GB909358A - Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of polymeric materials by the reaction of organic isocyanates with hydroxyl group-containing compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for the manufacture of polymeric materials by the reaction of organic isocyanates with hydroxyl group-containing compounds is characterized in that the reaction is carried out in the presence of a mercury salt of a carboxylic acid. Salts listed include those of monocarboxylic acids; dimethylglycine or 6-dimethylaminocaproic acid; di- or tri-carboxylic acids such as the reaction products of polyoxyalkylene diols or triols with two or three molecular proportions, respectively, of maleic or succinic anhydride; N,N1-ethylenediamine tetracarboxylic acid; carboxylic acids containing aromatic nuclei; and cycloaliphatic carboxylic acids. Polyesters, polyesteramides, polyethers and mixtures thereof are suitable hydroxy compounds. The polyethers include those obtained from cyclic oxides having a functionality greater than two. The mercury salts can be used together with tertiary amine catalysts, soluble organic compounds of metals such as iron or manganese acetylacetonate antimony compounds, or dibutyl tin dilaurate or stannous octoate. The reaction mixture may also contain antioxidants, such as tert. butyl catechol, surface-active agents, flame-retardants such as trichloroethyl phosphate and antimony oxide, plasticizers such as tricresyl phosphate and dioctyl phthalate and carbon black, silica, colour stabilizers and whitening agents. The examples describe the preparation of cellular products.ALSO:A process for the manufacture of polymeric materials by the reaction of organic isocyanates with hydroxyl group-containing compounds is characterised in that the reaction is carried out in the presence of a mercury salt of a carboxylic acid. The process is applicable to the preparation of cellular products, in one preferred embodiment by the simultaneous interaction of a secondary hydroxyl-ended polymer, especially a polyether, an organic polyisocyanate and water and/or a low boiling liquid in the presence of the mercury salt. Salts listed include those of monocarboxylic acids; dimethylglycine or 6-dimethylaminocaproic acid; di-or tri-carboxylic acids such as the reaction products of polyoxyalkylene diols or triols with two or three molecular proportions, respectively, of maleic or succinic anhydride; N, N1-ethylenediamine-tetracarboxylic acid; carboxylic acids containing aromatic nuclei; and cycloaliphatic carboxylic acids. Polyesters, polyester amides, polyethers and mixtures thereof are suitable hydroxy compounds. The polyethers include those obtained from cyclic oxides having a functionality greater than two. The tin salts can be used together with tertiary amine catalysts, soluble organic compounds of metals such as iron or manganese acetyl-acetonate, antimony compounds or dibutyl tin dilaurate or stannous octoate. The reaction mixture may also contain antioxidants such as tert butyl catechol, surface-active agents, flame retardants such as trichlorethyl phosphate and antimony oxide, plasticizers such as tricresyl phosphate and dioctyl phthalate, and carbon black, silica, colour stabilizers and whitening agents. In a typical example, (4) a mixture polypropylene glycol and oxypropylated trimethylolpropane, blended together with triethylene diamine, N-dimethylbenzylamine, mercury salt of octoic acid, alkylsilane-polyoxyalkylene block copolymer and water, is converted to a cellular product by blending with tolylene -2 : 4-and 2 : 6-diisocyanates. In other examples the salt used is the 2-ethylhexoate.