Flexible foams polyether prepolymers

In more recent years, molded flexible foam products are becoming more popular. The bulk of the molded flexible urethane foam is employed in the transportation industry, where it is highly suitable for the manufacture of seat cushions, back cushions, and bucket-seat padding. TDI prepolymers were used in flexible foam mol ding ia conjunction with polyether polyols. The introduction of organotin catalysts and efficient siHcone surfactants faciHtates one-shot foam mol ding, which is the most economical production method. 

Polyurethane foams may be rigid, semi-rigid or flexible. They may be made from polyesters, polyethers or natural polyols such as castor oil (which contains approximately three hydroxyl groups in each molecule). Three general processes are available known as one-shot, prepolymer or quasi-prepolymer processes. These variations lead to 27 basic types of product or process, all of which have been used commercially. This section deals only with flexible foams (which are made only from polyesters and polyethers). Since prepolymers and... 

Viscosity measurements at constant temperature were made using a conventional Shirley—Ferranti cone-and-plate viscometer. In some cases complications arose due to phase inversion or to the fracture of low-molecular-weight polymer. One case was a typical one-shot flexible polyether foam system. On the other hand, a polyether prepolymer prepared from 2000 M.W. poly(oxypropylene)glycol and 80 20-TDI, reacted with water, formed a homogeneous system initially, and was suitable for study with this technique. The rate of viscosity increase at several temperatures is shown in Fig. 15. 

Polyurethanes are used in four principal types of products foams, elastomers, fibers, and coatings. The majority of polyurethane is used as rigid or flexible foams. However, about 15% is used for elastomer applications. Production of polyurethane elastomers involves a number of steps. As indicated above, an intermediate hydroxyl-terminated low-molecular-weight polyester or polyether is prepared. This intermediate is reacted with an isocyanate to form a prepolymer (macrodiisocyanate). The prepolymers are coupled or vulcanized by adding a diol or diamine ... 

In the early 1950s, flexible foams were made by the prepolymer process. In this process, a prepolymer is prepared by reaction of a diisocyanate with a diol, usually a linear polyether diol similar to those described in Section IV.A for elastomers. The prepolymer polyether diisocyanate, usually a poly(propylene oxide) diisocyanate, has a molecular weight in the range of 1000 to 2000. Water is used as a chain extender in making the prepolymer and also to provide branch sites to increase the functionality of the prepolymer through formation of biuret linkages. 

In the prepolymer method for one-shot polyether flexible urethane foams the primary role of the silicone surfactant is to lower surface tension and to provide film (cell-wall) resilience. Resilient films prevent the collapse of the foam during foam rise and continue to stabilize it until the foam is self-supporting. A secondary, but nevertheless important role of the silicone surfactant is cell-size control. The silicones can be added to the formulation in any of the 2 to 6 streams usually fed to the mixing head in the one-shot process. Usually, however, the silicone is metered separately, in combination with the polyol, or added as a wa-ter/amine/silicone mixture. It can also be added in the fluorocarbon blowing agent (52). 

These hydroxy-terminated polyesters may have applications as prepolymers for other high molecular weight polymers. These could condense with diisocyanates to produce polyurethane foams [44], either flexible or rigid. They also may have compatibility with epoxy resins and polyester to give rise to polyester epoxy resins, polyester-polyamide [41], and polyester-polyether copolymers. The further condensation with some unsaturated monomer may result in thermoset film formers. They can be used as a mildness additive in metal-working lubricants. 

The use of PMDI as a binder for foimdry cores, rubber waste products, and solid rocket fuel are also known. Isocyanate-terminated prepolymers, often prepared from TDI or MDI with polyether polyols are also used as binders for composite products that require elastomeric properties. Athletic surfaces are sometimes prepared from groimd rubber tire scrap bonded with isocyanate-based prepolymers. Similarly, flexible polyurethane foam scrap is bonded with isocyanate prepolymers to form rebonded foam usefiil as carpet imderlay. Solidification of incineration ashes with PMDI-based binder systems is another waste disposal application. In this manner hazardous waste materials imdergo chemical fixation and detoxification. 

---