CATALYST FOR RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF ALKYLENE OXIDE, METHOD FOR PREPARATION THEREOF AND USE THEREOF

摘要

A resilient polyurethane foam produced by using a polyether polyol produced by reacting alkylene oxides with a polyhydroxy compound having at least 2 hydroxyl groups as an initiator in the presence of the catalyst for alkylene oxide ring-opening polymerization of the present invention, is excellent in foam physical properties, vibration characteristics and molding properties. The crushing property of a sheet cushion having a large size and a complicated shape will significantly be improved while maintaining comfortableness of the sheet cushion to sit on. Accordingly, a resilient polyurethane foam useful as a sheet cushion for vehicles, particularly for automobiles, can be provided. The present invention provides a catalyst for alkylene oxide ring-opening polymerization, which comprises a double metal cyanide complex obtained by having mono-tert-butyl ether of mono (or di or tri)ethylene glycol as an organic ligand coordinated to a reaction product obtained by reacting a metal halide with an alkali metal cyanometalate, in an aqueous medium. The present invention further provides a method for producing a resilient polyurethane foam, which comprises subjecting alkylene oxides including an alkylene oxide having a carbon number of at least 3, to ring-opening polymerization with a polyhydroxy compound having from 2 to 8 hydroxyl groups as an initiator in the presence of said catalyst for alkylene oxide ring-opening polymerization, and then reacting a polyether polyol having from 2 to 8 hydroxyl groups, a hydroxyl number of from 5 to 38 mgKOH/g and an oxyethylene group content of from 5 to 30 wt% and obtained by ring-opening polymerization of ethylene oxide in the presence of an alkali catalyst, with an isocyanate group-containing low molecular weight compound in the presence of a foaming agent.