Polyurethanes commercially available

Much more important is the hydrogenation product of butynediol, 1,4-butanediol [110-63-4]. The intermediate 2-butene-l,4-diol is also commercially available but has found few uses. 1,4-Butanediol, however, is used widely in polyurethanes and is of increasing interest for the preparation of thermoplastic polyesters, especially the terephthalate. Butanediol is also used as the starting material for a further series of chemicals including tetrahydrofuran, y-butyrolactone, 2-pyrrohdinone, A/-methylpyrrohdinone, and A/-vinylpyrrohdinone (see Acetylene-DERIVED chemicals). The 1,4-butanediol market essentially represents the only growing demand for acetylene as a feedstock. This demand is reported (34) as growing from 54,000 metric tons of acetylene in 1989 to a projected level of 88,000 metric tons in 1994. 

The polymerization of tetrahydrofuran was first studied ia the late 1930s (3,4). In 1960, this work was summarized (4), and the Hterature on tetrahydrofuran polymers and polymerization has been growing ever siace. Polytetrahydrofuran with hydroxy end groups has become a large-scale commercial product, used mainly as the flexible polyether segment ia elastomeric polyurethanes and polyesters. It is commercially available under the trade names Terathane (Du Pont), Polymeg (QO Chemicals), and PolyTHF (BASF). Comprehensive review articles and monographs have been pubUshed (2,5-8). 

Most of the surface sizes used in North America are modified styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymers. Commercially available materials include Scripset (Monsanto/Hercules Inc.), Cypres (Cytec), Sursize (Akzo Nobel), MSA (Morton), NovaCote (Georgia Pacific), and HTl (Hopton Technologies). Styrene acrylate emulsions that are commonly used include Jetsize and Unibond (Akzo Nobel), Basoplast (BASF), and Cypres (Cytec). Other materials used as surface sizes include acrylonitrile acrylate copolymer (Basoplast, BASF), stearylated melamine resin (Sequapel, Sequa), polyurethane (Graphsize, Vining Chemicals), and diisobutylene maleic anhydride copolymers (Baysynthol, Bayer). 

Global consumption of thermoplastic mbbers of all types is estimated at about 600,000 t/yr (51). Of this, 42% was estimated to be consumed in the United States, 39% in Western Europe, and 19% in Japan. At present, the woddwide market is estimated to be divided as follows styrenic block copolymers, 48% hard polymer/elastomer combinations, 26% thermoplastic polyurethanes, 12% thermoplastic polyesters, 4% and others, 9%. The three largest end uses were transportation, 23% footwear, 18% and adhesives, coatings, etc, 16%. The ranges of the hardness values, prices, and specific gravities of commercially available materials are given in Table 4. 

The acetates of most alcohols are also commercially available and have diverse uses. Because of their high solvent power, ethyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, amyl, and isoamyl acetates are used in ceUulose nitrate and other lacquer-type coatings (see Cellulose, esters). Butyl and hexyl acetates are exceUent solvents for polyurethane coating systems (see Coatings Urethane polymers). Ethyl, isobutyl, amyl, and isoamyl acetates are frequentiy used as components in flavoring (see Flavors and spices), and isopropyl, benzyl, octyl, geranyl, linalyl, and methyl acetates are important additives in perfumes (qv). 

Operating conditions are important determinants of the choice of filter media and sealant used in the cartridges. Some filter media, such as cellulose paper filters, are useful only at relatively low temperatures of 95 to 150"C (200 to 300°F). For high-temperature flue gas streams, more thermally stable filter media, such as nonwoven polyester, polypropylene, or Nomex, must be used. A variety of commercially available sealants such as polyurethane plastic and epoxy will allow fabric operating temperatures up tol50°C (300°F). Selected sealants such as heat cured Plasitcol will withstand operating temperatures up to 200°C (400°F). 

A typical application of these coatings is the use on carrier pipes installed by thrust boring techniques at major road, rail and river crossings. Sprayed polyurethane coatings of 900 thickness, are also commercially available on ductile iron pipes. 

Siloxane containing interpenetrating networks (IPN) have also been synthesized and some properties were reported 59,354 356>. However, they have not received much attention. Preparation and characterization of IPNs based on PDMS-polystyrene 354), PDMS-poly(methyl methacrylate) 354), polysiloxane-epoxy systems 355) and PDMS-polyurethane 356) were described. These materials all displayed two-phase morphologies, but only minor improvements were obtained over the physical and mechanical properties of the parent materials. This may be due to the difficulties encountered in controlling the structure and morphology of these IPN systems. Siloxane modified polyamide, polyester, polyolefin and various polyurethane based IPN materials are commercially available 59). Incorporation of siloxanes into these systems was reported to increase the hydrolytic stability, surface release, electrical properties of the base polymers and also to reduce the surface wear and friction due to the lubricating action of PDMS chains 59). 

Up to this point we have discussed only carbamates la-4a with a single carbamate group on the phenyl ring as model systems for aromatic polyurethane photodecomposition. In polyurethane coatings based on the aromatic diisocyanate TDI two carbamate groups are attached to the phenyl ring. Furthermore commercially available TDI is actually a mixture of 2,4-toluene diisocyanate (2,4-TDI) and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate (2,6-TDI) which when formulated give 2,4- and 2,6-biscarbamates. Model systems for these species would then be biscarbamates of 2,4-TDI and 2,6-TDI (as shown below) and not carbamates such as la-4a. 

Commercially available flame retardants include chlorine- and bromine-containing compounds, phosphate esters, and chloroalkyl phosphates. Recent entry into the market place is a blend of an aromatic bromine compound and a phosphate ester (DE-60F Special) for use in flexible polyurethane foam (8). This paper describes the use of a brominated aromatic phosphate ester, where the bromine and phosphorus are in the same molecule, in high temperature thermoplastic applications. 

The aromatic polyols resulting from the reaction can be mixed with commercial polyols, blowing agents, surfactants, catalysts, and polymeric isocyanates to produce a rigid polyurethane foam. n compared w control foams produced from commercially available polyester polyols, the foams produced from reclaimed materials were found to have essentially the same properties. 

Diazinon has a finite vapor pressure (see Chapter 3) and thus will be present in the air. A method for diazinon in air has been reported that is based on the use of polyurethane foam (PUF) to adsorb the pesticide from the air as the air is pulled through the PUF (Hsu et al. 1988). The PUF is then Soxhlet-extracted and the extract volume reduced prior to capillary GC/MS analysis. An LOD of 55 ng/m3 (5.5 m3 sample) and recovery of 73% were reported. Another study was described in which the diazinon levels in indoor air were monitored following periodic application of the pesticide for insect control (Williams et al. 1987). In this method, air is pulled through a commercially available adsorbent tube to concentrate diazinon. The tube is then extracted with acetone prior to GC/NPD analysis. No data were provided for the LOD, but recoveries in excess of 90% were reported at the 0.1 and 1 pg/m3 levels. This paper also indicated that diazinon can be converted to diazoxon by ozone and NOx in the air during the sampling process. 

Other commercially available aliphatic and aromatic diisocyanates used in the polyurethane industry are listed in Table 2.2. These diisocyanates represent 3 to 4% of the market use. The remainder is TDI and MDI. 

In 1952, castable polyurethanes first became commercially available. In 1956, the first polyethers were introduced by DuPont, followed by cheaper polyethers... 

The following fluoropolymers are commercially available in aqueous systems PTFE, PFA, MFA, FEP, ETFE, PVDF, THV Fluoroplastic, fluorocarbon elastomers, fluoroacrylates, and fluorinated polyurethanes. 

In this study, we have attempted to obtain a detailed, quantitative estimate of the surface chemical composition of two commercially available polyurethanes, i.e., Biomer and Avcothane, which have demonstrated a reasonable degree of blood compatibility. For example, Avcothane has been used as an intraaortic balloon pump for post-operative patients (5). Biomer also has been successfully used for artificial heart components in calves (14). 

In this study we have attempted to investigate the effective chemical composition at the surfaces of two commercially available polyurethanes, Biomer and Avcothane, with the objective of identifying chemical species which would interact with plasma proteins. 

Elastomers from Myrcene-Based Polyols. A series of polyurethanes was formed using a PM polyol in admixture with various amounts of 1,4-butanediol (BD) and reacted with MDI (>/). For comparison, a corresponding series of elastomers based on a commercially available polybutadiene (PB) polyol (Arco R45-HT, Cornelius Chemical Company) was also prepared. Characterization data of the PB and PM polyols are given in Table III. 

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