AbstractPoly(ethylene ether carbonate) polyols are the reaction products of alkylene carbonates or alkylene oxides and CO2with alcoholic initiators. These polyols can be modified with aliphatic hydroxyl compounds by transesterification reactions. The modifier becomes chemically bound into the polymer during reaction and modifies the properties of the polyol. The extent of reaction is very easy to follow by size exclusion chromatography. Molecular weight is controlled by the molecular weight of the reactants and by their stoichiometry. This transesterification process is compared to the previously described transesterification/advancement process. The transesterification process has the advantage of using milder temperature conditions and runs at ambient pressures. Therefore, modifiers can be used in the transesterification process that are unstable or undergo different chemistry under the reaction conditions of the transesterification/advancement process. Although the modifiers used in the transesterification/advancement process must be less volatile than DEG, more volatile modifiers can be used in the transesterification process. The two processes compliment each other, allowing the preparation of a wide variety of modified poly(ethylene ether carbonate) polyols. These polyols are useful in polyurethane applications.
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