Copolymers of tetrahydrofuran, ethylene oxide and an additional cyclic ether

Abstract

A copolymer with recurring constituent units derived by polymerizing tetrahydrofuran, ethylene oxide and at least one additional cyclic ether that can be substituted or unsubstituted that decreases the hydrophilicity imparted to the copolymer by the ethylene oxide.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
     
     
         9 . A polyurethane polymer comprising the reaction product of at least one organic polyisocyanate compound and a copolymer glycol comprising constituent units derived by copolymerizing ethylene oxide, tetrahydrofuran and at least one additional cyclic ether.  
     
     
         10 . The polyurethane polymer of  claim 9 , wherein the additional cyclic ether is represented by the structure  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where  
         R is a C1 to C5 alkyl or substituted alkyl group,  
         n is an integer of value 3 to 4 or 6 to 9, and  
         m is zero or 1, except that when n=4, m is 1, and does not include 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran.  
       
     
     
         11 . The polyurethane polymer of  claim 9 , wherein the additional cyclic ether is selected from the group consisting of oxetane, methyl-oxetane, dimethyl-oxetane, 3-methyl-tetrahydrofuran, 3-ethyl-tetrahydrofuran, oxepane, oxocane, oxonane, and oxecane.  
     
     
         12 . The polyurethane polymer of  claim 9 , wherein the additional cyclic ether is selected from the group consisting of 3,4-dimethyl-tetrahydrofuran and perfluoroalkyl-oxirane.  
     
     
         13 . A filament of spandex, comprising the polyurethane polymer of  claim 9 .  
     
     
         14 . A filament of spandex, comprising the polyurethane polymer of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         15 . A filament of spandex, comprising the polyurethane polymer of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         16 . A filament of spandex, comprising the polyurethane polymer of  claim 12.