Adding trichlorofluoromethane to polyether resin accelerates the reaction between the resin and toluene diisocyanate. This accelerated reaction instantaneously produces a plastic foam of low density and uniform porosity needed to provide buoyancy for flotation recovery of instrument packages dropped into the sea from spacecraft

Look, G. F.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

September 1965
	 Brief 65-10288 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued by the Technology Utilization Division to summarize specific 
technical innovations derived from the space program. Copies are available to the public from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia, 22151. 
Organic Reactants Rapidly Produce Plastic Foam 
The problem: Accelerating the reaction between a 
polyether resin and toluene diisocyanate to produce a 
plastic foam of low density and uniform porosity. The 
reaction must proceed rapidly to completion when the 
reactants are brought into physical contact. Bulky 
mixing equipment could not be used. Instantaneous 
production of the plastic foam was required to pro-
vide buoyancy for flotation recovery of instrument 
packages dropped into the sea from spacecraft. 
The solution: The speed of the reaction between the 
organic reactants is significantly increased by adding 
sufficient trichlorofluoromethane to the polyether 
resin to reduce the viscosity of the resin solution to a 
value close to that of the diisocyan ate. 
How it's done: The basic resin solution is prepared 
by mixing 155 ml of trichlorofluoromethane with 400 
ml of a sorbitol base polyether resin. To this solution 
are also added 3 grams of triethylene diamine and 2 
grams of dibutyltin dilaurate as initiating catalysts, 
and 2 grams of a silicone as a stabilizer. The final solu-
tion is stored in one container. A second container, 
separated from the first by a rupturable diaphragm, is 
filled with 320 ml of toluene diisocyanate (80% by vol-
ume of the 2,4 isomer and 20% by volume of the 2,6
isomer). The plastic foam produced when the dia-
phragm between the containers is ruptured occupies a 
volume approximately 30 times that of the reactants. 
Notes: 
I. The plastic foam generator is described in NASA 
Tech Brief B65-10090, April 1965. 
2. Inquires concerning this invention may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Langley Research Center 
Langley Station 
Hampton, Virginia, 23365 
Reference: B65-10288 
Patent status: NASA encourages the immediate 
commercial use of this invention. It is owned by 
NASA, and a patent application has been filed. When 
patented, royalty-free non-exclusive licenses for its 
commercial use will be available. Inquiries concerning 
license rights should be made to NASA, Code AGP, 
Washington, D.C., 20546.
Source: George F. Look 
(Langley-37) 
Category 03 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States 	 will be free from privately owned rights.
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Organic reactants rapidly produce plastic foam

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