This invention relates to polysulfide polyols, their production and use. There is a growing market demand for high-temperature stable polyurethane (PU) materials, in particular high-temperature stable PU rigid foams for pipe insulation. It is known to use mineral wool, which is thermally stable due to its inorganic nature, for pipe insulation. However, mineral wool has poor pipe insulation properties. On the other hand, PU-based foams show good insulation properties, but they have problems to guarantee a service life of 10 to 30 years at 190 °C and more, as the urethane bond slowly degrades at such temperatures. Isocyanurate-modified foams show improved thermal stability, but are still not sufficiently stable and possess poor flow properties in the molds. A higher cross-linking density by utilitzing higher functional polyols is not feasible due to poor flow properties in the molds. In addition, higher PIR content in the foam increases the brittleness, reducing the adhesion of the foam to the pipe and pipe cover materi- als. Thus, there remains a need for polyols that can be used for the production of PU-based rigid foams which are sufficiently thermally stable to be used as pipe-insulation materials.

A solution for this problem could be the introduction of sulfide bonds into polyols. DD 299 187 A5 describes a process for the production of sulfur-containing organo-silicium compounds. EP 0 466 066 A1 discloses a process for production of certain oligosulfides, and US 6,21 1 ,345 B1 describes the synthesis of cyclic sulfur silanes.

US 3,499,863 describes the synthesis of sulfur-containing polyols. However, the process disclosed in this document starts from halogen alkanes and sodium salts for sulfur containing compounds, rather than from elemental sulfur and unsaturated alcohols as starting materials. This has the disadvantage that sodium salts (sodium halides as well as unreacted sodium precursors) have to be separated off after the reaction, leading to a tedious work-up procedure. In addition, the resulting products usually contain higher amounts of halide based impurities which is often disadvantageous. In summary, there is no disclosure of a process for the production of sulfur-containing polyols by direct conversion of double bonds with elemental sulfur. Thus, the problem to be solved was to provide a convenient process for the production of polyols which could be used as starting materials for highly thermally stable polyurethanes. Surprisingly, the inventors have found a process that solves the above problem.

The object of the present invention therefore is a process for the production of sulfur-containing polyols by reaction of at least one unsaturated alcohol A with elemental sulfur. In one embodiment of the inventive process, there is only one unsaturated alcohol A. In another embodiment of the inventive process, a mixture of at least two unsaturated alcohols A is used.

Definitions In the context of this disclosure, the term "polyol" refers to an organic compound having at least two alcohol groups per molecule. In the context of the present invention, the term "unsaturated compound" means an organic compound having at least one unsaturated carbon-carbon bond. In a preferred embodiment of the inventive process, the sulfur-containing polyol has a viscosity of less than 10 Pa ^* s at 25 °C, as determined according to DIN (German industry norm) ISO 2555.

The elemental sulfur may be used in solid or in liquid form.

In a preferred embodiment, the inventive process is performed neat, i. e. no solvent is used in addition to the at least one unsaturated alcohol A and the sulfur. However, it is possible to use at least one solvent. When a solvent is used, the solvent preferably has a boiling point of at least 120 °C; furthermore, the solvent preferably contains no sulfur.

Examples of solvents that may be used in the inventive process include DMF, xylene and me- sitylene. Also high-boiling alcohols and ethers, for example diglyme, may be used.

It is also possible to add at least one amine compound to the reaction mixture, for example eth- anolamine. However, it is preferred not to add an amine.

It is not necessary to work up the reaction mixture after the end of the reaction, for example before using the product [mixture] for the production of polyurethanes. However, the reaction mixture may also be worked up after the end of the reaction by separating off unreacted sulfur. This may be done by mechanical separation, for example by precipitation and filtration.

The inventors have shown by ¹ H-NMR experiments that the reaction runs almost quantitatively, i. e. more than 99 % of the unsaturated alcohols A, based on the double-bond equivalents, are reacted with sulfur.

The inventive process for the production of sulfur-containing polyols by reaction of at least one unsaturated alcohol A with elemental sulfur provides a product mixture, containing, inter alia, monosulfides, disulfides, trisulfides and tetrasulfides. In spite of the content of sulfur, the inventive products do not smell unpleasant. On the contrary, some of the inventive products, when, for example, derived from citronellol as unsaturated alcohol A, even smell rather pleasant.

The inventive products may be used for the production of polyurethanes, in particular rigid foam polyurethanes. Thus, a further object of the present invention is a process for the production of polyurethanes, in particular rigid foam polyurethanes, by reaction of at least one inventive sulfur-containing polyol with at least one isocyanate, optionally in the presence of a blowing agent. Further objects of the present invention is also a process for the production of polyurethanes, in particular rigid foam polyurethanes, by reaction of at least one inventive sulfur-containing polyol with at least one unsaturated polyol and with at least one isocyanate, optionally in the presence of a blowing agent, and a process for the production of polyurethanes, in particular rigid foam polyurethanes, by reaction of at least one inventive sulfur-containing polyol with at least one unsaturated polyol and with at least one isocyanate, in the presence of a vulcanization catalyst and optionally in the presence of a blowing agent. Typical vulcanization catalysts, also referred to as vulcanization accelerators, are benzothiazols, thiuramdisulfides, dithiocarbamates, guani- dines, thioureas. They are added to the polyol blend in amounts between 0.25 and 5 w% based on the total weight of the polyol blend. Typical vulcanization activators are Zinc salts of fatty acids or blends of Zinc oxide and fatty acids. They are added to the polyol blend in amounts between 0.25 and 5 w% based on the total weight of the polyol blend. An overview about accelerators and activators and their catalyzing mechanism as well as the reactions occuring during the polysulfide polyol synthesis as well as during the post-curing in the PU product is given in: Kautschuktechnologie, F. Rothemeyer and F. Sommer, Hanser Verlag, 2001 , Munchen,Wien and the references therein. Further vulcanization accelators which can be used, alone or in combination, in the present invention include:

• Thiazoles, for example:

o 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (CAS #: 149-30-4)

o Dibenzothiazole disulfide (CAS #: 120-78-5)

o 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole Zinc salt (CAS #: 155-04-4)

• Sulphenamides, for example:

o N-Cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide (CAS #: 95-33-0)

o N-Oxydienthylene-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide (CAS #: 102-77-2)

o N-tert-butyl-2-benzothiazyl sulfenamide (CAS #: 95-31 -8)

• Guanidines, for example:

o Diphenyl guanidine (CAS #: 102-06-7)

o Di-o-tolylguanidine (CAS #: 97-39-2)

• Thiurams, for example:

o Tetramethyl thiuram disulfide (CAS #: 137-26-8)

o Tetraethyl thiuram disulfide (CAS #: 97-77-8)

o Tetramethyl thiuram monosulfide (CAS #: 97-74-5)

o Isobutyl thiuram disulfide (CAS #: 3064-73-1 )

o Tetrabenzylthiuram disulfide (CAS #: 10591 -85-2)

o Dipentamethylene thiuramtetrasulfide (CAS #: 120-54-7)

• Dithiocarbamates, for example:

o Zinc dimethyl dithiocarbamate (CAS #: 137-30-4) o Zinc diethyl dithiocarbamate (CAS #: 14324-55-1 )

o Zinc dibutyl dithiocarbamate (CAS #: 136-23-2)

o Zinc N-ethyl-dithiocarbamate (CAS #: 14634-93-6)

o Zinc dibenzyl dithiocarbamate (CAS #: 14726-36-4)

o Copper dimethyl dithiocarbamate (CAS #: 137-29-1 )

• Thioureas, for example:

o Ethylene thiourea (CAS #: 96-45-7)

o Ν,Ν'-Diethylthiourea (CAS #: 105-55-5)

o N-N'-Diphenylthiourea (CAS #: 102-08-9)

In a preferred embodiment of the inventive process for the production of polyurethanes, an addi tional step of post-curing is performed.

"Post-curing", in the context of this disclosure, refers to a prolonged thermal exposure to ensure a certain amount of reaction between the polysulfide polyol and the unsaturated polyol within the rigid foam. If the post-curing is performed before the application then post-curing is defined as storage of the PU at ambient humidity or dry conditions for 30min to 14 days (preferably 1 -3 days) at 130-220°C (preferably 160-190°C). The PU can also be submitted to more than one post-curing treatment, if desired. The post-curing leads presumably to an additional crosslinking in the PU. The improvement of mechanical properties of the PU vary with varying post-curing conditions.

Thus, the inventive products can be used as high-temperature stable PU rigid foams, in particular for pipe insulation. Examples

Sulfur-containing polyols were synthesized as follows.

The OH number was determined in accordance with DIN 53240 (DIN = "deutsche Industri- enorm", German industry norm).

Example 1 :

Reaction of Oleic Alcohol with elemental Sulfur

In a 250 mL standard glass stirring apparatus, elemental sulfur (20.5 g, 0.08 mol) and oleic alcohol (43.0 g, 0.16 mol) are dissolved in 50 mL DMF. Then the suspension is heated to 140 °C. At 120 °C the reaction mixture became a homogeneous solution.

After 16 hours quantitative conversion of the alcohol was shown (reaction control via ¹ H-NMR). The reaction mixture was cooled down to ambient temperature, then 200 mL methylene chloride and 200 mL water were added. The mixture was stirred for 15 min, then 2 spoons of celite were added and the mixture was filtered via suction filtration (glass fritt, (Por. 3)). The filtrate was transferred into a separation funnel, the lower organic phase was separated and all volatiles were removed via a rotary evaporator (60 °C bath temperature, 1 mbar) to afford a viscous dark reddish oil with small crystals. In order to remove non reacted sulfur from the mixture, the oil was dissolved in 150 mL MTBE and filtered over celite. The filtrate was collected and all volatiles were removed (70 °C, 0,1 mbar) to afford the product as a dark reddish oil (59 g).

Analytical Data:

Elemental Analysis: found: C 56.3%, O 4.6%, H 9.5%, S 29.1 %.

OH-Number: 134 mg KOH/ g

Example 2:

Reaction of Citronellol with elemental Sulfur:

In a 500 mL standard glass stirring apparatus, elemental sulfur (82.1 g, 0.32 mol) was suspended in citronellol (100 g, 0.59 mol). Then the suspension was stirred at 140 °C.

After 18 hours quantitative conversion of the alcohol was shown (reaction control via ¹ H-NMR). The reaction mixture was cooled down to ambient temperature.

In order to remove non reacted sulfur from the mixture, the oil was dissolved in 450 mL MTBE and filtered over celite (3 spoons). The filtrate was collected and all volatiles were removed (70 °C, 0,1 mbar) to afford the product as a dark reddish, viscous oil (152 g).

Analytical Data:

Elemental Analysis: found: C 46.2%, O 6.6%, H 7.7%, S 40.2%.

OH-Number: 177 mg KOH/ g

Example 3:

Reaction of 10-Undecen-1 -ol with elemental Sulfur:

In a 500 mL standard glass stirring apparatus, elemental sulfur (74.4 g, 0.29 mol) was suspended in citronellol (100 g, 0.59 mol). Then the suspension was stirred at 140 °C.

After 1 1 hours quantitative conversion of the alcohol was shown (reaction control via ¹ H-NMR). The reaction mixture was cooled down to ambient temperature.

In order to remove non reacted sulfur from the mixture, the oil was dissolved in 450 mL MTBE and filtered over celite (3 spoons). The filter cake was washed with THF (3 x 100 mL). The filtrates were combined and all volatiles were removed (70 °C, 0,1 mbar) to afford the product as a dark brown, viscous oil (61 g).

Analytical Data:

Elemental Analysis: found: C 50.1 %, O 6.8%, H 8.5%, S 35%.

Furthermore, foaming tests were done with mixtures containing sulfur-containing polyols, as well as with mixtures not containing sulfur-containing polyols. All compression strengths are average values (standardized to density, determined geometrically) from three measurements. (Alle Druckfestigkeiten sind dichte-normierte, geometrisch gemit- telte Mittelwerte aus drei Messungen.)

Substances that were used:

Krasol LBH-P 2000: polybutadiene diol, fn=1 .9, OH no. = 51

Tetraethylene glycol: fn=2, OH no. = 577

Polythio-dipropyl-diol: fn=2, OH no. = 595

Sovermol 1 102: biobased ether-ester polyol, fn=2.1 , OH no. = 227

Polysulfide from Undecenole: fn=2, OH no. = 238

Zinc stearate: vulcanization activator

Tetramethyl thiuram disulfide: vulcanization catalyst/ -accelerator

Results: table 1

Comp.

Comp. 1 Exp. 1 2 Exp. 2

Other polyols 78 78 78 78

Krasol LBH-P 2000 10 10 10 10 Zinc stearate 1 1 1 1

Tetramethyl-thiuram-disulfide 1 1 1 1

Tetraethylenglykol 10

Polythio-dipropyl-diol 10

Sovermol 1 102 10

Polysulfide from undecenol 10 mixture of catalysts 2 2 2 2

Water 1 ,5 1 ,5 1 ,5 1 ,5

Cyclopentane, 95% 6,5 7,5 7 6,5

PMDI 253 254 228 228

NCO-index 310 310 310 310 free-rise-density (g/l) 54,6 54,8 54,3 54,3

Foamed to cubes in a closed form with Oberpackungs- faktor 1 .15

Compression strength of fresh foam, N/mm ² 0,31 0,32 0,30 0,29

Compression strength after thermal stress, 48h at 190°C,

N/mm ² 0,28 0,36 0,30 0,32 growth after tempering, N/mm ² : -0,03 0,04 0,00 0,03 pressure-E-module fresh foam, N/mm ² 9,00 8,00 7,60 7,70

Pressure-E-module after thermal stress, 48 h at 190°C,

N/mm ² 9,00 8,70 8,00 8,50 growth after tempering, N/mm ² :