US4638017A — Hydrophilic polyurethane/polyurea sponge

Claim 1

Independent Claim 28 words

A water-absorbing sponge comprising at least one of a sulfo- group containing polyurea and polyurethane, the polymer containing at least one sulfonate equivalent per 20,000 molecular weight units.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 28 words

A water-absorbing sponge comprising at least one of a sulfo- group containing polyurea and polyurethane, the polymer containing at least one sulfonate equivalent per 20,000 molecular weight units.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 174 words

The sponge according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of units having the formula ##STR9## wherein R is an organic group having a valence of 2, 3, or 4, selected from linear and branched aliphatic groups having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, 5- and 6-membered aliphatic and aromatic carbocyclic groups having 5 to 50 carbon atoms, R 1 is a linear aliphatic group having a valence of (b+1) consisting of a saturated chain of up to 110 carbon atoms in units of 2 to 12 --CH 2 -- groups which can be separated by individual oxygen atoms, ##STR10## groups, the aliphatic group having a molecular weight of up to 2000, wherein b is an integer of 1, 2, or 3; and R 2 has a valence of d+2 and is an arenepolyyl group (polyvalent arene group) having 6 to 20 carbon atoms or an alkanepolyyl (polyvalent alkane) group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein d is a number 1, 2, or 3, X is independenetly --O-- or --NH--, and M is a cation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 89 words

The sponge according to claim 2 further comprising a plurality of units selected from the group consisting of ##STR11## wherein R 3 is a linear or branched aliphatic group having 2 to 50 carbon atoms and a valence of c in which c is a number having a value of 2 to 5, the group optionally containing 1 to 20 of at least one of nonperoxidic oxygen atom, ##STR12## groups or R 3 is a 5- or 6-membered cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group having 5 to 20 carbon atoms.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 70 words

A sponge comprising the reaction product of a symmetric isocyanate-terminated sulfopolyurethane comprising in its backbone 1) linear, branched, or cyclioaliphatic organic groups, 2) linear aliphatic ether groups, 3) a central arenepolyyl or alkanepolyyl group containing a pendant sulfonate group, and is end-capped with isocyanate groups, and coreactants which include at least one of 1) water, 2) a polyol plus a blowing agent, and 3) a polyamine plus a blowing agent.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 70 words

A sponge comprising the reaction product of a symmetric isocyanate-terminated sulfopolyurethane comprising in its backbone 1) linear, branched, or cyclioaliphatic organic groups, 2) linear aliphatic ether groups, 3) a central arenepolyyl or alkanepolyyl group containing a pendant sulfonate group, and is end-capped with isocyanate groups, and coreactants which include at least one of 1) water, 2) a polyol plus a blowing agent, and 3) a polyamine plus a blowing agent.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 205 words

A sponge comprising the reaction product of (a) an isocyanate-terminated sulfopolyurethane having the formula ##STR13## wherein R is an organic group having a valence of (a +1) selected from linear and branched groups having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, 5- and 6-membered carbocyclic groups having 5 to 50 carbon atoms; a is a number having a value of 1, 2 or 3; R 1 is a linear aliphatic group having a valence of (b +1) consisting of a saturated chain of up to 110 carbon atoms in units of 2 to 12 --CH 2 -- groups which can be separated by individual oxygen atoms, ##STR14## groups, the aliphatic group having a molecular weight of up to 2000, wherein b is an integer of 1, 2, or 3; R 2 has a valence of d+2 and is an arenepolyyl group (polyvalent arene group) having 6 to 20 carbon atoms or an alkanepolyyl (polyvalent alkane) group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and d is a number having a value 1, 2, or 3, X is independently -O- or -NH-, M is a cation, and (b) a compound selected from the group consisting of (1) water, and (2) a polyol or a polyamine plus a blowing agent.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 205 words

A sponge comprising the reaction product of (a) an isocyanate-terminated sulfopolyurethane having the formula ##STR13## wherein R is an organic group having a valence of (a +1) selected from linear and branched groups having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, 5- and 6-membered carbocyclic groups having 5 to 50 carbon atoms; a is a number having a value of 1, 2 or 3; R 1 is a linear aliphatic group having a valence of (b +1) consisting of a saturated chain of up to 110 carbon atoms in units of 2 to 12 --CH 2 -- groups which can be separated by individual oxygen atoms, ##STR14## groups, the aliphatic group having a molecular weight of up to 2000, wherein b is an integer of 1, 2, or 3; R 2 has a valence of d+2 and is an arenepolyyl group (polyvalent arene group) having 6 to 20 carbon atoms or an alkanepolyyl (polyvalent alkane) group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and d is a number having a value 1, 2, or 3, X is independently -O- or -NH-, M is a cation, and (b) a compound selected from the group consisting of (1) water, and (2) a polyol or a polyamine plus a blowing agent.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

The sponge according to claim 1 having an absorptive capacity of 10 to 50 grams of water per gram of dry sponge.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The sponge according to claim 1 having a rate of water absorption of 0.001 to 0.04 g/cm 2 /5 sec.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

The sponge according to claim 1 having a density in the range of 0.01 to 0.4 g/cm 3 .

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

The sponge according to claim 1 having a percentage volumetric swell in water of 25 to 50%.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

The sponge according to claim 1 having a percentage volumetric swell in water of less than 30%.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The sponge according to claim 2 wherein M is H, an alkali or alkaline earth metal cation, or a primary, secondary, tertiary, or quaternary ammonium cation.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

The sponge according to claim 1 further comprising adjuvants selected from the class consisting of fibers, fillers, deodorants, medicinals, and insecticides.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 204 words

A method of preparing a sponge-like article comprising the steps of (a) coreacting (1) an isocyanate-terminated sulfopolyurethane having the formula ##STR15## wherein R is an organic group having a valence of 2, 3, or 4, and is selected from linear and branched groups having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, 5- and 6-membered carbocyclic groups having 5 to 50 carbon atoms, R 1 is a linear aliphatic group having a valence of (b+1) consisting of a saturated chain of up to 110 carbon atoms in units of 2 to 12 --CH 2 -- groups which can be separated by individual oxygen atoms, ##STR16## groups, the aliphatic group having a molecular weight of up to 2000, wherein b is an integer of 1, 2, or 3; and R 2 has a valence of d+2 is an arenepolyl group (polyvalent arene group) having 6 to 20 carbon atoms or an alkanepolyyl (polyvalent alkane) group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein d is a number 1, 2, or 3; X is independenetly --O-- or --NH--, and M is a cation; (2) at least one of (a) water, and (b) at least one of a polyol or polyamine plus a blowing agent, and (b) isolating the resulting sponge.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 204 words

A method of preparing a sponge-like article comprising the steps of (a) coreacting (1) an isocyanate-terminated sulfopolyurethane having the formula ##STR15## wherein R is an organic group having a valence of 2, 3, or 4, and is selected from linear and branched groups having 2 to 12 carbon atoms, 5- and 6-membered carbocyclic groups having 5 to 50 carbon atoms, R 1 is a linear aliphatic group having a valence of (b+1) consisting of a saturated chain of up to 110 carbon atoms in units of 2 to 12 --CH 2 -- groups which can be separated by individual oxygen atoms, ##STR16## groups, the aliphatic group having a molecular weight of up to 2000, wherein b is an integer of 1, 2, or 3; and R 2 has a valence of d+2 is an arenepolyl group (polyvalent arene group) having 6 to 20 carbon atoms or an alkanepolyyl (polyvalent alkane) group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein d is a number 1, 2, or 3; X is independenetly --O-- or --NH--, and M is a cation; (2) at least one of (a) water, and (b) at least one of a polyol or polyamine plus a blowing agent, and (b) isolating the resulting sponge.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 95 words

The method according to claim 13 wherein said polyol or polyamine has the formulas R 3 (OH) c and R 3 (NH 2 ) c wherein R 3 is a linear or branched aliphatic group having 2 to 50 carbon atoms and a valence of c in which c is a number having a value of 2 to 5, the group optionally containing 1 to 20 of at least one of nonperoxidic oxygen atom, ##STR17## groups, or R 3 is a 5- or 6-membered cycloaliphatic group or aromatic group having 5 to 20 carbon atoms.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 60 words

A method of absorbing a liquid comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sponge comprising at least one of a sulfogroup-containing polyurea and polyurethane, the polymer containing at least one sulfonate equivalent per 20,000 molecular weight units, (b) contacting said sponge to said liquid for a time sufficient for said sponge to absorb all or a portion of said liquid.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 60 words

A method of absorbing a liquid comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sponge comprising at least one of a sulfogroup-containing polyurea and polyurethane, the polymer containing at least one sulfonate equivalent per 20,000 molecular weight units, (b) contacting said sponge to said liquid for a time sufficient for said sponge to absorb all or a portion of said liquid.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-01-19	1990-07-21	1991-01-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-01-19	1994-07-21	1995-01-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-01-19	1998-07-21	1999-01-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hydrophilic polyurethane/polyurea sponge

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