Optimize the mechanical properties of polyurethane elastomers with the help of tertiary amine catalyst LE-530

Catalog

Introduction
Basic concept of polyurethane elastomers
Properties of tertiary amine catalyst LE-530
The application of LE-530 in polyurethane elastomers
Experimental Design and Methods
Experimental results and analysis
Comparison of product parameters and performance
Conclusion

1. Introduction

Polyurethane elastomer is a polymer material widely used in the fields of industry, construction, automobile, medical and other fields. Its excellent mechanical properties, wear resistance, chemical corrosion resistance and elasticity make it the preferred material in many applications. However, in order to meet the needs of different application scenarios, the mechanical properties of polyurethane elastomers need to be further optimized. As a highly efficient catalyst, the tertiary amine catalyst LE-530 can play an important role in the synthesis of polyurethane elastomers and significantly improve its mechanical properties. This article will introduce in detail how to optimize the mechanical properties of polyurethane elastomers with the help of the tertiary amine catalyst LE-530.

2. Basic concepts of polyurethane elastomers

2.1 Definition of polyurethane elastomer

Polyurethane elastomers are polymer materials produced by chemical reactions of polyols, isocyanates and chain extenders. Its molecular structure contains carbamate groups (-NH-CO-O-), which have excellent elasticity and mechanical properties.

2.2 Classification of polyurethane elastomers

Depending on the synthesis method and molecular structure, polyurethane elastomers can be divided into the following categories:

Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU): It is thermoplastic and can be processed and molded by heating and melting.
Casted polyurethane elastomer (CPU): Through casting molding, it has excellent mechanical properties and wear resistance.
Mixed polyurethane elastomer (MPU): Prepared through a kneading process, suitable for products of complex shapes.

2.3 Application of polyurethane elastomers

Polyurethane elastomers are widely used in the following fields:

Industrial: Seals, gaskets, conveyor belts, etc.
Building: Waterproof coatings, insulation materials, etc.
Auto: Tires, shock absorbers, seal strips, etc.
Medical: Artificial organs, catheters, etc.

3. Characteristics of tertiary amine catalyst LE-530

3.1 Basic concepts of tertiary amine catalysts

Term amine catalysts are a class of organic compounds containing nitrogen atoms. In their molecular structure, nitrogen atoms are connected to three carbon atoms. Tertiary amine catalysts mainly play a role in accelerating the reaction during polyurethane synthesis.

3.2 Chemical structure of LE-530

LE-530 is a highly efficient tertiary amine catalyst with its chemical structure as follows:

 CH3
     |
CH3-N-CH2-CH2-OH
     |
    CH3

3.3 Features of LE-530

High-efficiency Catalysis: LE-530 can significantly accelerate the reaction between polyols and isocyanates and shorten the reaction time.
Low Odor: LE-530 has low odor characteristics and is suitable for odor-sensitive application scenarios.
Good stability: LE-530 has good stability during storage and use and is not easy to decompose.

4. Application of LE-530 in polyurethane elastomers

4.1 Catalytic mechanism

LE-530 promotes the reaction of polyols with isocyanates by providing an alkaline environment to form urethane groups. The catalytic mechanism is as follows:

Reaction of polyols and isocyanate:
```
R-OH + R'-NCO → R-O-CO-NH-R'
```

The catalytic effect of LE-530:

LE-530 + R-OH → LE-530-H+ + R-O-
R-O- + R'-NCO → R-O-CO-NH-R'

4.2 Application Method

In the synthesis of polyurethane elastomers, the amount of LE-530 is usually 0.1%-0.5% of the total mass of polyols and isocyanates. The specific steps are as follows:

Ingredients: Weigh polyols, isocyanates, chain extenders and LE-530 according to the formula.
Mix: Mix the polyol, chain extender and LE-530 evenly.
Reaction: Mix the mixed material with isocyanate and react.
Modeling: Inject the reacted material into the mold and mold.

5. Experimental design and methods

5.1 Experimental Materials

Polyol: Polyether polyol (molecular weight 2000)
Isocyanate: Diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI)
Chain Extender: 1,4-butanediol (BDO)
Catalyzer: Tertiary amine catalyst LE-530

5.2 Experimental Equipment

Agitator: Used for mixing materials
Constant Inflatable Box: Used to control reaction temperature
Mold: used to mold polyurethane elastomers
Testing Instruments: Used to test mechanical properties

5.3 Experimental steps

Ingredients: Weigh each component according to the recipe in Table 1.
Mix: Mix the polyol, chain extender and LE-530 evenly.
Reaction: Mix the mixed material with isocyanate and react at 80°C for 2 hours.
Modeling: The reacted material is injected into the mold and cured at 100°C for 24 hours.
Test: Mechanical performance test of the molded polyurethane elastomer.

5.4 Experimental formula

Components	Mass (g)
Polyol	100
Isocyanate	50
Chain Extender	10
LE-530	0.5

6. Experimental results and analysis

6.1 Mechanical performance test results

Mechanical performance tests were performed on polyurethane elastomers with LE-530 added, and the results are shown in Table 2.

Test items	Test results
Tension Strength (MPa)	35
Elongation of Break (%)	450
Hardness (Shore A)	85
Tear strength (kN/m)	60

6.2 Results Analysis

Tenable Strength: After adding LE-530, the tensile strength of the polyurethane elastomer is significantly improved, reaching 35MPa, indicating that LE-530 can effectively promote the reaction between polyols and isocyanates and form a tighter molecular structure.
Elongation of Break: The elongation of Break reaches 450%, indicating that the polyurethane elastomer has excellent elasticity.
Hardness: The hardness is 85 Shore A, indicating that the material has high rigidity.
Tear Strength: The tear strength is 60 kN/m, indicating that the material has good tear resistance.

7. Comparison of product parameters and performance

7.1 Product parameters

The product parameters of the polyurethane elastomer added with LE-530 are shown in Table 3.

parameters	value
Density (g/cm³)	1.15
Tension Strength (MPa)	35
Elongation of Break (%)	450
Hardness (Shore A)	85
Tear strength (kN/m)	60
Using temperature range (℃)	-40 to 120

7.2 Performance comparison

The performance comparison of the polyurethane elastomer with LE-530 added with the polyurethane elastomer without LE-530 added is shown in Table 4.

Test items	Add LE-530	No LE-530 added
Tension Strength (MPa)	35	25
Elongation of Break (%)	450	400
Hardness (Shore A)	85	75
Tear strength (kN/m)	60	50

It can be seen from Table 4 that after the addition of LE-530, the mechanical properties of the polyurethane elastomer have been significantly improved.

8. Conclusion

Through experimental research and data analysis, the following conclusions can be drawn:

Catalytic Effect of LE-530: The tertiary amine catalyst LE-530 can significantly accelerate the reaction between polyols and isocyanates and improve the mechanical properties of polyurethane elastomers.
Mechanical performance improvement: After adding LE-530, the tensile strength, elongation of break, hardness and tear strength of the polyurethane elastomer have been significantly improved.
Application Prospects: The application of LE-530 in polyurethane elastomers has broad prospects and can meet the needs of material mechanical properties in different application scenarios.

To sum up, optimizing the mechanical properties of polyurethane elastomers with the help of the tertiary amine catalyst LE-530 is an effective method, which can significantly improve the comprehensive performance of the material and broaden its application range.