FOAM EXPANSION AGENT COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING HYDROHALOOLEFIN BUTENE AND WATER AND THEIR USES IN THE PREPARATION OF POLYURETHANE AND POLYISOCYANURATE POLYMER FOAMS
A foam expansion agent composition is disclosed that includes water and a hydrohaloolefin of the formula CF 3 CX═CHY, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl and F, and Y is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, F, CF 3 and CF 2 CF 3 . Also disclosed is a foam-forming composition that includes the foam expansion agent composition of this disclosure and an active hydrogen-containing compound having two or more active hydrogens. Also disclosed is a closed-cell polyurethane or polyisocyanurate polymer foam prepared from reaction of an effective amount of the foam-forming composition of this disclosure and a suitable polyisocyanate. Also disclosed is a process for producing a closed-cell polyurethane or polyisocyanurate polymer foam. The process involves reacting an effective amount of the foam-forming composition of this disclosure and a suitable polyisocyanate. Also disclosed is a process for using the closed-cell polyurethane or polyisocyanurate polymer foam of this disclosure. The process involves using such polymer foam at a temperature of no more than about the normal boiling point of the hydrohaloolefin which is used in the preparation of such polymer foam.
1 . A foam expansion agent composition comprising:
(a) a hydrohaloolefin of the formula CF 3 CX═CHY, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl and F, and Y is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, F, CF 3 and CF 2 CF 3 ; and
(b) water.
2 . The foam expansion agent composition of claim 1 wherein said hydrohaloolefin is selected from the group consisting of CF 3 CH═CHF, CF 3 CH═CHCF 3 , CF 3 CH═CHCF 2 CF 3 , CF 3 CH═CHCl, CF 3 CCl═CH 2 and CF 3 CF═CH 2 .
3 . The foam expansion agent composition of claim 2 wherein said hydrohaloolefin is Z—CF 3 CH═CHCF 3 .
4 . The foam expansion agent composition of claim 3 wherein the amount of water in said foam expansion agent composition is at least 12 mole %.
5 . The foam expansion agent composition of claim 3 wherein the amount of water in said foam expansion agent composition is at least 30 mole %.
6 . The foam expansion agent composition of claim 3 wherein the amount of water in said foam expansion agent composition is at least 47 mole %.
7 . A foam-forming composition comprising:
(a) the foam expansion agent composition of claim 1 ; and
(b) an active hydrogen-containing compound having two or more active hydrogens.
8 . The foam-forming composition of claim 7 wherein said hydrohaloolefin is Z—CF 3 CH═CHCF 3 .
9 . The foam-forming composition of claim 8 wherein said active hydrogen-containing compound is a polyol.
10 . The foam-forming composition of claim 9 wherein said active hydrogen-containing compound is a polyether polyol.
11 . A closed-cell polyurethane or polyisocyanurate polymer foam prepared from reaction of an effective amount of the foam-forming composition of claim 7 with a suitable polyisocyanate.
12 . The closed-cell polyurethane or polyisocyanurate polymer foam of claim 11 wherein said hydrohaloolefin is Z—CF 3 CH═CHCF 3 .
13 . The closed-cell polyurethane or polyisocyanurate polymer foam of claim 12 wherein said polymer foam has an initial R-value greater than 6.0 ft 2 -hr-° F./BTU-in at about 23.9° C.
14 . A process comprising using the closed-cell polyurethane or polyisocyanurate polymer foam of claim 11 at a temperature of no more than about the normal boiling point of said hydrohaloolefin.
15 . A process for producing a closed-cell polyurethane or polyisocyanurate polymer foam comprising: reacting an effective amount of the foam-forming composition of claim 7 with a suitable polyisocyanate.