Double metal cyanide complex catalysts
AssigneeArco Chemical Technology, L.P.
InventorBi Le-Khac
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Improved double metal cyanide catalysts are disclosed. The substantially amorphous catalysts of the invention are more active for polymerizing epoxides than conventional DMC catalysts, which have a substantial crystalline component. Polyol products made with the catalysts are unusually clear, have exceptionally low unsaturations, and contain no detectable amount of low molecular weight polyol impurities. A method of making the improved DMC catalysts, which involves intimately combining the reactants, is also disclosed.
Claims36
A catalyst which comprises at least about 70 wt. % of a substantially amorphous double metal cyanide (DMC) complex, wherein the catalyst is useful for polymerizing epoxides.
A composition which comprises at least about 70 wt. % of a substantially amorphous DMC complex catalyst, and up to about 30 wt. % of a highly crystalline DMC compound, wherein the composition is useful as a catalyst for polymerizing epoxides.
A catalyst which consists essentially of a substantially amorphous double metal cyanide complex useful for polymerizing epoxides.
A method of making a double metal cyanide (DMC) complex catalyst, said method comprising:
- (a) intimately combining and reacting aqueous solutions of a water-soluble metal salt and a water-soluble metal cyanide salt in the presence of a complexing agent to produce an aqueous mixture containing a precipitated DMC complex catalyst;
- and (b) isolating and drying the DMC complex catalyst.
A catalyst which consists essentially of a substantially amorphous zinc hexacyanocobaltate complex, wherein the catalyst is prepared in the presence of a water-soluble aliphatic alcohol complexing agent selected from the group consisting of ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol, sec-butyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, and isobutyl alcohol.
A double metal cyanide complex catalyst having a surface area less than about 30 m.sup.2 /g.
A double metal cyanide catalyst which is the reaction product of a water-soluble metal salt, a water-soluble metal cyanide salt, and a complexing agent, wherein the catalyst is effective to polymerize propylene oxide at a rate in excess of 3 g PO/min/100 ppm catalyst, based on the weight of finished polyether, at 105.degree. C.
A double metal cyanide catalyst which is the reaction product of a water-soluble metal salt, a water-soluble metal cyanide salt, and a complexing agent, wherein the catalyst is effective to polymerize propylene oxide at a rate in excess of 5 g PO/min/250 ppm catalyst, based on the weight of finished polyether, at 105.degree. C.
A double metal cyanide (DMC) complex catalyst that exhibits a powder x-ray diffraction pattern having substantially no sharp lines at about 5.1 (d-spacing, angstroms).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.