Process for the production of polymeric polyols

Abstract

There is disclosed a process for the production of polymeric polyols, which comprises the steps of: partially or completely saponifying a heterogeous two-phase mixture of (a) a heated molten liquid containing an ethylene-saturated carboxylic acid vinyl ester copolymer having a number average molecular weight of from 800 to 5000 and a saturated carboxylic acid vinyl ester content of from 1 to 50% by weight, and (b) an aliphatic alcohol, in the presence of an alkali catalyst, while removing a saturated carboxylic acid alkyl ester byproduct from the reaction system; then removing the residual aliphatic alcohol from the reaction system; and supplying an alkylene oxide to effect an alkylene oxide-addition reaction, optionally after further supplying the alkali catalyst.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.