Polyurethanes specialty

Bayer Corp. NOVA Bayer Corp. ComAlloy Network DSM DSM NOVA Chemicals NOVA DSM LNP, Polymerrs NOVA LNP RTP Chemicals RTP Chemicals M.A. Polymers Chemicals NOVA Chemicals RTP Bayer Corp. Dow Plastics Bayer Corp. RTP Ticona Cabot Emerson BF Goodrich Conap Cuming Dow Plastics Dow Plastics Polyurethane Emerson Specialties Cuming ITW Devcon Polyurethane Specialties Union Carbide... 

An annual total of approximately 9 billion pounds of MDI was produced worldwide in 2010, with oniy a relatively small quantity going into polyurethane specialty elastomers. 

Synthetic Resins. Various polymers and resins are utilized to produce some specialty carbon products such as glassy carbon or carbon foam and as treatments for carbon products. Typical resins include phenoHcs, furan-based polymers, and polyurethanes. These materials give good yields of carbon on pyrolysis and generally carbonize directly from the thermoset polymer state. Because they form Httle or no mesophase, the ultimate carbon end product is nongraphitizing. 

Polyester polyols account for only ca. 10% of the total polyol market, which is dominated by polyether polyols such as hydroxy-terminated polyoxyethylene or polyoxypropylene. Polyester polyols are preferred for applications where better mechanical properties, wear resistance, and UV stability are required. The largest application of polyester polyols is flexible specialty polyurethane foam in the furniture, packaging, and automotive industries. Polyester polyols are also used for nonfoam applications such as coatings, paints, sealants, and adhesives 47... 

Isocyanates that are produced fi om aliphatic amines are utilized in a limited range of polyurethane products, mainly in weatherable coatings and specialty applications where the yellowing and photodegradation of the aromatic polyurethanes are undesirable [5]. The aliphatic isocyanates are not used more widely in the industry due to the remarkably slow reaction kinetics of aliphatic isocyanates compared to their aromatic counterparts [6]. Due to the slow reactivity of aliphatic isocyanates, it is not practical to use them in the preparation of flexible or rigid foams, which are the main commercial applications for polyurethane chemistry. 

Polyurethanes as specialty chemicals principles and applications / T. Thomson, p. cm. 

He is known worldwide for his expertise in the development of a broad range of products based on hydrophilic polyurethane and has authored a book on the subject. He has published a number of papers on the use of polyurethanes in medical and other applications. He has conducted seminars in the U.S. and Europe on the medical applications of specialty polyurethanes. He has been an invited speaker to a number of conferences and seminars. 

While this book covers the full range of polyurethane chemistries to one degree or another, our perspective has been on the chemical nature of the molecule. Unlike most polyurethane chemists, we have worked almost exclusively on hydrophilic polyurethanes. This specialty grade of polymer (which we will describe at length) is valued for its chemical properties (ability to absorb water, for instance) almost to the exclusion of its physical properties. 

While the use of these polyethers is widespread, the goal of discussion is to create a specialty chemical. Propylene- and ethylene-based polyols are produced for physical reasons and will serve as the backbone. Researchers should note, however, that the scope of polyethers and polyesters is much broader when they are willing to sacrifice some physical strength to gain a chemical advantage. To illustrate, we cite a particularly interesting example. Castor oil was a conunon polyol for the production of polyurethanes. It was replaced by less expensive and more predictable polyols in commercial production. Readers should be aware that mixed polyols can be used to advantage. 

The second characteristic of a polyurethane used as a specialty chemical is biocom-patibihty. We will discuss the techniques available to make a polymer system neutral... 

In Chapter 3, we introduced the three features on which the specialty chemical nature of polyurethanes depends ... 

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