Alkyl carbonate endcapped polyether siloxanes and preparation thereof

A process for preparing polysiloxane-polyether copolymers, comprising reacting a polyorganosiloxane having at least one SiH or SiZ function, where Z=halogen, with at least one organic compound having at least one carbonate function and at least one further group capable of reacting with an SiH or SiZ function, and/or initially with an organic compound having an OH function and at least one group capable of reacting with an SiH or SiZ function and then with a dialkyl carbonate to provide a polysiloxane-polyether copolymer comprising at least one polyether moiety capped with at least one —O—C(O)—O—R″ unit where R″=identical or different alkyl moieties, wherein said polysiloxane-polyether copolymer containing said at least one polyether moiety capped with said at least one —O—C(O)—O—R″ unit has a molar fraction of from 5 to 98 mol % for polyether moieties having a capping —O—C(O)—O—R″ unit, relative to the total number of polyether moieties present.

A method of preparing a polyurethane foam, said method comprising providing a mixture of an isocyanate compound, at least one compound that reacts with isocyanate groups of said isocyanate compound, water, a catalyst and a polysiloxane-polyether copolymer comprising at least one polyether moiety capped with at least one —O—C(O)—O—R″ unit where R″=identical or different alkyl moieties, wherein said polysiloxane-polyether copolymer containing said at least one polyether moiety capped with said at least one —O—C(O)—O—R″ unit has a molar fraction of from 5 to 98 mol % for polyether moieties having a capping —O—C(O)—O—R″ unit, relative to the total number of polyether moieties present, and reacting said mixture to provide said polyurethane foam.

A composition of matter comprising a polyurethane foam comprising a polysiloxane-polyether copolymer comprising at least one polyether moiety capped with at least one —O—C(O)—O—R″ unit where R″=identical or different alkyl moieties, wherein said polysiloxane-polyether copolymer containing said at least one polyether moiety capped with said at least one —O—C(O)—O—R″ unit has a molar fraction of from 5 to 98 mol % for polyether moieties having a capping —O—C(O)—O—R″ unit, relative to the total number of polyether moieties present.