and gives good yields. Isocyanic acid HNCO gives unsubstituted carbamates. Addition of a second mole of HNCO gives allophanates. 

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