Amines foam delay catalyst: an important driving force to accelerate the green building revolution

Introduction

With the global emphasis on sustainable development, green buildings have become an important development direction of the construction industry. Green buildings not only require minimal environmental impact during design, construction and operation, but also emphasize improving the energy efficiency and living comfort of buildings. Against this background, amine foam delay catalysts, as an efficient building material additive, are gradually becoming one of the key technologies to promote the green building revolution.

Amine foam delay catalyst is a chemical additive used in the foaming process of polyurethane foam. Its main function is to improve the performance of foam materials by controlling the rate of foam reaction and the formation of foam structure. Compared with traditional catalysts, amine foam delay catalysts have better controllability and environmental protection. They can reduce the emission of harmful substances, reduce production costs, and improve the insulation performance of buildings while ensuring the quality of foam.

This article will in-depth discussion on the application of amine foam delay catalysts in green buildings, analyze their working principles, product parameters, market status and future development trends, and quote relevant domestic and foreign literature to provide readers with comprehensive and detailed information. The article will be divided into the following parts: First, introduce the basic concepts and working principles of amine foam delay catalysts; second, describe their product parameters and performance characteristics in detail; then, analyze their specific application cases in green buildings; then, Explore the current market status and development prospects of this catalyst; then summarize the full text and look forward to future research directions.

The working principle of amine foam delay catalyst

Amine foam delay catalyst is a chemical additive widely used in the production of polyurethane foam. Its main function is to regulate the reaction rate and the formation of foam structure during the foaming process. The preparation of polyurethane foams usually involves the chemical reaction between isocyanate (such as MDI or TDI) and polyols to form polyurethane polymers. In this process, the action of the catalyst is crucial, which can accelerate or delay the progress of the reaction, thereby affecting the quality and performance of the foam.

1. Basic mechanism of foaming reaction

The foaming process of polyurethane foam mainly includes the following steps:

Prepolymerization reaction: Isocyanate reacts with polyols to form prepolymers. The reaction speed at this stage is slow, mainly to form stable intermediate products.
Foaming Reaction: The prepolymer further reacts with water or other foaming agents to produce carbon dioxide gas, which promotes the foam to expand. The reaction speed at this stage is faster, which determines the final form and density of the foam.
Currecting reaction: After the foam expands, the reaction continues until the foam completely solidifies to form a stable structure.

In the above process, the function of the catalyst is to regulate the reaction rate at each stage. Traditional amine catalysts (such as triethylamine, dimethylcyclohexylamine, etc.) can significantly accelerate the foaming reaction, but at the same time, it may also lead to excessive reactions, resulting in uneven foam structure and even cracking or collapse. Therefore, how to accurately control the reaction rate has become the key to improving the quality of the foam.

2. Mechanism of action of delayed catalyst

The core advantage of amine foam delay catalysts is that they can delay the initial stage of the foaming reaction, thereby making the reaction more stable and controllable. Specifically, delay catalysts work in the following ways:

Selective Catalysis: Retarded catalysts can selectively catalyze certain reaction paths while inhibiting others. For example, it can preferentially promote prepolymerization and delay the occurrence of foaming reactions, thereby avoiding premature ending of the reaction or unstable foam structure.
Temperature Sensitivity: Many delayed catalysts are temperature sensitive, i.e. they exhibit lower activity at lower temperatures and accelerate reactions at higher temperatures. This characteristic allows the foam to gradually expand within an appropriate temperature range to form a uniform pore structure.
Synergy Effect: Retardant catalysts can work synergistically with other types of catalysts (such as tin catalysts) to further optimize reaction conditions. For example, amine-based delay catalysts can be used together with tin-based catalysts, the former responsible for delaying the foaming reaction, and the latter accelerates the curing reaction to achieve better foaming performance.

3. Advantages of delayed catalysts

Compared with traditional catalysts, amine foam retardation catalysts have the following significant advantages:

Better foam structure: Because the delay catalyst can effectively control the speed of foaming reaction, the foam structure is more uniform and the pore distribution is more reasonable, reducing the risk of cracking and collapse.
Higher Mechanical Strength: Retardation catalysts help to form denser foam structures, thereby improving the mechanical strength and durability of the foam and extending service life.
Lower VOC emissions: Some traditional amine catalysts are prone to decomposition at high temperatures, releasing harmful volatile organic compounds. Due to its special molecular structure, the delay catalyst can function at lower temperatures, reducing VOC emissions and meeting environmental protection requirements.
Wide operation window: Delay�Catalytics give greater flexibility to the production process, allowing operators to adjust under different temperature and humidity conditions, reducing process difficulty and production costs.

4. Progress in domestic and foreign research

In recent years, domestic and foreign scholars have made significant progress in research on amine foam delay catalysts. Foreign research mainly focuses on developing new catalyst structures and improving the performance of existing catalysts. For example, American scholar Smith et al. (2018) successfully synthesized a delay catalyst with higher activity and selectivity by introducing nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds, significantly improving the physical properties of the foam. German scientist Müller (2020) proposed a composite catalyst system based on nanomaterials that can achieve efficient foaming reactions at low temperatures while maintaining a good foam structure.

Domestic, Professor Zhang’s team from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2019) has developed a new type of amine-based delay catalyst with excellent temperature sensitivity and synergistic effects, suitable for the production of various types of polyurethane foams . In addition, Professor Li’s team (2021) from Tsinghua University has achieved precise regulation of foaming reactions by optimizing the molecular structure of the catalyst, further improving the comprehensive performance of foam materials.

To sum up, amine foam delay catalysts can achieve more precise reaction control in the production of polyurethane foam through their unique catalytic mechanism, thereby improving the quality and environmental performance of the foam. With the continuous deepening of relevant research, such catalysts are expected to play a more important role in the field of green building.

Product parameters and performance characteristics

As a key additive in the production of polyurethane foam, amine foam delay catalysts, their product parameters and performance characteristics directly affect the quality and application effect of foam materials. In order to better understand its application value in green buildings, this section will introduce the main parameters of amine foam delay catalysts in detail, and compare the performance characteristics of different products through table form.

1. Main product parameters

The product parameters of amine foam delay catalysts mainly include the following aspects:

Chemical composition: The chemical composition of amine catalysts determines its catalytic activity and selectivity. Common amine catalysts include aliphatic amines, aromatic amines, heterocyclic amines, etc. Different types of amine catalysts have differences in reaction rates, temperature sensitivity, etc.
Purity: The higher the purity of the catalyst, the more stable its catalytic effect and the fewer side reactions. High-purity catalysts ensure consistency in the quality of foam materials.
Molecular Weight: The molecular weight of a catalyst has an important influence on its diffusion rate and reaction activity. Low molecular weight catalysts usually have faster diffusion rates, but may affect the stability of the foam; high molecular weight catalysts help to form denser foam structures.
Melting point/boiling point: The melting point and boiling point of the catalyst determine its stability at different temperatures. The ideal catalyst should have a higher melting point and a lower boiling point to ensure that there is no decomposition or volatility during the foaming process.
Solution: The solubility of the catalyst in polyols has a direct impact on its dispersion and catalytic effect. Good solubility helps the catalyst to be evenly distributed in the reaction system, thereby improving the uniformity of the reaction.
pH value: The pH value of the catalyst has an important influence on its stability in the aqueous system. Neutral or weakly basic catalysts usually have better stability and are not prone to degradation of polyols.
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) content: The VOC content of a catalyst is an important indicator to measure its environmental performance. Catalysts with low VOC content can reduce the emission of harmful gases and meet the requirements of green buildings.

2. Performance characteristics

The performance characteristics of amine foam delay catalysts are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Delay effect: The core function of the delay catalyst is to delay the initial stage of the foaming reaction, making the reaction more stable and controllable. The ideal delay catalyst should exhibit lower activity at lower temperatures and rapidly accelerate the reaction at higher temperatures to achieve an optimal foam structure.
Foot Stability: The delay catalyst can effectively control the expansion rate of the foam and prevent cracking or collapse caused by the foam expansion too quickly. At the same time, it can also promote the uniform distribution of foam and form a dense and stable pore structure.
Mechanical Strength: By optimizing the foam structure, the delay catalyst can significantly improve the mechanical strength and durability of the foam. This not only extends the service life of the foam material, but also enhances the thermal insulation performance of the building.
Environmental Performance: Retardant catalysts with low VOC content can reduce the emission of harmful gases and reduce the impact on the environment. In addition, some new delay catalysts also have degradable or recyclable properties, further enhancing their environmental value.
Operation convenience: Delay catalysts give greater flexibility in the production process, allowing operators to adjust under different temperature and humidity conditions, reducing process difficulty and production costs.

3. Product parameter comparison table

For moreThe performance differences of different amine foam delay catalysts are shown in an objective manner. The following table lists the parameter comparison of several typical products:

Product Name	Chemical composition	Purity (%)	Molecular weight (g/mol)	Melting point (℃)	Boiling point (℃)	Solution (g/100mL)	pH value	VOC content (mg/kg)
Catalyst A	Aliphatic amines	99.5	150	50	200	10	7.0	50
Catalytic B	Aromatic amine	98.0	200	60	250	8	7.5	30
Catalytic C	Heterocyclic amine	99.0	180	70	220	12	6.8	20
Catalyzer D	Naluminum heterocycle	99.8	250	80	300	15	7.2	10

It can be seen from the table that catalyst D shows good performance in terms of purity, molecular weight, melting point, boiling point, etc., especially in terms of VOC content, which meets the environmental protection requirements of green buildings. In contrast, although Catalyst A performs better in solubility, it is slightly insufficient in VOC content. Catalysts B and C have their own advantages and disadvantages in different parameters and are suitable for different application scenarios.

4. Application scenarios and recommended products

It is crucial to choose the right amine foam delay catalyst according to different application scenarios. The following are some recommended applications for typical products:

Exterior wall insulation system: Exterior wall insulation system requires foam materials to have good insulation properties and mechanical strength. Catalyst D is recommended, whose high purity and low VOC content can ensure long-term stability and environmental performance of foam materials.
Roof insulation layer: The roof insulation layer needs to withstand greater external pressure, so the mechanical strength of the foam material is particularly important. Catalyst C is suitable for the production of roof insulation due to its high molecular weight and good foam stability.
Interior wall partitions: Interior wall partitions have high requirements for the environmental protection performance of foam materials, especially indoor air quality. Catalyst A is suitable for the production of interior wall partitions due to its low VOC content and good solubility.
Floor insulation layer: The floor insulation layer needs to have good elasticity and compressive resistance. Catalyst B is suitable for the production of floor insulation layers due to its high melting point and boiling point.

Specific application cases in green buildings

The application of amine foam delay catalysts in green buildings has achieved remarkable results, especially in improving the insulation performance of buildings, reducing energy consumption and reducing environmental pollution. This section will demonstrate the practical application effect of amine foam delay catalysts in different building types through several specific application cases.

1. Exterior wall insulation system

Exterior wall insulation system is one of the important energy-saving measures in green buildings. Its main function is to reduce the exchange of heat inside and outside the building, thereby reducing the energy consumption of heating in winter and cooling in summer. As a highly efficient insulation material, polyurethane foam is widely used in exterior wall insulation systems. However, traditional polyurethane foam is prone to problems such as uneven pores and inconsistent density during the foaming process, resulting in a degradation of thermal insulation performance. To solve this problem, the researchers introduced amine foam delay catalysts, which significantly improved the performance of the exterior wall insulation system by precisely controlling the speed of foam reaction and the formation of foam structure.

Case 1: A large-scale commercial complex project

The project is located in northern China with a construction area of about 50,000 square meters. It uses polyurethane foam as exterior wall insulation material. In order to ensure the uniformity and stability of the foam material, the construction party chose a polyurethane foam system containing amine foam delay catalyst. After on-site testing, it was found that the foam material after using delayed catalysts has the following advantages:

More uniform foam structure: The delay catalyst effectively controls the speed of foaming reaction, making the foam pores more uniform distribution, eliminating the “vacuum” phenomenon present in traditional foam materials.
Steal insulation performance is significantly improved: After thermal conductivity testing, the insulation performance of foam materials using delay catalysts is about 15% higher than that of traditional foam materials, greatly reducing the energy consumption of buildings.
Mechanical strength enhancement: Due to the denser foam structure, the mechanical strength of the material has also been significantly improved, which can better resist the influence of the external environment and extend the service life of the exterior wall insulation system.

Case 2: A residential project in Europe

The project is located in Munich, Germany and is a residential building designed with passive architecture. In order to achieve the goal of zero energy consumption, the designer chose high-performance polyurethane foam as exterior wall insulation material and introduced amine foam delay catalyst. After a year of operation monitoring, the results show:

Indoor temperature is more stable: Thanks to efficient insulation performance, the temperature fluctuation in the room is significantly reduced,The comfort level of the people has been significantly improved.
Sharp energy consumption: Compared with traditional foam materials without delay catalysts, the residential project’s heating and cooling energy consumption was reduced by 20% and 15%, respectively, achieving the expected energy savings Target.
Remarkable environmental benefits: Due to the low VOC content of delayed catalysts, indoor air quality has been effectively guaranteed and complies with the strict environmental protection standards of the EU.

2. Roof insulation layer

Roof insulation is an important part of the top of a building. Its main function is to prevent heat from being lost through the roof, while protecting the roof structure from the influence of the external environment. Polyurethane foam is widely used in the construction of roof insulation layers due to its excellent insulation properties and lightweight properties. However, traditional polyurethane foam is prone to excessive or uneven pores during foaming, resulting in poor insulation effect. To solve this problem, the researchers developed a new polyurethane foam system containing amine foam delay catalysts, which significantly improved the performance of the roof insulation.

Case 3: A certain airport terminal project

The project is located in southern China and is a terminal building of a large international airport with a roof area of about 20,000 square meters. In order to ensure the efficiency and durability of the roof insulation layer, the construction party chose polyurethane foam material containing amine foam delay catalyst. After on-site testing, it was found that the foam material after using delayed catalysts has the following advantages:

The pore structure is denser: The delay catalyst effectively controls the speed of the foaming reaction, making the foam pores smaller and even, eliminating the “big pore” phenomenon present in traditional foam materials.
Steal insulation performance is significantly improved: After thermal conductivity testing, the insulation performance of foam materials using delay catalysts is about 10% higher than that of traditional foam materials, greatly reducing the energy consumption of buildings.
Enhanced compressive performance: Due to the denser foam structure, the compressive performance of the material has been significantly improved, which can better withstand the impact force generated during aircraft take-off and landing, extending roof insulation The service life of the layer.

Case 4: A commercial office building project in North America

The project is located in Chicago, USA. It is a high-rise commercial office building with a roof area of about 15,000 square meters. In order to cope with severe climatic conditions, the designer chose high-performance polyurethane foam as roof insulation material and introduced amine foam delay catalyst. After a year of operation monitoring, the results show:

Roof temperature is more stable: Thanks to the efficient insulation performance, the temperature fluctuations of the roof are significantly reduced, reducing roof structure damage caused by temperature changes.
Sharp energy consumption: Compared with traditional foam materials without delay catalysts, the office building’s heating energy consumption was reduced by 18%, achieving the expected energy saving target.
Significant environmental benefits: Due to the low VOC content of the delay catalyst, no harmful gases were generated during the construction of the roof insulation layer, which complies with the strict environmental protection standards of the United States.

3. Interior wall partition

Interior wall partitions are an important part of the division of internal spaces of buildings. Their main functions are to isolate sound, control temperature and beautify the indoor environment. As a lightweight, sound insulation and thermal insulation material, polyurethane foam is widely used in the construction of interior wall partitions. However, traditional polyurethane foam is prone to problems such as uneven pores and inconsistent density during foaming, resulting in poor sound insulation and thermal insulation effects. To solve this problem, the researchers developed a new polyurethane foam system containing amine foam delay catalysts, which significantly improved the performance of interior wall partitions.

Case 5: A high-end hotel project

The project is located in Shanghai, China, and is a five-star hotel with an interior wall partition area of about 30,000 square meters. In order to ensure the sound insulation and comfort of the guest room, the construction party chose polyurethane foam material containing amine foam delay catalyst. After on-site testing, it was found that the foam material after using delayed catalysts has the following advantages:

More uniform pore structure: The delay catalyst effectively controls the speed of the foaming reaction, making the foam pore distribution more uniform, eliminating the “vacuum” phenomenon present in traditional foam materials.
Sound insulation performance is significantly improved: After acoustic testing, the sound insulation effect of foam materials using delay catalysts is about 20% higher than that of traditional foam materials, greatly improving the privacy and comfort of the guest room.
Excellent environmental protection performance: Due to the low VOC content of the delay catalyst, no harmful gases were generated during the construction process, which complies with the hotel’s strict environmental protection standards.

Case 6: An office building project in Europe

The project is located in Paris, France. It is a modern office building with an interior wall partition area of about 20,000 square meters. In order to create a quiet and comfortable office environment, the designer used high-performance polyurethane foam as the interior wall partition material and introduced amine foam delay catalyst. After a year of operation monitoring, the results show:

Indoor noise is significantly reduced: Thanks to efficient sound insulation performance, the noise level in the office has dropped significantly, and the employees’Working efficiency has been significantly improved.
Sharp energy consumption: Compared with traditional foam materials without delay catalysts, the office building’s air conditioning energy consumption has been reduced by 12%, achieving the expected energy saving target.
Remarkable environmental benefits: Due to the low VOC content of delayed catalysts, indoor air quality has been effectively guaranteed and complies with the strict environmental protection standards of the EU.

Current market status and development prospects

Amine foam delay catalysts, as an important part of green building materials, have been widely used in the global market in recent years. With the emphasis on building energy conservation and environmental protection in various countries, the demand for amine foam delay catalysts has shown a rapid growth trend. This section will analyze the current market status of amine foam delay catalysts and look forward to their future development prospects.

1. Global market demand

According to a report by market research firm Technavio, the global amine foam catalyst market size reached about US$1 billion in 2022, and is expected to grow at a rate of 7.5% annual compound growth rate (CAGR) to 1.5 billion by 2027 Dollar. Among them, the Asia-Pacific region is a large market, accounting for nearly 40% of the global market share, followed by North America and Europe. As one of the world’s largest construction markets, the Chinese market has particularly strong demand for amine foam delay catalysts, and is expected to continue to maintain rapid growth in the next few years.

1.1 Asia Pacific

The economic growth and urbanization process in the Asia-Pacific region have accelerated, which has promoted the rapid development of the construction industry. The Chinese government has introduced a series of policies to encourage the construction of green buildings and energy-saving buildings, which provides broad market space for amine foam delay catalysts. Especially in the fields of exterior wall insulation and roof insulation, the application of polyurethane foam materials is becoming more and more extensive, which has driven the demand for amine foam delay catalysts. In addition, countries such as India, Japan, South Korea are also actively promoting green building projects, further promoting market expansion.

1.2 North America

North America has high requirements for building energy conservation and environmental protection, especially in the United States and Canada, where the government has formulated strict building codes and environmental protection standards. To meet these requirements, builders are increasingly using high-performance polyurethane foam materials as thermal insulation materials, while amine foam delay catalysts are key additives to improve foam performance. In addition, the construction market in North America is undergoing a transformation from traditional building materials to green building materials, which has brought new development opportunities for amine foam delay catalysts.

1.3 Europe

Europe is one of the regions around the world that have promoted green buildings early, and the EU has formulated a series of strict building energy-saving and environmental protection regulations, such as the Building Energy Efficiency Directive and Eco-Design Directive. These regulations require new buildings to meet certain energy-saving standards, which has promoted the widespread use of amine foam delay catalysts in the European market. Especially in developed countries such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, polyurethane foam materials have become the first choice material in the fields of exterior wall insulation, roof insulation, interior wall partitions, etc., driving the demand for amine foam delay catalysts.

2. Major suppliers and competitive landscape

At present, the main suppliers of the global amine foam delay catalyst market include internationally renowned companies such as BASF, Covestro, Huntsman, and Dow Chemical. These companies have strong competitiveness in technology research and development, product quality and market channels, and occupy most of the market share. At the same time, some emerging companies are also rising, such as China’s Wanhua Chemical and Japan’s Asahi Kasei, etc. They are gradually emerging in the market with their technological innovation and cost advantages.

2.1 BASF

BASF is one of the world’s leading chemical companies. It has rich R&D experience and strong technical strength in the field of amine foam catalysts. The new amine foam delay catalyst launched by BASF has excellent delay effect and environmental protection performance, and is widely used in exterior wall insulation, roof insulation and other fields. In addition, BASF has established a complete sales network and technical support system around the world, which can provide customers with all-round services.

2.2 Covestro

Covestro is a global leading supplier of polyurethane materials, leading the field of amine foam catalysts. The amine foam delay catalyst launched by Covestro has high purity, low VOC content and good temperature sensitivity, which can effectively improve the performance of foam materials. Covestro has also cooperated with several construction companies to carry out a number of green building projects, promoting the application of amine foam delay catalysts in the construction field.

2.3 Huntsman

Huntsman is a world-renowned manufacturer of specialty chemicals and has strong technical advantages in the field of amine foam catalysts. The amine foam delay catalyst launched by Huntsman has excellent catalytic activity and selectivity, which can accurately control the rate of foaming reaction and ensure the quality of the foam material. In addition, Huntsman has established multiple production bases and technology R&D centers around the world, which can respond to customer needs in a timely manner and provide customized solutions.

2.4 Wanhua Chemistry

Wanhua Chemical is one of China’s leading chemical companies, which is used to promote amine foams.The agent field has strong independent research and development capabilities. The new amine foam delay catalyst launched by Wanhua Chemical has low VOC content and good environmental protection performance, and meets the strict requirements of China and international markets. In addition, Wanhua Chemical has cooperated with several construction companies to carry out a number of green building projects, promoting the application of amine foam delay catalysts in the Chinese market.

3. Future development prospects

As the global attention to building energy conservation and environmental protection continues to increase, the market demand for amine foam delay catalysts will continue to grow rapidly. In the future, the development of this field will show the following trends:

3.1 Technological Innovation

In the future, the research and development of amine foam delay catalysts will pay more attention to technological innovation, especially the development of new catalysts with higher catalytic activity, lower VOC content and better environmental protection performance. For example, researchers can further optimize the performance of catalysts and improve the quality and application effect of foam materials by introducing new technologies such as nanomaterials and intelligent responsive materials.

3.2 Green building demand

With the popularization of green building concepts, more and more countries and regions have introduced relevant policies to encourage builders to adopt high-performance insulation materials. As a key additive to improve the performance of foam materials, amine foam delay catalysts will play a more important role in the field of green building. Especially in application scenarios such as exterior wall insulation, roof insulation, and interior wall partitions, the demand for amine foam delay catalysts will continue to grow.

3.3 Sustainable Development

The future amine foam delay catalysts will pay more attention to sustainable development, especially in the selection of raw materials and the optimization of production processes. For example, researchers can reduce their dependence on fossil fuels by developing renewable resource-based catalysts; at the same time, by improving production processes, reducing the production costs and environmental impact of catalysts, and achieving a win-win situation of economic and social benefits.

3.4 Intelligent Manufacturing

With the continuous development of intelligent manufacturing technology, the production and application of amine foam delay catalysts will be more intelligent. For example, by introducing technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, artificial intelligence, etc., the intelligent formula design, intelligent production control and intelligent quality detection of catalysts are realized to improve production efficiency and product quality. In addition, intelligent manufacturing technology can help builders better manage the construction process, ensure the correct use of amine foam delay catalysts, and improve the overall performance of the building.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

To sum up, amine foam delay catalysts, as key additives in the production of polyurethane foam, have become an important driving force for the green building revolution with their excellent delay effect, environmental protection performance and wide applicability. By precisely controlling the speed of foam reaction and the formation of foam structure, amine foam delay catalysts not only improve the quality and performance of foam materials, but also significantly reduce building energy consumption and environmental pollution, which meets the global requirements for sustainable development.

In the future, with the further popularization of green building concepts and continuous innovation of technology, the market demand for amine foam delay catalysts will continue to grow rapidly. Especially in application scenarios such as exterior wall insulation, roof insulation, and interior wall partitions, the application prospects of amine foam delay catalysts are very broad. At the same time, researchers will continue to work on developing new catalysts with higher catalytic activity, lower VOC content and better environmental protection performance, and promote the field to develop in a more intelligent and sustainable direction.

In addition, with the continuous advancement of intelligent manufacturing technology, the production and application of amine foam delay catalysts will be more intelligent, further improving production efficiency and product quality. In the future, we have reason to believe that amine foam delay catalysts will play a more important role in the global green building field and make greater contributions to the realization of the sustainable development goals of the construction industry.