Flexible polyurethane foams containing lithium-based salts, a process for their preparation and a polyol composition therefor

Abstract: The invention pertains to polyol compositions containing a lithium salt of an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic, saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acid having 2 to 7 carbon atoms and to flexible polyurethane foams having an open cell structure produced thereby.

Description: The following invention relates to the field of flexible slabstock polyurethane foams, more particularly to the use of lithium-based salts to open the cells of water-blown polyurethane foams, producing a foam with less shrinkage and a softer feel. The flexible polyurethane foams of the invention can be used as carpet underlay, seat cushions, among other typical uses for flexible slabstock foams. Water-blown polyurethane foams contain many urea segments by the reaction between the isocyanate and water. Since the urea bond is less flexible than a polyurethane bond, the urea segments disadvantageously cause the foam to have a hard feel. Further, water tends to close the cells of the foam, which, in the case of slabstock foam, generally requires mechanical crushing to avoid puckering. By opening the cells of the foam with the lithium salts of the invention, one obtains a polyurethane flexible foam which is dimensionally stable and does not shrink either as a free rise or in the mold. US-A-3,108,975 describes the production of flexible polyurethane foams using certain basic compounds as catalysts without the need to employ amine-based catalysts. Described as catalysts were hydroxides of lithium, potassium, and sodium, with potassium and sodium emphasized and exemplified. Also mentioned were carboxylic acid salts of these metals, the carboxylic acids being predominately long chained but also including acetic and phthalic acid. The requirement for each of these compounds, however, is that they exhibit predominately basic activity and act as a source of hydroxide ions or anions to catalyze the reaction between isocyanate and polyol in a water-blown system. Thus, with an acetate group, the basic compound potassium acetate is exemplified; and with a water-based metal such as sodium, sodium hydroxide is exemplified. In the present invention, however, the lithium metal ion exhibits much weaker basic activity than sodium or potassium ions; and when combined with stronger short chain carboxylic acids having 1-6 carbon atoms, the lithium salts exhibit insufficient basic activity to act as catalyst substitutes for the above-described amine-based catalysts of US-A-3,108,975. US-A-3,041,295 also describes the use of a lithium compound in flexible polyurethane water-blown foams but only in combination with a phosphate ester to prevent high temperature, high humidity breakdown of the foam. As in the previous patent, the lithium compound must exhibit basic activity; and exemplified are lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, and lithium ricinoleate. The lithium salts of the invention, however, are short chain carboxylic acid salts of lithium, which salts exhibit very weak basic, almost neutral, activity and are used as cell openers and aids in reduction in foam density. FR-A-2 316 268 discloses the production of flexible polyurethane foams using the lithium salt of 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It is an object of the invention to obtain a water-blown flexible polyurethane foam having an open-celled structure without sacrificing physical properties. The open-celled structure in the foams of this invention advantageously promotes dimensional stability even at low densities without signs of shrinkage or warp. It has been found that by incorporating a lithium salt of an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic carboxylic acid having 2-7 carbon atoms into a polyol resin yields a foam having an excellent open-cell structure when reacted with an isocyanate in the presence of water as the blowing agent. Such flexible foams have a soft feel in spite of the formation of hard urea linkages without sacrificing physical properties. Thus, a polyol composition comprising a polyol compound, one or more blowing agents, a urethane-promoting catalyst, optionally chain extenders, and a lithium salt of a 2-7 carbon atoms carboxylic acid as defined in the claims is provided along with the flexible foams made by reacting a polyisocyanate with the polyol composition and a process for its preparation. The lithium salts employed in the invention are salts of aliphatic or cycloaliphatic, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted carboxylic acids having from 2-7 carbon atoms including the carboxylic acid carbon, such as lithium salts of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, heptanoic acid, and their anhydrides which produce the foregoing acids when hydrolyzed. Preferable acids are acetic, propionic, and butyric, with acetic acid being more preferable. The amount of lithium salt contained in the formulation is from 0.01 pbw to 5.0 pbw, preferably 0.01 pbw to 3 pbw, more preferably 0.1 pbw to 2 pbw, most preferably 0.5 pbw to 1.0 pbw, based on 100 parts by weight of polyol composition. The term "polyol composition" refers to all ingredients in the polyol side, including the polyol compound(s), chain extenders, blowing agent, surfactant, catalysts, and other ingredients. Although one may exceed amounts greater than 3.0 pbw of lithium salt, there is no further noticeable improvement in cell opening. The lithium salt containing flexible polyurethane foams of this invention are blown with reactive blowing agents, physically active blowing agents excluding hard or fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons, or a mixture of the two kinds of blowing agents as defined in the claims. In one preferable embodiment of the invention, the polyurethane foam is completely blown by reactive blowing agents. The phrase "reactive blowing agent" is meant herein as a blowing agent other than a physically active blowing agent such as volatile hydrocarbons, soil chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and fully halogenated hydrocarbons known as hard CFCs. A reactive blown foam is one which altogether excludes the presence of the aforementioned physical blowing agents from the foam system. The phrase "reactive blowing agents" is meant, however, to include chemically reactive blowing agents such as, but not limited to, water, a mixture of water and formic acid, or tertiary alcohols. Formic acid may be added to the resin side as the acid, as an acid premixed with the lithium salt, or as a formate salt dissolved in water. The flexible foam of this invention is most preferably water blown, meaning a foam system blown without the aid of any other reactive or physical blowing agent. The amount of water in the system ranges from 0.01 parts by weight to 8.0 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polyol compound, chain extender, and catalyst. The particular amount depends upon the desired density. To achieve free rise densities of less than 4.0 suitable for carpet underlay, only about 8 parts by weight, preferably less than 6.0, more preferably less than 2.0 parts by weight of water need be employed in water blown systems. In molded flexible foams having densities from about 48 g/l to 561 g/l, anywhere from 0.5 to about 5 parts by weight of water are employed. In another embodiment of the invention but less preferable, the polyurethane foams can be blown solely with volatile hydrocarbons, soft CFCs each having a boiling point below 28°C and above -60°C and which vaporize at or below the temperature of the foaming mass, volatile fluorinated organic compounds, or with a mixture of these physical blowing agent(s) and reactive blowing agent(s). Volatile hydrocarbons include butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, cyclopentane, cyclohexane, pentene, and heptene. Soft CFCs are defined as having at least one hydrogen atom and an ozone depletion potential of less than 0.2, and include 1,1,1-trichloroethane, HCFC-141b, HCFC-22, HCFC-123, and HCFC-142. In another embodiment, a mixture of physical blowing agents, including hard CFCs, and reactive blowing agents may be employed. Preferably, the quantity of reactive blowing agent predominates in a mixture of physical blowing agent(s). As the ratio of physical blowing agent to reactive blowing agent increases in a mixture, the total amount of blowing agent required to make a foam at a given density also increases. The type of isocyanate or polyol compounds employed to obtain an energy absorbing polyurethane foam are not restricted to a narrow range of choices. The lithium salts described herein are employed in a wide variety of flexible polyurethane foams prepared by the reaction of organic polyisocyanate with polyol composition comprising a polyol compound having at least two isocyanate reactive hydrogens in the presence of a blowing agent, a urethane promoting catalyst, and a surfactant. The reaction is carried out at an index ranging from 60 to 150, preferably 60 to less than 110 to promote polyurethane linkages. Suitable examples of the compound having at least two isocyanate reactive hydrogens include polyols such as polyoxyalkylene polyether polyols, polyoxyalkylene polyester polyols, and graft polyols; polyhydric polythioethers; polyhydroxyl-containing phosphorous compounds; polyacetals; and aliphatic thiols. These compounds have an average functionality of 1.5 to 8, preferably 1.5 to 3, a hydroxyl number from 15 to 100, preferably 15 to 50, and equivalent weights ranging from 750 to 3500, preferably 1000 to 2000. Suitable hydroxy-terminated polyester include those obtained, for example, from polycarboxylic acids and polyhydric alcohols. A suitable polycarboxylic acid may be used such as oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic add, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, brassylic acid, thapsic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, glutaconic acid, α-hydromuconic acid, β-hydromuconic acid, α-butyl-α-ethyl-glutaric acid, α,β-diethylsuccinic acid, isophthalic acid, theraphthalic acid, phthalic acid, hemimellitic acid, and 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid. A suitable polyhydric alcohol may be used such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,7-heptanediol, hydroquinone, resorcinol glycerol, glycerine, 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane, 1,1,1-trimethylolethane, and 1,2,6-hexanetriol. Also included within the term "polyhydric alcohol" are compounds derived from phenol such as 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane, commonly known as Bisphenol A. Suitable polyoxyalkylene polyether polyols may be used such as the polymerization product of an alkylene oxide with a polyhydric alcohol. Suitable polyhydric alcohols include those disclosed above for use in the preparation of the hydroxy-terminated polyesters. Any suitable alkylene oxide may be used such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, amylene oxide, and mixtures of these oxides. The polyalkylene polyether polyols may be prepared from other starting materials such as tetrahydrofuran and alkylene oxide-tetrahydrofuran mixtures; epihalohydrins such as epichlorohydrin; as well as aralkylene oxides such as styrene oxide. The polyalkylene polyether polyols may have either primary or secondary hydroxyl groups. Included among the polyether polyols are polyoxyethylene glycol, polyoxypropylene glycol,polyoxybutylene glycol, block copolymers, for example, combinations of polyoxypropylene and polyoxyethylene glycols, poly-1,2-oxybutylene and polyoxyethylene glycols, poly-1,4-tetramethylene and polyoxyethylene glycols, and copolymer glycols prepared from blends or sequential addition of two or more alkylene oxides. The polyalkylene polyether polyols may be prepared by any known process such as, for example, the process disclosed by Wurtz in 1859 and Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Vol. 7, pp. 257-262, published by Interscience Publishers, Inc. (1951) or in US-A-1,922,459. Polyethers which are preferred include the alkylene oxide addition products of trimethylolpropane, glycerine, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane and blends thereof having equivalent weights of from 1000 to 2000. Suitable amines which may be condensed with alkylene oxides include aromatic amines such as aniline, N-alkylphenylene-diamines, 2,4'-, 2,2'-, and 4,4'-methylenedianiline, 2,6- or 2,4-toluenediamine, vicinal toluenediamines, o-chloro-aniline, p-aminoaniline, 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, methylene dianiline, the various condensation products of aniline and formaldehyde, and the isomeric diaminotoluenes; and aliphatic amines such as mono-, di-, and trialkanolamines, ethylene diamine, propylene diamine, diethylenetriamine, methylamine, triisopropanolamine, 1,3-diaminopropane, 1,3-diaminobutane, and 1,4-diaminobutane. Preferable amines include monoethanolamine and triisopropanolamine. Suitable polyhydric polythioethers which may be condensed with alkylene oxides include the condensation product of thiodiglycol or the reaction product of a dicarboxylic acid such as is disclosed above for the preparation of the hydroxyl-containing polyesters with any other suitable thioether glycol. The hydroxyl-containing polyester may also be a polyester amide such as is obtained by including some amine or amino alcohol in the reactants for the preparation of the polyesters. Thus, polyester amides may be obtained by condensing an amino alcohol such as ethanolamine with the polycarboxylic acids set forth above or they may be made using the same components that make up the hydroxyl-containing polyester with only a portion of the components being a diamine such as ethylene diamine. Polyhydroxyl-containing phosphorus compounds which may be used include those compounds disclosed in US-A-3,639,542. Preferred polyhydroxyl-containing phosphorus compounds are prepared from alkylene oxides and acids of phosphorus having a P 2 O 5 equivalency of from about 72 percent to about 95 percent. Suitable polyacetals which may be condensed with alkylene oxides include the reaction product of formaldehyde or other suitable aldehyde with a dihydric alcohol or an alkylene oxide such as those disclosed above. Suitable aliphatic thiols which may be condensed with alkylene oxides include alkanethiols containing at least two -SH groups such as 1,2-ethanedithiol, 1,2-propanedithiol, 1,2-propanedithiol, and 1,6-hexanedithiol; alkene thiols such as 2-butene-1,4-dithiol; and alkyne thiols such as 3-hexyne-1,6-dithiol. Also suitable as the polyol are polymer modified polyols, in particular, the so-called graft polyols. Graft polyols are well known to the art and are prepared by the in situ polymerization of one or more vinyl monomers, preferably acrylonitrile and styrene, in the presence of a polyether or polyester polyol, particularly polyols containing a minor amount of natural or induced unsaturation. Methods of preparing such graft polyols may be found in columns 1-5 and in the Examples of US-A-3,652,639; in columns 1-6 and the Examples of US-A-3,823,201; particularly in columns 2-8 and the Examples of US-A-4,690,956; and in US-A-4,524,157. Non-graft polymer modified polyols are also preferred, for example, those prepared by the reaction of a polyisocyanate with an alkanolamine in the presence of a polyol as taught by US-A-4,293,470; 4,296,213; and 4,374,209; dispersions of polyisocyanurates containing pendant urea groups as taught by US-A-4,386,167; and polyisocyanurate dispersions also containing biuret linkages as taught by US-A-4,359,541. Other polymer modified polyols may be prepared by the in situ size reduction of polymers until the particle size is less than 20µm, preferably less than 10µm. Organic polyisocyanates which may be employed include aromatic, aliphatic, and cycloaliphatic polyisocyanates and combinations thereof. Representative of these types are the diisocyanates such as m-phenylene diisocyanate, 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, 2,6-toluene diisocyanate, mixtures of 2,4- and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, tetramethylene diisocyanate, cyclohexane-1,4-diisocyanate, hexahydrotoluene diisocyanate (and isomers), naphthalene-1,5-diisocyanate, 1-methoxyphenyl-2,4-diisocyanate, 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, mixtures of 4,4'-and 2,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 4,4'-biphenylene diisocyanate, 3,3'-dimethoxy-4,4'-biphenyl diisocyanate, 3,3'-dimethyl-4,4'-biphenyl diisocyanate and 3.3'-dimethyldiphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate; the triisocyanates such as 4,4',4''-triphenylmethane triisocyanate, and toluene 2,4,6-triisocyanate; and the tetraisocyanates such as 4,4'-dimethyldiphenylmethane-2,2'-5,5'-tetraisocyanate and polymeric polyisocyanates such as polymethylene polyphenylene polyisocyanate, and mixtures thereof. Especially useful due to their availability and properties are 2,4'-toluene diisocyanate, and 2,6'-toluene diisocyanate for slabstock, and 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, polymethylene polyphenylene polyisocyanate, or mixtures thereof for molded foams, or mixtures of the foregoing. Crude polyisocyanates may also be used in the compositions of the present invention, such as crude toluene diisocyanate obtained by the phosgenation of a mixture of toluenediamines or crude diphenylmethane isocyanate obtained by the phosgenation of crude diphenylmethane diamine. The preferred or crude isocyanates are disclosed in US-A-3,215,652. Also used as polyisocyanate are so-called modified multifunctional isocyanates, that is, products which are obtained by the chemical reaction of the above-mentioned di- and/or polyisocyanates. Examples for modified organic di- and polyisocyanates include, for example, carbodiimide group containing polyisocyanates in accordance with DE-C-1,092,007, allophanate group containing polyisocyanates as they are described, for instance, the GB-A-994,890, and BE-A-761,626 and NL-A-7,102,524; urethane group containing polyisocyanates as described, for instance, in BE-A-752,261 or US-A-3,394,164; aceylated urea group containing polyisocyanates, for instance, in accordance with DE-C-1,230,778; biuret group containing polyisocyanates, for instance, in accordance with DE-C-1,101,394 and GB-A-889,050; polyisocyanates produced by telemerization reactions, for instance, corresponding with BE-A-723,640; ester group containing polyisocyanates as they are mentioned, for instance, in GB-A-965, 474 and 1,072,956; US-A-3,567,765 and DE-C-1,231,688. Also useful are quasi-prepolymers prepared by reacting any of the above polyisocyanates, crude isocyanates, modified isocyanates, or mixtures thereof with a high molecular weight (1,500-6,000 MW) polyol, preferably a polyoxyalkylene polyether polyol. Most preferable for molded parts are the quasi-prepolymers described in US-A-5216035. Chain extenders which may be employed in the preparation of the polyurethane foams include compounds having at least two functional groups bearing active hydrogen atoms such as hydrazine, primary and secondary diamines, amino alcohols, amino acids, hydroxy acids, glycols, or mixtures thereof. The phrase "chain extenders" used herein is not meant to include water. A preferred group of chain-extending agents, if used, includes diethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol and primary and secondary diamines such as phenylene diamine, 1,4-cyclohexane-bis-(methylamine), ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, N-(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylene-diamine, N,N'-di(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine, piperazine, and 2-methylpiperazine. Any suitable urethane-promoting catalyst may be used including tertiary amines such as, for example, triethylenediamine, N-methylmorpholine, N-ethylmorpholine, diethylethanolamine, N-cocomorpholine, 1-methyl-4-dimethylamino-ethylpiperazine, 3-methoxypropyldimethylamine, N,N,N'-trimethyl-isopropyl propylenediamine, 3-diethylaminopropyldiethylamine, dimethylbenzylamine, and the like. Other suitable catalysts are, for example, stannous chloride, dibutyltin di-2-ethyl hexanoiate, stannous oxide, as well as other organometallic compounds such as are disclosed in US-A-2,846,408. A surface-active agent is generally necessary for production of high grade polyurethane foam according to the present invention, since in the absence of same, the foams collapse or contain very large uneven cells. Numerous surface-active agents have been found satisfactory. Non-ionic surface active agents are preferred. Of these, the non-ionic surface-active agents such as the well-known silicones have been found particularly desirable. Other surface-active agents which are operative, although not preferred, include polyethylene glycol ethers of long chain alcohols, tertiary amine or alkanolamine salts of long chain alkyl acid sulfate esters, alkyl sulfonic esters, and alkyl arylsulfonic acids. If desired, flame retardants may be incorporated in the foams. Among the flame retardants which may be employed are: pentabromodiphenyl oxide, dibromopropanol, tris(b-chloropropyl)-phosphate, 2,2-bis(-bromoethyl) 1,3-propanediol, tetrakis(2-chloroethyl)ethyl diphosphate,bis-(2-chloroethyl)2-chloroethylphosphonate,molybdenumtrioxide, ammonium molybdate, ammonium phosphate, pentabromodiphenyl oxide, tricresylphosphate, hexabromocyclododecane and dibromoethyl dibromocyclohexane. Suitable methods of preparation include the prepolymer technique wherein an excess of organic polyisocyanate is reacted with a polyol to prepare a prepolymer having free isocyanate reactive groups, which is then reacted with a mixture of water, surfactant, and catalyst to obtain the foam. Alternatively, one may employ the quasi-prepolymer technique common in the preparation of rigid foams by reacting only a part of the polyol with the organic polyisocyanate to obtain a quasi-prepolymer, which is then reacted with the remaining portion of polyol in the presence of water, surfactant, and catalyst. Another option is to prepare a foam by reacting all the components in a single working step known as the "one-shot" method. In the one-shot method, the components may be mixed in a mix head or by impingement mixing. The polyurethane components combined by any one of the above-mentioned techniques may be poured or sprayed into an open mold, which is subsequently closed and clamped, if necessary, to allow the components to fully react, after which the part is demolded and allowed to cure. Alternatively, the polyurethane components may be injected into an open or closed mold, which is subsequently closed if the components were initially injected into an open mold; and the components are allowed to fully react after which the part is demolded and set aside to cure. The mixed polyurethane components may also be poured, injected, or sprayed into open cavities or molds and allowed to free rise instead of reacting in a closed mold, such as in the production of slab stock which is cut into a desired shape, or poured or sprayed into an open mold which is clamped shut. When using the one-shot process, the lithium salts of the invention should be pre-dissolved in water or the polyol depending on the solubility of the organic portion of the salt. Instead of pre-dissolving the lithium salt prior to metering, the lithium salt may be separately metered and added to the formulation as a solid. However, the salt must be milled to a fine dust as large granules fail to quickly dissolve in the formulation and fail to open up the cells of the foam. Regardless of which foaming method is employed, the prepolymer, one-shot, or quasi-prepolymer method, it is preferred to pre-dissolve the lithium salt in either the polyol or water, most preferably dissolved in water as a solution which is added to the polyol side or dissolved in formic acid as a solution which is added to the polyol side. The following Examples illustrate various embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention herein. The parts referred to in the Examples are parts by weight. The following abbreviations are employed: Polyol A is a propylene oxide-ethylene oxide adduct of glycerine having terminated with about 18.5 weight percent ethylene oxide, having a theoretical hydroxyl number of 35, and an average functionality of about 2.6. Polyol B is an all propylene oxide adduct of propylene glycol having a nominal hydroxyl number of 29. Polyol C is a propylene oxide-ethylene oxide adduct of trimethylolpropane, having a 13 weight percent ethylene oxide cap, a nominal hydroxyl number of about 35, and an average functionality of about 2.6. Polyol D is a 30 weight percent 1:1 acrylonitrile/styrene graft polyol in Polyol C as the carrier, the graft polyol having a nominal hydroxyl number of 24. Polyol E is about a 74/26 weight percent blend of Polyol D and Polyol C, respectively, having a nominal hydroxyl number of 26.7. Polyol F is a propylene oxide-11.4 weight percent ethylene oxide heteric adduct of a glycerine/propylene glycol blend having a nominal hydroxyl number of 47 and an average functionality of about 2.5. Polyol G is a propylene oxide-ethylene oxide adduct of trimethylolpropane terminated with about 15 weight percent ethylene oxide and having a hydroxyl number of 25 and an average functionality of about 2.3. Polyol H is about a 33/67 blend of Polyol G and Polyol D, respectively. Iso A is a 98 weight percent 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate having 2 weight percent of other MDI isomers, an NCO content of 33.6 weight percent, and a functionality of about 2. Iso B is a uretonimine-carbodiimide modified 4,4'-MDI containing about 75 weight percent 4,4' MDI and 25 weight percent of a uretonimine-carbodiimide modified 4,4'-MDI, having an NCO content of about 29.5 weight percent. Iso C is a solvent-free polymethylene polyphenylisocyanate with a functionality of approximately 2.2, an NCO content of 31.5 weight percent, and available from BASF Corporation as LUPRANATE™ M-10. Iso D is a solvent-free polymethylene polyphenylisocyanate with a functionality of about 2.7, an NCO content of 31.8 weight percent, and available from BASF Corporation as LUPRANATE™ M-205. DABCO BL-11 is a 70 weight percent bis(dimethylaminoethyl)ether and 30 weight percent dipropylene glycol blowing catalyst available from Air Products. DABCO XFE-1027 is an amine catalyst used as a delayed action gel available from Air Products. UL-1 is an organotin catalyst available from Witco Corporation. LIAL-125 is an oxo alcohol; a linear C 12 - C 15 alcohol composition available from Enichem Agusta. X2-5384 is a silicone super wetting surfactant available from Air Products. PPK-839 is carbon black in a polyether polyol. Univul AO3 is an anti-oxidant available from BASF Corporation. Givsorb UV-1 is an ultraviolet stabilizer available from Givuadan Corporation. DABCO 33-LV is 33 weight percent TEDA in 67 weight percent DPG available from Air Products. DABCO T-10 is 50 weight percent stannous octoate in dioctylphthalate. DABCO T-12 is dibutyltin dilaurate. BICAT V is a bismuth-based organo carboxylate catalyst available from Shephard Company. FYROL FR-2 is a halogenated phosphate flame retardant available from Great Lakes Corp. L-520 is a silicone surfactant available from Union Carbide Corp. Y-10223 is a silicone surfactant available from Goldschmidt Corp. DEOA LF is an 85/15 mixture of diethanolamine and water, respectively. EXPERIMENT 1 This experiment was performed to determine the cell-opening effects of the foam by using the lithium salt in the presence of an amine catalyst and water as a blowing agent in the manufacture of flexible polyurethane foams based on TDI, MDI, and isocyanate mixtures thereof. Foam Sample 1 was prepared by reacting toluene diisocyanate (TDI) with the resin component in the part-by-weight proportions indicated in Table 1 below. The resin component ingredients were hand mixed in a 1,1 l Ponderosa cup at about 2,400 rpm using a 7,62 cm mixer blade for a few seconds at each successive addition of resin ingredients. The isocyanate was then mixed in with the resin at about 3,000 rpm for about 7-8 seconds, and the mixture was allowed to freely foam. The tops of each foam sample were cut flush with the top of the cup, and the density of the foam was then measured. Core samples were taken from each to measure the properties of the foam. A second sample using identical ingredients was run without the lithium salt as a comparison. This procedure was repeated for Samples 2-10. The results show that the air flow from each sample employing lithium acetate salt increased by as much as 50 percent over those foam samples using no lithium acetate, indicating that the cells opened up substantially. The density of the foam samples using lithium acetate were generally slightly lower, indicating that at equivalent water levels a slightly lower density may be achieved.

Claims: A flexible open-cell polyurethane foam comprising the reaction product of an aromatic organic polyisocyanate with a polyol composition comprising: a) a polyol compound having at least two reactive hydrogens and a hydroxyl number of from 15 to 100; b) one or more blowing agents, selected from the group consisting of a reactive blowing agent, a volatile hydrocarbon and a soft CFC having at least one hydrogen atom and an ozone depletion potential of less than 0.2; c) a polyurethane-promoting catalyst; d) optionally a chain extender; and, e) a lithium salt of an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic, saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acid having 2 to 7 carbon atoms as a cell opening additive in an amount of from 0.01 parts by weight to 5.0 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polyol composition. The flexible open-cell foam of claim 1, wherein the amount of lithium salt is from 0.1 pbw to 2.0 pbw based on 100 pbw of the polyol composition. The flexible open-cell foam of claim 1, wherein the reactive blowing agent is selected from the group consisting of water, tertiary alcohol and a mixture of water and formic acid. The flexible open-cell foam of claim 1, wherein the carboxylic radical of the lithium salt is selected from the group consisting of acetic group, propionic group and butyric group. The flexible open-cell foam of claim 1, wherein the reactive blowing agent consists essentially of water. The flexible open-cell foam of claim 1, wherein the foam is a slabstock foam. The flexible open-cell foam of claim 1, wherein the foam is a molded foam. A process for the preparation of a flexible open-cell polyurethane foam comprising reacting, optionally in an open or closed preheated mold, an aromatic organic polyisocyanate with a polyol composition comprising: a) a polyol compound having at least two isocyanate reactive hydrogens and a hydroxyl number of from 15 to 100; b) one or more blowing agents, selected from the group consisting of a reactive blowing agent, a volatile hydrocarbon and a soft CFC having at least one hydrogen atom and an ozone depletion potential of less than 0.2; c) a polyurethane-promoting catalyst; d) optionally a chain extender; and, e) a cell opening additive consisting of at least one lithium salt of an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic, saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acid having 2 to 7 carbon atoms in an amount of from 0.01 parts by weight to 5.0 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polyol composition. The process of claim 8, wherein the amount of lithium salt is from 0.1 to 2.0 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polyol composition, and the carboxylic radical of the lithium salt is selected from the group consisting of acetic group, and butyric group. The process of claim 8, wherein the reactive blowing agent is selected from the group consisting of water, tertiary alcohol and a mixture of water and formic acid. The process of claim 8, wherein the reactive blowing agent consists essentially of water. A polyol composition comprising: a) a polyol compound having at least two isocyanate reactive hydrogens with an average functionally of 1.5 to 3, an equivalent weight ranging from 750 to 3500, and a hydroxyl number from 15 to 100; b) one or more blowing agents, selected from the group consisting of a reactive blowing agent, a volatile hydrocarbon and a soft CFC having at least one hydrogen atom and an ozone depletion potential of less than 0.2; c) a urethane-promoting catalyst; d) optionally a chain extender; and, e) a lithium salt of an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic, saturated or unsaturated carboxylic acid having 2 to 7 carbon atoms in an amount of from 0.1 to 2.0 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polyol composition.

Inventors: CHRISTMAN DONALD L, VALOPPI VALERI L, CHRISTMAN, DONALD L., VALOPPI, VALERI L.
Applicants: BASF CORP, BASF CORPORATION
Application year: 1993
Main classification: C08G18
IPC codes: C08G101, C08G18, C08L75