High-strength black polyurethane articles

Abstract

Black polyurethane foams that exhibit higher strength black colorations without the need for concomitant increases in black colorants therein are provided. Such a resultant jetter black foam article is possible through the unexpectedly effective introduction of small amounts of certain toner compounds or combinations that exhibit specific measurable appearance characteristics. Such toners exhibit at least one absorption peak within a specific range of wavelengths (e.g., from about 560 to 610 nm) and specific ranges of half-height bandwidths (from 40 to 130 nm). Furthermore, such a compound or combination of compounds, is preferably liquid in nature (at room temperature) or in dispersion form and may thus be easily incorporated within target polyurethane precursor compositions for admixture with either black pigments (or dispersions thereof), black polymeric (liquid) colorants, or both. Methods of high strength black polyurethane foam production as well as separate pigmented and liquid polymeric colored foams of such type including the necessary toner compounds and/or combinations, as noted above, are also encompassed within this invention.

1 . A black-colored polyurethane article comprising at least one black coloring agent and at least one toner compound exhibiting at least one absorption peak and a λ max  between 560 and 610 nm within said polyurethane article; and wherein said at least one toner compound exhibits a half-height bandwidth range of between 40 and 130 nm in relation to said at least one absorption peak.  
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said at least one toner compound exhibits a half-height bandwidth of at most 120 nm in relation to said at least one absorption peak.  
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2  wherein said at least one toner compound is selected from the group consisting of at least one polymeric colorant, at least one pigment, at least one pigment dispersion, at least one dye, and any mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3  wherein said at least one toner compound is a polymeric colorant.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said at least one black coloring agent is selected from the group consisting of at least one black pigment, a black polymeric colorant combination, at least one black dye, and any mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 2  wherein said at least one black coloring agent is selected from the group consisting of at least one black pigment, a black polymeric colorant combination, at least one black dye, and any mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 3  wherein said at least one black coloring agent is selected from the group consisting of at least one black pigment, a black polymeric colorant combination, at least one black dye, and any mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 4  wherein said at least one black coloring agent is selected from the group consisting of at least one black pigment, a black polymeric colorant combination, at least one black dye, and any mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A black-colored polyurethane article comprising at least one black coloring agent and a toner combination of compounds that comprises a first compound exhibiting a single absorption peak and a λ max  between 560 and 575 nm and a second compound exhibiting a single absorption peak and a λ max  between 576 and 610 nm.  
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9  wherein said toner combination includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a polymeric colorant, a pigment, a pigment dispersion, a dye, and any mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 9  wherein said at least one black coloring agent is selected from the group consisting of at least one black pigment, a black polymeric colorant combination, at least one black dye, and any mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 10  wherein said at least one black coloring agent is selected from the group consisting of at least one black pigment, a black polymeric colorant combination, at least one black dye, and any mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         13 . A method of producing a black polyurethane article comprising the steps of a) providing a polyol composition; 
 b) providing an isocyanate composition; wherein at least one of the compositions of steps    “a” and “b” comprises a black colorant formulation comprising at least one toner compound exhibiting at least one absorption peak and a λ max  between 560 and 610 nm within said polyurethane article; and wherein said at least one toner compound exhibits a half-height bandwidth range of between 40 and 130 nm in relation to said at least one absorption peak; and    c) reacting all of the compositions from steps “a” and “b” together in the presence of a suitable catalyst to produce said polyurethane article.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said at least one toner compound exhibits a half-height bandwidth of at most 120 nm in relation to said at least one absorption peak.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said at least one toner compound is selected from the group consisting of at least one polymeric colorant, at least one pigment, at least one pigment dispersion, at least one dye, and any mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said at least one toner compound is a polymeric colorant.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said at least one black coloring agent is selected from the group consisting of at least one black pigment, a black polymeric colorant combination, at least one black dye, and any mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A method of producing a black polyurethane article comprising the steps of 
 c) providing a polyol composition;    d) providing an isocyanate composition; wherein at least one of the compositions of steps    “a” and “b” comprises a black colorant formulation comprising a toner combination of compounds that comprises a first compound exhibiting a single absorption peak and a λ max  between 560 and 575 nm and a second compound exhibiting a single absorption peak and a λ max  between 576 and 610 nm; and    c) reacting all of the compositions from steps “a” and “b” together in the presence of a suitable catalyst to produce said polyurethane article.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said toner combination includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a polymeric colorant, a pigment, a pigment dispersion, a dye, and any mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said at least one black coloring agent is selected from the group consisting of at least one black pigment, a black polymeric colorant combination, at least one black dye, and any mixtures thereof.