Novel aromatic polyester polyol mixtures made from polyethylene terephthalate residues and alkylene oxides

Claim 2

A mixture of aromatic polyols having ester functionalities for use in preparing rigid foams, being produced by the process comprising reacting a polyethylene terephthalate residue containing ester functionalities with an alkylene oxide in the presence of a basic catalyst to give an aromatic polyester polyol.

Claim 3

The mixture of aromatic polyols of claim 1 in which the alkylene oxide has the formula ##STR2## where R is hydrogen or lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms.

Claim 4

The mixture of aromatic polyols of claim 1 in which the alkylene oxide is chosen from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and mixtures thereof.

Claim 5

The mixture of aromatic polyols of claim 1 in which the reaction to make the mixture is conducted at a temperature in the range from about 100° to 200° C. and at a pressure in the range from about 1 to 40 atmospheres.

Claim 6

The mixture of aromatic polyols of claim 1 in which the reaction to make the mixture is conducted at a temperature in the range from about 120° to 160°0 C. and at a pressure in the range from about 1 to 10 atmospheres.

Claim 7

The mixture of aromatic polyols of claim 1 in which the average hydroxyl number for the mixture is between about 100 and 300.

Claim 8

The mixture of aromatic polyols of claim 1 in which the basic catalyst is taken from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkali earth metal hydroxides and tertiary amines.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8 in which the alkylene oxide has the formula ##STR3## where R is hydrogen or lower alkyl of one to four carbon atoms.

Claim 12

The method of claim 8 in which the alkylene oxide is chosen from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and mixtures thereof.

Claim 13

The method of claim 8 in which the reaction is conducted at a temperature in the range from about 100° to 200° C. and at a pressure in the range from about 1 to 40 atmospheres.

Claim 14

The method of claim 8 in which the reaction is conducted at a temperature in the range from about 120° to 160° C. and at a pressure in the range from about 1 to 10 atmospheres.

Claim 15

The method of claim 8 in which the average hydroxyl number of the aromatic polyol mixture is between about 100 and 300.

Claim 16

The method of claim 8 in which the catalyst employed is taken from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkali earth metal hydroxides and tertiary amines.

Claim 17

A rigid polyurethane foam obtained by reacting in the presence of a blowing agent and a catalyst of polyurethane formation, an organic polyisocyanate and a polyol blend comprising a. from about 5 to 100 percent by weight of a mixture of aromatic polyols having ester functionalities which is produced by reacting a polyethylene terephthalate residue containing ester functionalities with an alkylene oxide in the presence of a basic catalyst and b. from about 95 to 0 percent by weight of a nitrogen-containing polyol which is the reaction product from (1) reacting one mole of phenol or nonylphenol with one to two moles of diethanolamine to give a Mannich reaction product, and (2) subsequently reacting one mole of the Mannich reaction product with two to three moles of propylene oxide.

Claim 18

A rigid polyurethane foam obtained by reacting in the presence of a blowing agent and a catalyst of polyurethane formation, an organic polyisocyanate and a polyol blend comprising a. from about 5 to 100 percent by weight of a mixture of aromatic polyols having ester functionalities which is produced by reacting a polyethylene terephthalate residue containing ester functionalities with an alkylene oxide in the presence of a basic catalyst and b. from about 95 to 0 percent by weight of a nitrogen-containing polyol which is the reaction product from (1) reacting one mole of phenol or nonylphenol with one to two moles of diethanolamine to give a Mannich reaction product, and (2) subsequently reacting one mole of the Mannich reaction product with two to three moles of propylene oxide.

Claim 19

The rigid polyurethane foam of claim 15 in which the blowing agent is trichlorofluoromethane.

Claim 20

A rigid isocyanurate foam which is obtained by reacting in the presence of a blowing agent and a trimerization catalyst of polyisocyanurate formation, an organic polyisocyanate and a mixture of aromatic polyols having ester functionalities which is made by reacting a polyethylene terephthalate residue with an alkylene oxide in the presence of a basic catalyst.

Claim 21

A rigid isocyanurate foam which is obtained by reacting in the presence of a blowing agent and a trimerization catalyst of polyisocyanurate formation, an organic polyisocyanate and a mixture of aromatic polyols having ester functionalities which is made by reacting a polyethylene terephthalate residue with an alkylene oxide in the presence of a basic catalyst.

Claim 22

The rigid polyisocyanurate foam of claim 17 in which the blowing agent is trichlorofluoromethane.