Catalytic Compositions

Abstract

The present invention provides a composition wherein a homo-polymer or copolymer of caprolactone has been produced by polymerising caprolactone, optionally with a co-monomer, in the presence of a polymerisation catalyst and an initiator, and the use of such a composition according for the manufacture of a polyurethane. The present invention further provides a process for the production of a homopolymer or a co-polymer of caprolactone comprising polymerising a composition comprising: (i) at least one caprolactone monomer and optionally a co-monomer; and (ii) a catalyst comprising (a) bismuth ethylhexanoate and ethylhexanoic acid, (b) bismuth ethylhexanoate and bismuth neodecanoate, or (c) zinc neodecanoate and zinc oxide.

1 . A composition wherein a homo-polymer or co-polymer of caprolactone has been produced by polymerising caprolactone, optionally with a co-monomer, in the presence of a polymerisation catalyst and an initiator.  
     
     
         2 . A composition comprising: 
 (i) at least one homo-polymer or at least one co-polymer of caprolactone; and    (ii) a catalyst comprising (a) bismuth ethylhexanoate and ethylhexanoic acid, (b) bismuth ethylhexanoate and bismuth neodecanoate, or (c) zinc neodecanoate and zinc oxide.    
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises (a) 75 to 95% by weight of bismuth ethylhexanoate and 5 to 25% by weight of ethylhexanoic acid, (b) 5 to 45% by weight of bismuth ethylhexanoate, 40 to 70% by weight of bismuth neodecanoate, and up to 16% by weight of ethylhexanoic acid and up to 30% by weight of neodecanoic acid, or (c) 75 to 95% by weight of zinc neodecanoate and 5 to 25% by weight of zinc oxide.  
     
     
         4 . A composition according to  claim 3 , wherein the catalyst comprises (a) about 90% by weight of bismuth ethylhexanoate and about 10% by weight of ethylhexanoic acid, (b) 5 to 20% by weight of bismuth ethylhexanoate, 40 to 55% by weight of bismuth neodecanoate, up to 1.6% by weight of ethylhexanoic acid and up to 30% by weight of neodecanoic acid, or (c) about 90% by weight of zinc neodecanoate and about 10% by weight of zinc oxide.  
     
     
         5 . A composition according to  claim 1 , comprising a homo-polymer or a co-polymer of caprolactone having an average molecular weight of 400 to 90000 and a polydispersity, measured by Gel Permeation Chromatography, of at least 1 and less than 2.  
     
     
         6 . The method of using a composition according to  claim 1 , for the manufacture of a polyurethane.  
     
     
         7 . A process for the manufacture of a polyurethane, comprising reacting the composition according to  claim 1  with an isocyanate and/or a polyisocyanate.  
     
     
         8 . A process for the production of a homo-polymer or a co-polymer of caprolactone comprising polymerising a composition comprising: 
 (i) at least one caprolactone monomer and optionally a co-monomer; and    (ii) a catalyst comprising (a) bismuth ethylhexanoate and ethylhexanoic acid, (b) bismuth ethylhexanoate and bismuth neodecanoate, or (c) zinc neodecanoate and zinc oxide.