PU catalyst, also known as polyurethane catalyst, is an auxiliary agent used to accelerate the reaction in the synthesis of polyurethane and its raw materials. The following is a detailed introduction about PU catalyst:
1. Definition
PU catalyst is a chemical additive designed to accelerate the polyurethane reaction, making it faster and more efficient.
2. Classification
PU catalysts are mainly divided into two categories:
Organic amine catalystMainly including aliphatic amines, cycloaliphatic amines, alcohol compound catalysts, and aromatic amines. These catalysts are common in the production of polyurethane foam, such as N, N-dimethylcyclohexylamine, bis (2-dimethylaminoethyl) ether, triethanolamine, etc.
Organometallic compound catalystMainly composed of organic metal salts, such as dibutyltin dilaurate (DY-12). This type of catalyst is commonly used in formulations such as polyurethane elastomers, adhesives, coatings, etc., and can effectively promote the reaction between isocyanate groups and hydroxyl groups.
3. Characteristics
catalytic activityPU catalyst can effectively reduce the activation energy of the reaction and increase the reaction rate.
selectivityDifferent types of PU catalysts have selective catalytic effects on different reaction stages in polyurethane synthesis.
stabilitySome PU catalysts, such as closed PU crosslinking catalysts, do not accelerate the reaction at room temperature, but can quickly exert catalytic effects under certain conditions.
4. Common varieties
In the production of polyurethane, commonly used PU catalyst varieties include DY-1 (dimethylaminoethyl ether), DY-5 (pentamethyldiethylenetriamine), DY-8 (dimethylcyclohexylamine), DY-12 (dibutyltin dilaurate), DY-20 (organic bismuth), DY-41 (triazine trimerization catalyst), etc.
5. Application Fields
PU catalysts are widely used in medical fields such as antibacterial surfaces and conduits, drug delivery carriers, stents, surgical dressings/pressure-sensitive adhesives, tissue engineering scaffolds, and electrospinning, as well as in the production of polyurethane foam (such as furniture, car seats, building materials, etc.).
6. Storage
PU catalysts should be stored in a dry and sealed manner, avoiding direct sunlight and high temperature environments to ensure their catalytic activity and stability.
7. Environmental Protection and Safety
With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, the environmental performance of PU catalysts is receiving more and more attention. Some new environmentally friendly catalysts, such as AUCAT-F2, have the characteristics of low VOC and no organic tin, which are more in line with environmental requirements. Meanwhile, when using PU catalysts, attention should be paid to safe operation to avoid harm to human health and the environment.
8. Development Trends
In the future, with the widespread application of polyurethane materials and continuous technological progress, PU catalysts will continue to develop towards high efficiency, environmental protection, and multifunctionality to meet the performance requirements of polyurethane materials in different fields.
