The invention relates to a foamed isocyanate-based polymer derived from a
reaction mixture comprising an isocyanate, an active hydrogen-containing
compound, a blowing agent and a highly branched polysaccharide which is
derivatized to provide a hydrophobicity which renders it compatible with
a polyether polyol with which the underivatized polysaccharide is
incompatible. Further the invention relates to a mix and a process for
the production of isocyanate-based polymer. The mix for the production of
a foamed isocyanate-based polymer comprises a mixture of the derivatized
polysaccharide of the invention and an active hydrogen-containing
compound. The process for producing a foamed isocyanate-based polymer
comprises the steps of: contacting an isocyanate, an active
hydrogen-containing compound, a derivatized highly branched
polysaccharide and a blowing agent to form a reaction mixture and
expanding the reaction mixture to produce the foamed isocyanate-based
polymer. The derivatized highly branched polysaccharide of the invention
has an active hydrogen functionality of at least 15 and comprises
randomly bonded glucopyranose units, having an average number of 10-100
glucose residues.