| abstract |
The present invention provides polyurethane foams and elastomers made from alkoxylated vegetable oil hydroxylates that replace at least some of the petroleum derived polyol (s) typically used. Also provided are methods of making the foams and elastomers of the invention and methods of making alkoxylated vegetable oil hydroxylates. Alkoxylated vegetable oil hydroxylates are environmentally friendly bio-based polyols, which also advantageously offer enhanced hydrophobic potential for polyurethane foams and elastomers. The polyurethane foams and elastomers of the invention can find use in a wide variety of products such as automotive interior parts, polyurethane structural foams, floor coatings and athletic jogging tracks.n n n Polyurethane foams and elastomers, non-vegetable base polyols, alkoxylated vegetable oil hydroxylates, polyisocyanates, double metal cyanide (DMC) catalysts |