摘要:
Low molecular weight polyoxyalkylene polyether polyols having a hydroxyl content of from about 3.4 to about 12.1% by weight, and OH numbers of from about 112 to about 400 are produced by a continuous process using a DMC catalyst. In the process of the present invention, oxyalkylation conditions are established in a continuous reactor in the presence of a DMC catalyst; alkylene oxide and a low molecular weight starter are continuously introduced into the continuous reactor; a partially oxyalkylated polyether polyol is recovered from the reactor; and the recovered partially oxyalkylated polyether polyol is allowed to further reactor until the unreacted alkylene oxide content of the mixture is reduced to 0.001% or less by weight. The alkoxylation of the present invention must be carried out a pressure sufficiently high to prevent deactivation of the DMC catalyst. Pressures of from 45 to 55 psia are preferred.