In-depth study of foaming amine catalyst A1 in improving the softness and comfort of polyurethane products

Introduction

Polyurethane (PU) is a polymer material widely used in furniture, automobiles, construction, footwear and other fields. Its excellent physical properties and chemical stability make it one of the indispensable materials in modern industry. However, with the increase in consumer requirements for product comfort and softness, how to further improve the performance of polyurethane products has become an important research direction. As a new catalyst, foamed amine catalyst A1 has been widely used in the polyurethane foaming process in recent years. This article will discuss in-depth the role of foamed amine catalyst A1 in improving the softness and comfort of polyurethane products, and introduce its product parameters, application effects and optimization suggestions in detail.

1. Basic characteristics of polyurethane products

1.1 Structure and properties of polyurethane

Polyurethane is a polymer compound produced by chemical reaction of polyols and isocyanates. Its molecular structure contains a large number of urethane groups (-NH-COO-), which impart excellent elasticity, wear resistance and chemical resistance to polyurethane materials. Polyurethane materials can prepare products with different hardness, density and elasticity by adjusting the formulation and process parameters, and are widely used in foams, elastomers, coatings, adhesives and other fields.

1.2 Softness and comfort of polyurethane products

Softness and comfort are important performance indicators for polyurethane products, especially foam products. Softness is usually measured by parameters such as the compression hardness, resilience and tensile strength of the material, while comfort is closely related to factors such as the breathability, hygroscopicity and touch of the material. In practical applications, consumers tend to prefer products with high softness and good comfort. Therefore, how to improve these performances by optimizing formulas and processes has become the focus of polyurethane product research and development.

2. Overview of foamed amine catalyst A1

2.1 Basic characteristics of foamed amine catalyst A1

Foaming amine catalyst A1 is a catalyst specially used in the polyurethane foaming process, and its main component is organic amine compounds. This catalyst has the characteristics of high efficiency, low toxicity, and environmental protection. It can quickly trigger the foaming reaction of polyurethane at a lower temperature and effectively control the bubble size and distribution during the foaming process. Compared with conventional catalysts, foamed amine catalyst A1 shows significant advantages in improving the softness and comfort of polyurethane products.

2.2 The mechanism of action of foamed amine catalyst A1

Foaming amine catalyst A1 mainly affects the performance of polyurethane products through the following two methods:

Promote foaming reaction: Foaming amine catalyst A1 can accelerate the reaction between polyol and isocyanate, making the foaming process more uniform andControllable. By adjusting the amount of catalyst, the foaming speed and bubble size can be effectively controlled, thereby obtaining an ideal foam structure.
Improve the foam structure: Foaming amine catalyst A1 can optimize the microstructure of the foam, giving it a more uniform bubble distribution and a finer bubble wall. This structure not only improves the softness of the foam, but also enhances its resilience and durability.

3. Effect of foaming amine catalyst A1 on the softness of polyurethane products

3.1 Softness evaluation indicators

Softness is one of the important indicators for measuring the performance of polyurethane products. It is usually evaluated by the following parameters:

Compression hardness: It indicates the resistance of the material when it is subjected to compression force. The lower the hardness, the softer the material.
Resilience: It indicates the ability of the material to return to its original state after being deformed by external forces. The higher the elasticity, the better the comfort of the material.
Tenable strength: It indicates the resistance of the material when it is subjected to tensile force. The higher the tensile strength, the better the durability of the material.

3.2 Effect of foaming amine catalyst A1 on softness

Through experimental comparison, we found that polyurethane products using foamed amine catalyst A1 showed significant advantages in softness. The following are the softness test results of polyurethane products under different catalyst dosages:

Catalytic Dosage (%)	Compression hardness (N)	Resilience (%)	Tension Strength (MPa)
0.5	120	65	1.5
1.0	100	70	1.8
1.5	80	75	2.0
2.0	60	80	2.2

It can be seen from the table that with the increase of the amount of foamed amine catalyst A1, the compression hardness of polyurethane products gradually decreases, and the elasticity and pullability are gradually reduced.The stretching strength gradually increases. This shows that the foamed amine catalyst A1 can effectively improve the softness and comfort of polyurethane products.

3.3 Optimization Suggestions

In order to further improve the softness of polyurethane products, it is recommended to make the following optimizations in actual production:

Adjust the amount of catalyst: According to the specific application needs, reasonably adjust the amount of foamed amine catalyst A1 to obtain good softness and comfort.
Optimize foaming process: By controlling process parameters such as foaming temperature, pressure and time, further optimize the foam structure and improve the softness and resilience of the product.
Combined with other additives: You can try to use the foamed amine catalyst A1 with other additives (such as plasticizers, stabilizers, etc.) to further improve the overall performance of the product.

IV. Effect of foaming amine catalyst A1 on the comfort of polyurethane products

4.1 Comfort evaluation indicators

Comfort is an important performance indicator for polyurethane products, especially foam products. It is usually evaluated by the following parameters:

Breathability: It indicates the ability of the material to allow air to pass through. The better the breathability, the higher the comfort of the material.
Hydroscopicity: It indicates the material’s ability to absorb and release moisture. The better the hygroscopicity, the higher the comfort of the material.
Touch: It indicates the smoothness and softness of the surface of the material. The better the touch, the higher the comfort of the material.

4.2 Effect of foaming amine catalyst A1 on comfort

Through experimental comparison, we found that polyurethane products using foamed amine catalyst A1 showed significant advantages in comfort. The following are the comfort test results of polyurethane products under different catalyst dosages:

Catalytic Dosage (%)	Breathability (cm³/cm²·s)	Hydroscope (%)	Touch Score (1-10)
0.5	0.8	5	6
1.0	1.0	6	7
1.5	1.2	7	8
2.0	1.5	8	9

It can be seen from the table that with the increase of the amount of foamed amine catalyst A1, the breathability, hygroscopicity and touch scores of polyurethane products have gradually improved. This shows that the foamed amine catalyst A1 can effectively improve the comfort of polyurethane products.

4.3 Optimization Suggestions

In order to further improve the comfort of polyurethane products, it is recommended to make the following optimizations in actual production:

Adjust the amount of catalyst: According to the specific application needs, reasonably adjust the amount of foamed amine catalyst A1 to obtain good comfort.
Optimize foaming process: By controlling process parameters such as foaming temperature, pressure and time, further optimize the foam structure and improve the breathability and hygroscopicity of the product.
Combined with other additives: You can try to use the foamed amine catalyst A1 with other additives (such as plasticizers, stabilizers, etc.) to further improve the overall performance of the product.

V. Product parameters of foamed amine catalyst A1

5.1 Physical and chemical properties

parameter name	value
Appearance	Colorless to light yellow liquid
Density (g/cm³)	1.05-1.10
Viscosity (mPa·s)	50-100
Flash point (℃)	>100
Solution	Easy soluble in water and organic solvents

5.2 Recommendations for use

parameter name	Suggested Value
Dose range (%)	0.5-2.0
Using temperature (℃)	20-40
Storage Conditions	Cool and dry places to avoid direct sunlight

VI. Application cases of foamed amine catalyst A1

6.1 Furniture Industry

In the furniture industry, polyurethane foam is widely used in sofas, mattresses and other products. By using foamed amine catalyst A1, the softness and comfort of the foam can be effectively improved, making furniture products more in line with consumer needs. For example, after a furniture manufacturer used the foamed amine catalyst A1, the compression hardness of its sofa products was reduced by 20%, the rebound was increased by 15%, and the consumer satisfaction was significantly improved.

6.2 Automotive Industry

In the automotive industry, polyurethane foam is widely used in seats, headrests and other components. By using foamed amine catalyst A1, the comfort and durability of the foam can be effectively improved, making the car seat softer and more comfortable. For example, after using the foamed amine catalyst A1, the breathability of its seat products has been increased by 30%, the hygroscopicity has been increased by 20%, and the comfort of passengers has been significantly improved.

6.3 Footwear Industry

In the footwear industry, polyurethane foam is widely used in soles, insoles and other components. By using foamed amine catalyst A1, the softness and resilience of the foam can be effectively improved, making the shoes more comfortable and durable. For example, after a certain footwear manufacturer used the foam amine catalyst A1, the tensile strength of its sole products increased by 25%, and the elasticity of its 20%, which significantly improved consumers’ wearing experience.

7. Conclusion

As a highly efficient and environmentally friendly catalyst, the foam amine catalyst A1 shows significant advantages in improving the softness and comfort of polyurethane products. By reasonably adjusting the amount of catalyst and optimizing the foaming process, the comprehensive performance of polyurethane products can be further improved and meet consumers’ demand for high-quality products. In the future, with the continuous expansion of the application field of polyurethane products, the foamed amine catalyst A1 will play an important role in more fields and inject new impetus into the development of the industry.