NIAX Polyurethane Catalyst: One of the key technologies to promote the development of green chemistry

Introduction

Polyurethane (PU) is an important polymer material and is widely used in many fields such as construction, automobile, furniture, home appliances, coatings, adhesives, etc. Its excellent physical properties, chemical resistance and processability make it an indispensable part of modern industry. However, the catalysts and processes used in the traditional polyurethane production process are often accompanied by problems such as high energy consumption and high pollution, which seriously restricts the sustainable development of the industry. With the global emphasis on environmental protection and resource conservation, the concept of green chemistry has gradually become popular, promoting the innovation and development of polyurethane catalyst technology.

NIAX polyurethane catalyst, as a highly efficient and environmentally friendly catalyst under Dow Chemical Company, shows significant advantages in the polyurethane synthesis process with its unique chemical structure and excellent catalytic properties. This catalyst can not only improve reaction efficiency and shorten production cycles, but also effectively reduce the generation of by-products and reduce the negative impact on the environment. Therefore, NIAX polyurethane catalyst has become one of the key technologies to promote the development of green chemistry and has received widespread attention and application.

This article will deeply explore the chemical structure, mechanism of action, product parameters, application fields and its important role in green chemistry of NIAX polyurethane catalysts, and analyze its future development trends based on new research results at home and abroad. Through systematic research and analysis, we aim to provide scientific basis and technical support for the polyurethane industry and promote the further development of green chemistry.

Chemical structure and classification of NIAX polyurethane catalyst

NIAX polyurethane catalyst mainly consists of organometallic compounds, amine compounds and their derivatives, and has a complex chemical structure. According to its chemical composition and mechanism of action, NIAX catalysts can be divided into the following categories:

  1. Organotin Catalyst: This type of catalyst is one of the commonly used polyurethane catalysts, mainly including dilaurite dibutyltin (DBTL), sin cinia (T9), etc. They accelerate the crosslinking reaction of polyurethane by reacting with isocyanate groups (-NCO) and hydroxyl groups (-OH). The advantages of organic tin catalysts are high catalytic efficiency and fast reaction speed, but the disadvantage is that they are highly toxic and have certain harm to the environment.

  2. Amine Catalyst: Amine catalysts mainly include tertiary amine compounds, such as triethylamine (TEA), dimethylamine (DMAE), etc. They promote chain growth of polyurethane by reacting with isocyanate groups. The advantage of amine catalysts is that they have good reaction selectivity and can effectively control the reaction rate, but they are prone to bubbles, affecting the appearance quality of the product.

  3. Dual-function catalyst: This type of catalyst has the characteristics of amine and tin catalysts at the same time, and can play different roles in different reaction stages. For example, the NIAX C series catalyst developed by Dow Chemical Company contains both amine and tin components, which can quickly start the reaction at the beginning of the reaction, and later adjust the reaction rate through amine components to ensure the uniformity and stability of the product sex.

  4. Non-metallic catalysts: In recent years, with the increase in environmental protection requirements, researchers have begun to explore the application of non-metallic catalysts. This type of catalyst mainly includes metal compounds such as organic zinc and organic bismuth, as well as some new organic catalysts. They have low toxicity and good environmental friendliness, and have gradually become a hot topic in the research of polyurethane catalysts.

Chemical Structural Characteristics

The chemical structure of the NIAX polyurethane catalyst is designed to improve its catalytic efficiency and selectivity while reducing its impact on the environment. The following are the chemical structural characteristics of several typical catalysts:

  • Dilaur dibutyltin (DBTL): The molecular structure of this catalyst contains two butyltin groups and two lauryl groups. Butyltin groups can form stable coordination bonds with isocyanate groups to promote the progress of the reaction; while laurel groups can improve the solubility and dispersion of the catalyst to ensure uniform distribution in the reaction system.

  • Triethylamine (TEA): Triethylamine is a typical tertiary amine catalyst with three ethyl substituents in its molecular structure. These substituents can enhance the basicity of the amine group, making it easier to react with isocyanate groups, thereby accelerating the chain growth of the polyurethane.

  • NIAX C Series Catalyst: The molecular structure of this catalyst contains both amine and tin components. The amine component can form hydrogen bonds with isocyanate groups to promote the progress of the reaction; while the tin component can accelerate the reaction between isocyanate groups and hydroxyl groups through coordination to ensure the efficient progress of the reaction.

Molecular formula and molecular weight

To more intuitively demonstrate the chemical structure of NIAX polyurethane catalysts, the following table lists the molecular formulas and molecular weights of several common catalysts:

Catalytic Name Molecular Formula Molecular weight (g/mol)
Dilaur dibutyltin C₂₈H₅₆O₄Sn 602.25
Shinyasin C₁₆H₃₁O₂Sn 387.03
Triethylamine C₆H₁₅N 101.19
Dimethylamine C₄H₁₁NO 99.14
NIAX C-80 C₁₈H₃₇N₂O₃S 379.57

The mechanism of action of NIAX polyurethane catalyst

The mechanism of action of the NIAX polyurethane catalyst is mainly reflected in its promotion effect on the polyurethane synthesis reaction. The synthesis of polyurethanes usually involves the reaction between isocyanate (-NCO) and polyol (-OH) to form a aminomethyl ester (-NHCOO-) bond. This reaction process can be divided into the following steps:

  1. Initial reaction stage: In the early stage of the reaction, the catalyst reduces its reaction activation energy by forming coordination bonds or hydrogen bonds with isocyanate groups, thereby accelerating the isocyanate groups and polyols reaction. For organotin catalysts, tin atoms can form stable coordination bonds with isocyanate groups to promote their reaction with hydroxyl groups; while for amine catalysts, amine groups can form hydrogen bonds with isocyanate groups to promote their Reaction with hydroxyl groups.

  2. Channel Growth Stage: As the reaction progresses, the polyurethane molecular chains gradually grow. At this time, the function of the catalyst is mainly to regulate the reaction rate and ensure the smooth progress of the reaction. Due to its strong alkalinity, amine catalysts can effectively promote the reaction between isocyanate groups and hydroxyl groups, thereby accelerating chain growth. Organotin catalysts stabilize the intermediate through coordination and prevent side reactions from occurring.

  3. Crosslinking reaction stage: When the polyurethane molecular chain reaches a certain length, the catalyst will cause a crosslinking reaction between the molecular chains to form a three-dimensional network structure. The organic tin catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic properties at this stage, which can effectively promote the cross-linking reaction between isocyanate groups and polyols, and form a high-strength polyurethane material.

  4. Terminate reaction stage: In the post-stage of the reaction, the action of the catalyst is to ensure that the reaction is carried out completely and avoid the residue of unreacted isocyanate groups. Due to its strong alkalinity, amine catalysts can effectively consume the remaining isocyanate groups to ensure the complete completion of the reaction.

Reaction Kinetics

In order to better understand the mechanism of action of NIAX polyurethane catalyst, the researchers experimentally studied its kinetic effects on polyurethane synthesis reaction. Studies have shown that the addition of catalyst can significantly reduce the activation energy of the reaction and speed up the reaction rate. Specifically, the organotin catalyst is able to reduce the activation energy of the reaction from about 100 kJ/mol to about 60 kJ/mol, while the amine catalyst is able to reduce the activation energy of the reaction from about 80 kJ/mol to about 50 kJ. /mol. This shows that the addition of catalyst can not only accelerate the reaction, but also improve the selectivity of the reaction and reduce the generation of by-products.

Reaction path

According to literature reports, the action path of NIAX polyurethane catalyst can be summarized into the following steps:

  1. Interaction between catalyst and isocyanate group: The catalyst binds to the isocyanate group through coordination bonds or hydrogen bonds, reducing its reaction activation energy.
  2. Reaction of isocyanate groups and hydroxyl groups: Under the action of a catalyst, isocyanate groups react with hydroxyl groups to form aminomethyl ester bonds.
  3. chain growth: As the reaction progresses, the polyurethane molecular chains gradually grow to form linear or branched polymers.
  4. Crosslinking reaction: With the promotion of the catalyst, a crosslinking reaction occurs between the molecular chains to form a three-dimensional network structure.
  5. Terminate the reaction: The catalyst ensures that the reaction is carried out completely and avoids the residue of unreacted isocyanate groups.

Product parameters of NIAX polyurethane catalyst

NIAX polyurethane catalysts are available in a variety of models and specifications, suitable for different application scenarios. The following are the main product parameters of several common NIAX catalysts for readers’ reference.

1. NIAX C-80

  • Chemical composition: Bifunctional catalyst, containing amines and tin components
  • Appearance: Colorless to light yellow transparent liquid
  • Density: 1.05 g/cm³ (25°C)
  • Viscosity: 50 mPa·s (25°C)
  • Active ingredient content: ≥95%
  • Scope of application: soft foam, rigid foam, coating, adhesive
  • Recommended Dosage: 0.1%-0.5% (based on polyol weight)

2. NIAX T-9

  • Chemical composition: Sinia
  • Appearance: Colorless to light yellow transparent liquid
  • Density: 1.10 g/cm³ (25°C)
  • Viscosity: 100 mPa·s (25°C)
  • Active ingredient content: ≥98%
  • Scope of application: hard foam, coating, adhesive
  • Recommended Dosage: 0.1%-0.3% (based on polyol weight)

3. NIAX T-12

  • Chemical composition: Dilaurel dibutyltin
  • Appearance: Colorless to light yellow transparent liquid
  • Density: 1.08 g/cm³ (25°C)
  • Viscosity: 80 mPa·s (25°C)
  • Active ingredient content: ≥98%
  • Scope of application: soft foam, rigid foam, coating, adhesive
  • RecommendedQuantity: 0.1%-0.5% (based on the weight of polyol)

4. NIAX A-1

  • Chemical composition: Triethylamine
  • Appearance: Colorless to light yellow transparent liquid
  • Density: 0.86 g/cm³ (25°C)
  • Viscosity: 1.5 mPa·s (25°C)
  • Active ingredient content: ≥99%
  • Scope of application: soft foam, coating, adhesive
  • Recommended Dosage: 0.1%-0.3% (based on polyol weight)

5. NIAX B-8

  • Chemical composition: Dimethylamine
  • Appearance: Colorless to light yellow transparent liquid
  • Density: 0.92 g/cm³ (25°C)
  • Viscosity: 5 mPa·s (25°C)
  • Active ingredient content: ≥98%
  • Scope of application: soft foam, coating, adhesive
  • Recommended Dosage: 0.1%-0.3% (based on polyol weight)

Product parameter comparison table

To compare different models of NIAX polyurethane catalysts more intuitively, the following table lists their main parameters:

Model Chemical composition Appearance Density (g/cm³) Viscosity (mPa·s) Active ingredient content (%) Scope of application Recommended dosage (%)
C-80 Dual-function catalyst Colorless to light yellow 1.05 50 ≥95 Soft foam, rigid foam, coatings, adhesives 0.1-0.5
T-9 Shinyasin Colorless to light yellow 1.10 100 ≥98 Rigid foam, coatings, adhesives 0.1-0.3
T-12 Dilaur dibutyltin Colorless to light yellow 1.08 80 ≥98 Soft foam, rigid foam, coatings, adhesives 0.1-0.5
A-1 Triethylamine Colorless to light yellow 0.86 1.5 ≥99 Soft foam, coating, adhesive 0.1-0.3
B-8 Dimethylamine Colorless to light yellow 0.92 5 ≥98 Soft foam, coating, adhesive 0.1-0.3

Application fields of NIAX polyurethane catalyst

NIAX polyurethane catalysts are widely used in many fields, especially in the production process of polyurethane foams, coatings, adhesives, elastomers and other products. The following is a detailed introduction to its main application areas:

1. Polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam is one of the important application areas of NIAX catalysts. Depending on its density and hardness, polyurethane foam can be divided into soft foam and rigid foam. Soft foam is mainly used in furniture, mattresses, car seats and other fields, while rigid foam is widely used in building materials, refrigerator insulation layers, pipeline insulation and other fields.

  • Soft Foam: NIAX C-80 and NIAX A-1 are commonly used catalysts in the production of soft foams. The C-80 catalyst has dual functional characteristics, which can quickly start the reaction at the beginning of the reaction, and later adjust the reaction rate through amine components to ensure the uniformity and stability of the foam. The A-1 catalyst can effectively promote the reaction between isocyanate groups and polyols, accelerate the foaming process, and shorten the production cycle.

  • Rigid Foam: NIAX T-9 and NIAX T-12 are commonly used catalysts in the production of rigid foams. The T-9 catalyst has a high catalytic efficiency and can effectively promote the cross-linking reaction between isocyanate groups and polyols to form high-strength rigid foam. The T-12 catalyst can maintain good catalytic performance under low temperature conditions and is suitable for the production of hard foam in low temperature environments such as cold storage and refrigeration trucks.

2. Polyurethane coating

Polyurethane coatings have excellent weather resistance, wear resistance and chemical resistance, and are widely used in automobiles, ships, bridges, construction and other fields. The application of NIAX catalysts in polyurethane coatings can significantly improve the adhesion, hardness and gloss of the coating.

  • Two-component polyurethane coatings: NIAX C-80 and NIAX A-1 are commonly used catalysts in two-component polyurethane coatings. The C-80 catalyst can effectively promote the reaction of isocyanate groups with polyols, ensuring rapid curing of the coating. The A-1 catalyst can adjust the reaction rate to avoid premature curing of the coating and affecting the construction effect.

  • Single-component polyurethane coating: NIAX B-8 is a commonly used catalyst in single-component polyurethane coatings. The B-8 catalyst can slowly release active ingredients in humid environments, delay the curing time of the coating and ensure the convenience of construction. At the same time, it can effectively promote the reaction of isocyanate groups with water, generate carbon dioxide gas, form microporous structures, and enhance the breathability and weather resistance of the coating.

3. Polyurethane adhesive

Polyurethane adhesives have excellent bonding strength and durability, and are widely used in bonding of various materials such as wood, metal, plastic, glass, etc. The application of NIAX catalysts in polyurethane adhesives can significantly improve the bonding speed and bonding strength.

  • Two-component polyurethane adhesives: NIAX C-80 and NIAX T-9 are commonly used catalysts in two-component polyurethane adhesives. The C-80 catalyst can effectively promote the reaction between isocyanate groups and polyols, ensuring rapid curing of the adhesive. The T-9 catalyst can maintain good catalytic performance under low temperature conditions and is suitable for bonding operations in cold environments.

  • Single-component polyurethane adhesive: NIAX B-8 is a commonly used catalyst in single-component polyurethane adhesive. The B-8 catalyst can slowly release active ingredients in humid environments, delay the curing time of the adhesive and ensure the convenience of construction. At the same time, it can also effectively promote the reaction of isocyanate groups with water, generate carbon dioxide gas, and enhance the expansion and sealing properties of the adhesive.

4. Polyurethane elastomer

Polyurethane elastomers have excellent elasticity and wear resistance, and are widely used in soles, tires, conveyor belts, seals and other fields. The application of NIAX catalysts in polyurethane elastomers can significantly improve the mechanical properties and durability of materials.

  • Casted polyurethane elastomers: NIAX T-12 and NIAX A-1 are commonly used catalysts in casted polyurethane elastomers. The T-12 catalyst can effectively promote the cross-linking reaction between isocyanate groups and polyols to form high-strength elastomers. The A-1 catalyst can adjust the reaction rate and ensure the uniformity and stability of the elastomer.

  • Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers: NIAX C-80 and NIAX B-8 are commonly used catalysts in thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers. The C-80 catalyst can effectively promote the reaction between isocyanate groups and polyols, ensuring rapid curing of the elastomer. The B-8 catalyst can maintain good catalytic performance under high temperature conditions and is suitable for injection molding, extrusion and other molding processes.

Application of NIAX polyurethane catalyst in green chemistry

With global emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development, green chemistry has become an important development direction of the chemical industry. The application of NIAX polyurethane catalyst in green chemistry is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

1. Reduce energy consumption

The traditional polyurethane production process often requires high temperature and high pressure conditions, resulting in huge energy consumption. The addition of NIAX catalyst can significantly reduce the reaction temperature and pressure, shorten the reaction time, and thus reduce energy consumption. Studies have shown that after using NIAX catalyst, the temperature of the polyurethane synthesis reaction can be reduced from 150°C to 100°C, and the reaction time can be shortened from several hours to several minutes. This not only reduces production costs, but also reduces emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

2. Reduce hazardous substance emissions

Traditional polyurethane catalysts such as organotin compounds are highly toxic and can easily cause harm to human health and the environment. NIAX catalysts reduce the toxicity of the catalyst and reduce the emission of harmful substances by optimizing the chemical structure. For example, the NIAX C-80 catalyst adopts a dual-function design, which contains both amine and tin components. It can reduce the use of tin components while ensuring catalytic efficiency and reduce its impact on the environment. In addition, the NIAX B-8 catalyst uses low-toxic metal compounds such as organic zinc and organic bismuth, which has good environmental friendliness and has gradually become the first choice for green catalysts.

3. Improve resource utilization

The efficient catalytic performance of the NIAX catalyst can significantly improve the selectivity of polyurethane synthesis reaction, reduce the generation of by-products, and thus improve resource utilization. Studies have shown that after using NIAX catalyst, the yield of polyurethane synthesis reaction can be increased from 80% to 95%, and the by-product production volume has been reduced by nearly half. This not only improves production efficiency, but also reduces the cost of waste disposal, meeting the requirements of green chemistry.

4. Promote the circular economy

The application of NIAX catalysts can also promote the recycling of polyurethane materials and promote the development of the circular economy. Polyurethane materials are difficult to recycle by traditional methods due to their complex chemical structure. The addition of NIAX catalyst can improve the degradation properties of polyurethane materials, making them easier to decompose under specific conditions, thereby realizing the reuse of the materials. In addition, NIAX catalysts can also be used to prepare degradable polyurethane materials to further reduce the impact on the environment.

5. Improve the production environment

The use of NIAX catalysts can also improve the production environment and reduce the risk of workers’ exposure to harmful substances. In traditional polyurethane production processes, the volatile and irritating odors of the catalyst pose a threat to the health of workers. NIAX catalysts reduce the volatile and irritating catalysts by optimizing chemical structure and reduce the harm to workers. In addition, the low toxicity and ease of handling of NIAX catalysts also make the production process safer and more reliable and meet the requirements of green chemistry.

The current situation and progress of domestic and foreign research

In recent years, domestic and foreign scholars have made significant progress in research on NIAX polyurethane catalysts. The following is a review of related research:

1. Progress in foreign research

Foreign scholars are in the leading position in the research of NIAX polyurethane catalysts, especially in the design of the chemical structure and optimization of the catalysts.

  • Dow Chemical Corporation of America: As a developer of NIAX catalysts, Dow Chemical Corporation has conducted extensive research on the design and application of catalysts. The company�Introduced the concept of a dual-function catalyst, the NIAX C series catalyst was successfully developed, which significantly improved the catalytic efficiency and selectivity of the catalyst. In addition, Dow Chemical also reduces its toxicity and reduces its environmental impact by optimizing the chemical structure of the catalyst.

  • BASF Germany: BASF has also made important progress in the research of polyurethane catalysts. The company has developed a range of environmentally friendly catalysts by introducing low-toxic metal compounds such as organic zinc and organic bismuth. These catalysts not only have high catalytic efficiency, but also significantly reduce their impact on the environment and meet the requirements of green chemistry.

  • Japan Asahi Kasei Company: Asahi Kasei has also made important progress in the research of polyurethane catalysts. By introducing nanotechnology, the company has developed a new type of nanocatalyst that can significantly improve the dispersion and stability of the catalyst, thereby improving its catalytic performance. In addition, Asahi Kasei also optimizes the chemical structure of the catalyst to reduce its toxicity and reduces its impact on the environment.

2. Domestic research progress

Domestic scholars have also achieved some important results in the research of NIAX polyurethane catalysts, especially in the greening and efficient catalysts.

  • Tsinghua University: Tsinghua University’s research team successfully developed a new type of bifunctional catalyst by optimizing the chemical structure of NIAX catalyst. This catalyst not only has high catalytic efficiency, but also can significantly reduce the impact on the environment. In addition, the team also further improved the catalyst’s dispersion and stability by introducing nanotechnology.

  • Zhejiang University: The research team at Zhejiang University has conducted in-depth research on the catalytic mechanism of NIAX catalysts, revealing the mechanism of action of catalysts in polyurethane synthesis reaction. The team has also developed a range of environmentally friendly catalysts by introducing low-toxic metal compounds such as organic zinc and organic bismuth. These catalysts not only have high catalytic efficiency, but also significantly reduce their impact on the environment and meet the requirements of green chemistry.

  • Chinese Academy of Sciences: The research team of the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed a new catalytic reaction path by systematically studying the catalytic properties of NIAX catalysts. This path can significantly improve the catalytic efficiency of the catalyst, shorten the reaction time, and reduce the generation of by-products. In addition, the team also further improved the catalyst’s dispersion and stability by introducing nanotechnology.

3. Future development trends

As the concept of green chemistry continues to deepen, the research on NIAX polyurethane catalysts will develop in the following directions:

  • Develop new catalysts: Future research will focus on the development of new catalysts with higher catalytic efficiency, lower toxicity and better environmental friendliness. For example, researchers can develop novel catalysts with unique structure and properties by introducing nanotechnology, supramolecular technology and bionic technology.

  • Optimize the catalytic reaction path: Future research will further optimize the path of polyurethane synthesis reaction, improve the selectivity and yield of the reaction, and reduce the generation of by-products. For example, researchers can achieve synchronous progress of multi-step reactions by introducing a synchronous catalytic mechanism, thereby improving reaction efficiency.

  • Promote the industrial application of catalysts: Future research will pay more attention to the industrial application of catalysts and promote their widespread application in actual production. For example, researchers can achieve large-scale industrial production by improving the preparation process of catalysts, reducing costs, improving their stability and reliability.

  • Strengthen international cooperation: Future research will pay more attention to international cooperation and promote global technology exchanges and resource sharing. For example, researchers can promote the development of green chemistry by establishing international joint laboratories, conducting cooperative research, jointly solving key issues in catalyst research and development.

Conclusion

NIAX polyurethane catalyst, as a highly efficient and environmentally friendly catalyst developed by Dow Chemical, has shown significant advantages in the polyurethane synthesis process. Its unique chemical structure and excellent catalytic properties can not only improve reaction efficiency and shorten production cycles, but also effectively reduce the generation of by-products and reduce negative impacts on the environment. With the continuous deepening of the concept of green chemistry, NIAX catalyst has broad application prospects in the polyurethane industry and is expected to become one of the key technologies to promote the development of green chemistry.

In the future, researchers will continue to work on developing new catalysts, optimizing catalytic reaction paths, promoting the industrial application of catalysts, and strengthening international cooperation to jointly promote the development of green chemistry. Through continuous innovation and technological progress, NIAX polyurethane catalysts will surely play a more important role in the polyurethane industry and make greater contributions to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.