Quasi-prepolymer polyether foams

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... 

In addition to one-shot processes, quasi-prepolymer systems are used commercially with rigid polyether foams. The quasi-prepolymer is commonly produced using excess TDI rather than diphenylmethane di-isocyanate. Sinee the former isocyanate is light in colour and the latter dark, quasi-prepolymer foams... 

Microcellular polyurethanes for shoe soling are of both the polyester and polyether types. Polyester types were developed first and owing to their generally superior mechanical properties they tend to be used in the thinner sole, high quality section of the market. Such polyester systems are usually based on quasi-prepolymers (made from part of the polyester and the MDI) and a resin blend made up of the rest of the polyester, the chain extender (usually butane diol), catalysts, surfactants and water to produce carbon dioxide to blow the foams. The use of a quasi-prepolymer enables the two... 

---