Reaction modeling of urethane polyols using fraction primary secondary and hindered-secondary hydroxyl content

Polyethylene Glycol-Isophorone Diisocyanate Polyurethane Prepolymers Tailored Using MALDI MS

The reaction of diols with isocyanates, leading to mono-functional and di-functional prepolymers may be investigated using various characterization methods which show the overall conversion of isocyanate monomers. On the other hand, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) polymer characterization can be employed to identify the monomer units, the end-group functionalities, molecular weight averages, and to determine the copolymer sequence. Herein, we focus on prepolymer synthesis using isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), a widely used diisocyanate for prepolymers preparation, especially in waterborne polyurethane materials. Thus, the reaction between polyethylene glycol diol and IPDI was in-depth investigated by mass spectrometry to determine the influence of the reaction parameters on the prepolymer's structure. The relative content of the different functional oligomer species at given reaction times was determined in the reaction mixture. More specifically, the offline analysis revealed the influence of reaction parameters such as reaction temperature, the concentration of reactants, and the amount of dibutyltin dilaurate catalyst. The established MALDI MS analysis involved measurements of samples, first, directly collected from the reaction mixture and secondly, following derivatization with methanol. The obtained results revealed the effects of reaction parameters on the functionalization reaction with isocyanates, allowing to achieve a better reaction control.

Numerical simulation of mold filling water blown polyurethane foams: Effects of sequential pour

Batch molding of polyurethane foams is a widely used processing technique to produce crosslinked cellular structures which form to the shape of the mold. For water-blown polyurethane foams, water is reacted to form gaseous carbon dioxide resulting in a foam which expands to fill the mold completely. Batch molding typically requires an operator to coat the surface of a mold, introducing a significant lag time during the filling stage where significant asymmetric volume change can occur. The purpose of this work is to show, through simulations, that this lag time is significant when predicting flow profiles and part quality. When the mold geometry is complex enough to force bifurcation of the flow, simulations incorporating various filling lag times predicted significantly different locations of knit or weld lines where the flow fronts meet. Current simulation techniques, which assume the filling stage occurs instantaneously, are unable to predict variations in weld line locations. The introduction of a lag time, referred to herein as sequential pour, was achieved through user-defined modules incorporated into Ansys Fluent software.

Generalization and Modelling of Rigid Polyisocyanurate Foam Reaction Kinetics, Structural Units Effect, and Cell Configuration Mechanism

PIR/PUR ratio was derived from differential manipulation of generalized polyisocyanurate kinetic model. The structural unit effects on polymerization of isocyanurate, urethane and urea linkages were evaluated based on Mayo-Lewise tercopolymerization scheme. The cell microstructural configuration model was further developed from profiled FOAMAT reactivity parameters with integrated analysis of cell interface physics. The interstitial border area was defined by interface free energy theory, the shear viscosity was evaluated by foam motion, gas fraction, and partial pressure, and the cell inflation was re-examined by gas-liquid surface tension variability. The cell anisotropic degree, assumed as an aspect ratio of infinitesimal volume elements in cell uniformity, was characterized by equilibrated work increase of surface energy approximated by 2D stretching deformation from sphere cell to spheroid cell. The relationship between pressure and surface tension of elongated cells was also derived from modelling at the same condition of cell deformation.

Uncatalyzed reactions of 4,4′-diphenylmethane-diisocyanate with polymer polyols as revealed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

The reactivities of various polymer polyols towards MDI were evaluated using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Impact of the maximum foam reaction temperature on reducing foam shrinkage

One of the obstacles to displacing petroleum-based polyols with soy-based polyols in rigid urethane foam formulations is foam shrinkage, especially at displacements greater than 50%.

Chain growth polymerization mechanism in polyurethane-forming reactions

A new approach simulates alcohol–isocyanate reactions in polyurethane systems: catalytic mechanisms dominate the kinetics and chain growth mechanisms overwhelm step growth.