Starch-amine-based polyether polyols and polyurethane foams prepared therefrom

Claim 1

In a polyurethane foam comprised of the reaction product of a polyol reactant, an organic polyisocyanate reactant, a reaction catalyst and a foaming agent, the improvement wherein said polyol reactant is prepared by: a. forming a crude polyglucoside reaction product by reacting in the presence of a catalytic proportion of an acid catalyst, (1) starch and (2) a polyhydric alcohol containing at least two hydroxyl groups, the proportion of said alcohol being at least 0.3 mole of alcohol per glucose unit weight of starch, and b. admixing said crude polyglucoside reaction product with an amine in the presence of a basic catalyst, maintaining said mixture at a temperature of from 100° to 165° C., and introducing into said mixture an alkylene oxide having between 2 and about 6 carbon atoms, said amine being employed in an amount of at least about 0.1 mole to about 10 moles per glucose unit weight of starch and being selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic amine having 1-8 carbon atoms, an aromatic primary amine having 6-8 carbon atoms, an alkanolamine in which each alkanol group contains 2-5 carbon atoms, and a mixture thereof.