Amine-initiated polyether polyols and a process for their production

摘要

Clear, amine-initiated polyether polyols are made by epoxidizing an amine in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide catalyst. By reducing the amount of catalyst used during the polyol synthesis and by adding the catalyst after between 5 and 30% of the total amount of at least one alkylene oxide has been added, after lactic acid neutralization, gives a short chain polyol that has foam processing characteristics similar to the conventional sulfuric acid neutralized polyol. The polyols produced in this manner are particularly useful for the production of polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams.