Preparation of hyperbranched polycarbonate polyols and their use

A process of preparing a hyperbranched polycarbonate polyol, the process comprising:

• contacting a polyfunctional alcohol and an ester or carbonate with a catalyst in a solvent to form a reaction mixture;
• and
• heating the reaction mixture under azeotropic reflux conditions to form an alcohol or water;
• wherein:
• the alcohol or water is removed from the reaction mixture under the azeotropic reflux conditions;
• the heating the reaction mixture comprises low pressure steam heating to a temperature of about 70° C. to about 140° C.;
• and
• the hyperbranched polycarbonate polyol is a liquid at room temperature and has a viscosity of about 500 centipoise to 100,000 centipoise at 25° C.