Use of Real-time FTIR to Characterize Kinetics of Amine Catalysts and to Develop New Grades for Various Polyurethane Applications, Including Low Emission Catalysts

Abstract

The use of in situ Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) to follow PU reaction kinetics has been studied using a heated probe matching the PU material temperature. The results obtained show that, although not giving access to concentration of formed chemical bonds, the technique is a unique tool to assess subtle differences in catalysts behavior during actual PU formation, going beyond the currently used but restrictive characterization of catalysts in terms of gelling, blowing or trimerization grades. Examples of the use of the technique for the development of new amine catalysts are given for flexible and rigid foams. For flexible foams, it is shown that FTIR characterizes the gel potency in good agreement with the behavior of known gel catalyst molecules and is therefore a good tool to develop new ones. Results comparing gel strength and foam emission data show that several experimental grades have potential to be brought on the JEFFCAT® Catalyst range. They also confirmed the good performance of commercial low emission grades such as JEFFCAT® ZF-10 as blow catalyst and JEFFCAT® ZR-50, DPA and Z-130 as gel catalysts. For rigid foams, it is shown that FTIR provides good insight into the extent of trimer formation and is therefore the technique of choice to optimize catalyst blends for best fire performance and processing.

A Study of the Reaction Kinetics of Polyisocyanurate Foam Formulations using Real-time FTIR

“…Previous studies utilizing fiber optic FTIR to monitor the reaction products of rigid polyurethane (PUR/PIR) foam for appliance manufacture has demonstrated that significant levels of isocyanurate were not detected at low (borderline) indexes (130-140) [10]. The influence of catalyst combinations on isocyanurate generation in PIR formulations has been monitored successfully by in situ FTIR [11]. It has been shown that along increasing index (200, 300, 500) the catalyst system of potassium octoate with JEFFCAT Õ1 Z-110 Catalyst demonstrates 1 JEFFCAT Õ and RUBINATE Õ are registered trademarks of Huntsman LLC in one or more, but not all, countries.…”

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Cyclic Amine Catalysed Urethane Formation

“…Therefore, much research aimed at studying their catalytic effect on polyurethane formation by using both theoretical and kinetic methods [11][12][13]. Thus, the catalytic process and selectivity in many cases are well understood [14].…”

“…Tertiary-amine-containing structures are usually used as catalysts in polyurethane reactions [ 11 ]. Therefore, much research aimed at studying their catalytic effect on polyurethane formation by using both theoretical and kinetic methods [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Thus, the catalytic process and selectivity in many cases are well understood [ 14 ].…”

Copper-amine complex solution as a low-emission catalyst for flexible polyurethane foam preparation

“…N,N-Dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCHA) and tetramethylethylenediamine showed moderate activity between the gelling and the blowing reactions. For the development of new amine catalysts for FPUR foams, polyurethane reaction kinetics was followed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)-programmed cell to match the foam core temperature profile, which had a similar condition to the actual FPUR foam processing (4). Single catalysts and catalyst mixtures of commercially available amines were evaluated for FPUR preparation (5).…”