Process for preparing polyols
AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company
InventorsFranciszek Olstowski, John L. Nafziger
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Abstract
The invention describes an improved process for preparing polyols by reacting a mono-epoxy compound such as propylene oxide with a hydroxyl-containing initiator compound such as glycerine in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement being that the catalyst is added in the form of a calcium, strontium or barium salt of an organic acid such as acetic acid. Polyols prepared by this process can be employed to prepare polyurethanes without removing the catalyst.
Claims18
In a process for preparing active hydrogen-containing polymers having hydroxyl equivalent weights from about 50 to about 12,500 by reacting a mono-epoxy-containing compound with a compound containing at least one active hydrogen in the presence of a catalytic quantity of a catalyst, and in the absence of a solvent or diluent other than the reactants and reaction products;
- the improvement wherein the catalyst is added in the form of an organic carboxylic acid salt of calcium, barium, strontium, or mixture thereof and wherein said organic acid has at least 2 carbon atoms.
In a process for preparing polymers containing active hydrogen atoms in the form of hydroxyl groups and having hydroxyl equivalent weights from about 50 to about 12,500 by reacting a compound having at least one active hydrogen atom with a mono-epoxy-containing compound in the presence of a catalytic quantity of catalyst and in the absence of a solvent or diluent other than the reactants or reaction products, followed by the removal and/or neutralization of the catalyst;
- the improvement which comprises adding the catalyst in the form of the calcium, barium or strontium salt of an organic carboxylic acid having at least 2 carbon atoms or mixture thereof and in a catalytic quantity such that the quantity of calcium, barium, strontium or mixture thereof in the resultant reaction product is less than about 5000 ppm, thereby eliminating the necessity of the catalyst removal and/or neutralization step.
A composition comprising
- (1) a hydroxyl containing polymer having hydroxyl equivalent weights from about 50 to about 12,500 prepared by reacting a compound having from 2 to about 8 active hydrogen atoms with a mono-epoxy-containing compound and
- (2) at least about 700 ppm of calcium, barium, strontium or mixture thereof added in the form of the salt of a carboxylic acid thereof said acid having at least 2 carbon atoms.
A polyol composition suitable for preparing polyurethanes which polyol composition comprises the unfiltered, unneutralized reaction product of
- (1) an active hydrogen-containing compound having a least two active hydrogen atoms, and (2) a mono-epoxy-containing compound in the presence of
- (3) a catalyst added in the form of a calcium, barium or strontium salt of an organic carboxylic acid thereof, said acid having at least two carbon atoms or mixture of such salts wherein the catalyst is employed in quantities such that the resultant polyol contains less than about 20,000 ppm but at least 50 ppm by weight of calcium, barium, strontium or mixture thereof wherein said polyol reaction product has a hydroxyl equivalent of from about 50 to about 12,500.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.