Process for making ethylene oxide-capped polyols from double metal cyanide-catalyzed polyols

Claim 2

A process for making an ethylene oxide-capped polyol, said process comprising: (a) blending a first polyether polyol that contains an active double metal cyanide catalyst with a second polyether polyol that contains a basic catalyst; and (b) reacting the resulting polyol blend with ethylene oxide to produce the ethylene oxide-capped polyol; wherein the polyol blend contains from about 0.05 to about 2 wt. % of the basic catalyst.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the first polyol is selected from the group consisting of polyoxypropylene polyols and random copolymers of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein the first polyol contains a zinc hexacyanocobaltate catalyst.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein the second polyol contains an alkali metal hydroxide catalyst.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein the polyol blend contains from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of the first polyol and from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of the second polyol.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1 wherein the polyol blend contains from about 30 to about 70 wt. % of the first polyol and from about 30 to about 70 wt. % of the second polyol.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 wherein the amount of ethylene oxide used in step (b) is within the range of about 5 to about 30 wt. % based on the amount of ethylene oxide-capped polyol.

Claim 9

The process of claim 1 wherein the ethylene oxide-capped polyol has at least about 50% primary hydroxyl end groups.

Claim 10

The process of claim 1 wherein the ethylene oxide-capped polyol has at least about 70% primary hydroxyl end groups.

Claim 11

A process for making an ethylene oxide-capped polyol, said process comprising: (a) blending a first polyether polyol that contains an active zinc hexacyanocobaltate catalyst with a second polyether polyol that contains an alkali metal hydroxide catalyst; and (b) reacting the resulting polyol blend with ethylene oxide to produce the ethylene oxide-capped polyol; wherein the polyol blend contains from about 0.05 to about 2 wt. % of the alkali metal hydroxide catalyst.

Claim 12

A process for making an ethylene oxide-capped polyol, said process comprising: (a) blending a first polyether polyol that contains an active zinc hexacyanocobaltate catalyst with a second polyether polyol that contains an alkali metal hydroxide catalyst; and (b) reacting the resulting polyol blend with ethylene oxide to produce the ethylene oxide-capped polyol; wherein the polyol blend contains from about 0.05 to about 2 wt. % of the alkali metal hydroxide catalyst.

Claim 13

The process of claim 10 wherein the first polyol is selected from the group consisting of polyoxypropylene polyols and random copolymers of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide.

Claim 14

The process of claim 10 wherein the second polyol contains a potassium hydroxide catalyst.

Claim 15

The process of claim 10 wherein the polyol blend contains from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of the first polyol and from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of the second polyol.

Claim 16

The process of claim 10 wherein the polyol blend contains from about 30 to about 70 wt. % of the first polyol and from about 30 to about 70 wt. % of the second polyol.

Claim 17

The process of claim 10 wherein the amount of ethylene oxide used in step (b) is within the range of about 5 to about 30 wt. % based on the amount of ethylene oxide-capped polyol.

Claim 18

The process of claim 10 wherein the ethylene oxide-capped polyol has at least about 50% primary hydroxyl end groups.

Claim 19

The process of claim 10 wherein the ethylene oxide-capped polyol has at least about 70% primary hydroxyl end groups.

Claim 20

A process for making an ethylene oxide-capped polyol, said process comprising: (a) blending a first polyether polyol that contains an active zinc hexacyanocobaltate catalyst with a second polyether polyol that contains an alkali metal hydroxide catalyst; and (b) reacting the resulting polyol blend with ethylene oxide to produce the ethylene oxide-capped polyol; wherein the polyol blend contains from about 0.05 to about 2 wt. % of the alkali metal hydroxide catalyst; wherein the first polyol is selected from the group consisting of polyoxypropylene polyols and random copolymers of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide; wherein the polyol blend contains from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of the first polyol and from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of the second polyol; wherein the amount of ethylene oxide used in step (b) is within the range of about 5 to about 30 wt. % based on the amount of ethylene oxide-capped polyol; and wherein the ethylene oxide-capped polyol has at least about 70% primary hydroxyl end groups.

Claim 21

A process for making an ethylene oxide-capped polyol, said process comprising: (a) blending a first polyether polyol that contains an active zinc hexacyanocobaltate catalyst with a second polyether polyol that contains an alkali metal hydroxide catalyst; and (b) reacting the resulting polyol blend with ethylene oxide to produce the ethylene oxide-capped polyol; wherein the polyol blend contains from about 0.05 to about 2 wt. % of the alkali metal hydroxide catalyst; wherein the first polyol is selected from the group consisting of polyoxypropylene polyols and random copolymers of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide; wherein the polyol blend contains from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of the first polyol and from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of the second polyol; wherein the amount of ethylene oxide used in step (b) is within the range of about 5 to about 30 wt. % based on the amount of ethylene oxide-capped polyol; and wherein the ethylene oxide-capped polyol has at least about 70% primary hydroxyl end groups.