# US 11,993,708 B2 · Polyol blends and rigid foams with improved low-temperature R-values

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- Number: US 11,993,708 B2
- Document ID: US11993708B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/066,741
- Filed: 2020-10-09
- Published: 2021-01-28
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-10
- Assignees: Stepan Company
- Applicants: Stepan Company
- Inventors: Warren A. Kaplan; Zhenhua Cui; Sarah Wolek
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993708B2

## CPC

- C08G 18/4018: {Mixtures of compounds of group C08G18/42 with compounds of group C08G18/48}
- C08L 67/03: the dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds having the carboxyl- and the hydroxy groups directly linked to aromatic rings
- C08G 18/36: Hydroxylated esters of higher fatty acids
- C08G 18/4211: {derived from aromatic dicarboxylic acids and dialcohols}
- C08G 18/4263: {containing carboxylic acid groups}
- C08G 18/4288: {modified by higher fatty oils or their acids or by resin acids}
- C08G 18/73: acyclic
- C08G 18/7664: {containing alkylene polyphenyl groups}
- C08J 9/141: {Hydrocarbons}
- C08G 2110/0025: rigid
- C08J 2203/14: Saturated hydrocarbons, e.g. butane; Unspecified hydrocarbons
- C08J 2203/182: of physical blowing agents, e.g. acetone and butane
- C08J 2205/10: Rigid foams
- C08L 2205/025: containing two or more polymers of the same hierarchy C08L, and differing only in parameters such as density, comonomer content, molecular weight, structure
- C08L 2205/03: containing three or more polymers in a blend
- C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)

## Abstract

Blends comprising an aromatic polyester polyol and a 1 to 10 wt. % of a fatty acid derivative are disclosed. The fatty acid derivative is a C8 to C18 fatty acid ester or a C8 to C18 fatty acid amide. Also disclosed are rigid PU or PU-PIR foams that comprise a reaction product of water, a catalyst, a foam-stabilizing surfactant, a polyisocyanate, a blowing agent, and the polyester polyol/fatty acid derivative blends. Surprisingly, low-temperature R-values of rigid foams based on pentane blowing agents can be improved significantly by using blends of aromatic polyester polyols and a minor proportion of readily available fatty acid derivatives. In some aspects, the difference between initial R-values of the foam measured at 75° F. and 40° F. is at least 5% greater than that of a similar foam prepared in the absence of the fatty acid derivative.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A blend used to prepare polyurethane foams comprising:
(a) 90 to 99 wt. % of an aromatic polyester polyol having a hydroxyl number within the range of 150 to 400 mg KOH/g; and
(b) 1 to 10 wt. % of a C8 to C18 fatty acid ester selected from methyl soyates, methyl oleates, methyl palmitates, methyl myristates, methyl laurates, ethyl soyates, isopropyl palmitates, isopropyl myristates, hexyl laurates, sorbitan monooleate, sucrose monooleate, sucrose monolaurate, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monomyristate, a C8-C10 methyl caprate/methyl caprylate mixture, a C12-C14 methyl laurate/methyl myristate mixture, C12 methyl laurate, a C16-C18 methyl palmitate/methyl stearate/methyl oleate mixture, PEG-400 dioleate, PEG-600 dioleate, PEG-400 diisostearate, PEG-400 dilaurate, PEG-400 disoyate, PEG-600 dilaurate or mixtures thereof, or a C8 to C18 fatty acid amide selected from N,N-dimethyl lauramide, N,N-diethyl lauramide, N,N-dimethyl myristamide, N,N-dimethyl cocamide, N,N-dimethyl palmitamide or mixtures thereof, wherein the blend is an unreacted mixture of components that is clear and homogeneous having a viscosity less than 5,000 cP at 25° C.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The blend of claim 1 wherein the aromatic polyester polyol has a hydroxyl number within the range of 160 to 350 mg KOH/g.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The blend of claim 1 wherein the aromatic polyester polyol has a hydroxyl number within the range of 200 to 300 mg KOH/g.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The blend of claim 1 wherein the aromatic polyester polyol is partially transesterified with up to 20 wt. %, based on the amount of aromatic polyester polyol, of a hydrophobe.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The blend of claim 1 further comprising 0.5 to 15 wt. %, based on the amount of aromatic polyester polyol, of a nonionic alkoxylated surfactant.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The blend of claim 1 wherein the aromatic polyester polyol has recurring units from one or more phthalate-based compounds or compositions and one or more glycols.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The blend of claim 1 wherein the aromatic polyester polyol has recurring units from phthalic anhydride and diethylene glycol.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The blend of claim 1 comprising 92 to 98 wt. % of the aromatic polyester polyol and 2 to 8 wt. % of the fatty acid ester.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The blend of claim 1 wherein the blend further comprises a polyol selected from the group consisting of thioether polyols; polyester amides, polyacetals, and aliphatic polycarbonates containing hydroxyl groups; amine-terminated polyethers; amine-initiated polyols; polyether polyols; Mannich polyols; non-aromatic polyester polyols; graft dispersion polyols; polyetherester polyols; and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 10

A blend comprising:
(a) 90 to 99 wt. % of an aromatic polyester polyol having a hydroxyl number within the range of 150 to 400 mg KOH/g; and
(b) 1 to 10 wt. % of a C8 to C18 fatty acid amide selected from N,N-dimethyl lauramide, N,N-diethyl lauramide, N,N-dimethyl myristamide, N,N-dimethyl cocamide, N,N-dimethyl palmitamide or mixtures thereof.