GB990633A - Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of polymers - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for the manufacture of polyurethanes by the reaction of organic polyisocyanates with hydroxyl group-containing polymers containing at least two isocyanate reactive groups per molecule is characterized in that it is carried out in the presence of a zinc salt of an acid of the formula <FORM:0990633/C3/1> wherein R and R1 are the same or different hydrocarbon or substituted hydrocarbon radicals which may be higher alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or an alkyl radical interrupted by one or more hetero atoms such as O or S, or wherein R and R1 may together form an alkylene group, optionally interrupted by hetero atoms such as O or S, which together with the remainder of the thio-acid molecule forms a ring structure containing 4 to 8 atoms, and wherein X is oxygen or sulphur, and also in the presence of a tertiary amine. The tertiary amine may be used wholly or partly in the form of a coordination complex with the zinc salt and the complex may be prepared in situ in the reaction mixture. Water and/or low boiling point liquids may be added to the reaction mixture to give foamed products. The hydroxyl groupcontaining polymer may be a polyester, polyesteramide or polyether or a mixture thereof. Many zinc salts, tertiary amines, complexes of zinc salts and tertiary amines, starting materials for the preparation of hydroxyl group-containing polymers, organic polyisocyanates and low boiling liquids are specified. Other additives which may be present in the reaction mixture are surface-active agents such as oxyethylated phenols, oleyl alcohol, sulphated methyl oleate, polyalkylsiloxanes and block copolymers thereof with polyalkylene oxides; flame retardants such as b -trichloroethyl phosphate and antimony oxide; plasticizers such as tricresyl phosphate and dioctyl phthalate; colouring matters and fillers, such as carbon black and silica; antioxidants such as t-butylcatechol; other types of catalysts such as iron and manganese acetylacetonates, dibutyltin dilaurate, stannous octoate, lead acetate, basic lead acetate and lead 2-ethylhexoate; and solvents such as methyl ethyl ketone and cyclohexanone. Examples describe the preparation of polyurethane foams and a lacquer. Specifications 937,882 and 990,634 are referred to.ALSO:Polyurethanes are prepared in the presence, as catalyst, of a mixture of a zinc salt of an acid of the formula <FORM:0990633/B1-B2/1> wherein R and R1 are hydrocarbon or substituted hydrocarbon radicals which may be higher alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl or an alkyl radical interrupted by one or more hetero atoms such as O or S, or wherein R and R1 may together form an alkylene group optionally interrupted by hetero atoms such as O or S, and a tertiary amine. The tertiary amine may be present wholly or in part as a complex with the zinc salt. Mixtures of compounds may be used and other catalysts such as iron and manganese acetylacetonates, dibutyltindilaurate, stannous octoate, lead acetate, basic lead acetate and lead 2-ethylhexoate may also be present. Specifications 937,882 and 990,634 are referred to.