Importance

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Abstract

A hydrophilic polyol having a molecular weight of less than about 4500 and comprising ethylene oxide units and alkylene oxide units selected from propylene oxide, butylene oxide and mixtures thereof in a weight ratio of ethylene oxide units to alkylene oxide units in the range of from about 95:5 to about 60:40, the polyol having a secondary hydroxyl content of at least about 80% based on the total hydroxyl content of the polyol. A process for producing the hydrophilic polyol is also described. The process comprises the steps of: (i) contacting an initiator polyol with a first alkylene oxide stream comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide and mixtures thereof to produce a polyol reactant, the initiator polyol having a molecular weight of less than about 500 and consisting essentially of ethylene oxide and an initiator compound; and (ii) contacting the polyol reactant with a second alkylene oxide stream comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting propylene oxide, butylene oxide and mixtures thereof to produce the hydrophilic polyol. The amount of ethylene oxide and other alkylene oxide used in Steps (i) and (ii) is sufficient to provide a hydrophilic polyol having a weight ratio of ethylene oxide to other alkylene oxide of from about 95:5 to about 60:40 and a molecular weight of less than about 4500. The hydrophilic polyol may be used advantageously to produce a hydrophilic polyurethane foam, more particularly a hydrophilic superabsorbent polyurethane foam.

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First Claim