DMSO as solvent on the synthesis of flame-retardant polyether polyols: DMSO as solvent on the synthesis of flame-retardant polyether polyols

Polyether polyols with flame-retardant properties are synthesized using glycerol phosphate disodium salt as an initiator and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a solvent. The molecular weight of the polyol decreased when higher solvent to initiator ratios were used, revealing that a larger amount of salt was activated. In addition, the larger the amount of activated salt was, the higher the percentage of phosphorous was in the final polyol. Glycerol phosphate disodium salt was still partially insoluble in the studied proportions of DMSO. Thus, the recovery and reuse of this part of the salt for the synthesis of new flame-retardant polyols were evaluated. The recovered salt promoted a shorter induction period because it presented a larger amount of deprotonated hydroxyl groups. In addition, there were no differences between both synthesized polyols, indicating that it is possible to use the recovered salt in the same way as it is used commercially with the advantage of a shorter induction period for polymerization. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47042.