Latest research progress on polyurethane foam amine catalysts used to manufacture refractory foam materials

admin 3月 8th, 2025 News

New research progress of polyurethane foam amine catalyst in the manufacturing of refractory foam materials

Introduction

Polyurethane foam materials are widely used in construction, automobile, furniture and other fields due to their excellent thermal insulation, sound insulation and mechanical properties. However, traditional polyurethane foams have shortcomings in their refractory properties, limiting their application in high temperature environments. In recent years, with the improvement of the requirements for material safety performance, the research on refractory polyurethane foam materials has become a hot topic. This article will introduce in detail the new research progress of polyurethane foam amine catalysts in the manufacturing of refractory foam materials, covering product parameters, performance optimization, application cases and other contents.

1. Basic principles of polyurethane foam amine catalyst

1.1 The formation mechanism of polyurethane foam

The formation of polyurethane foam is a complex chemical reaction process, which mainly includes the following steps:

Reaction of isocyanate with polyol: forming polyurethane segments.
Foaming reaction: Water reacts with isocyanate to form carbon dioxide, forming a foam structure.
Crosslinking reaction: The three-dimensional network structure is formed by crosslinking agents to improve the mechanical properties of the material.

1.2 The role of amine catalyst

Amine catalysts play a key role in the formation of polyurethane foam, which are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Accelerating the reaction rate: The amine catalyst can significantly increase the reaction rate between isocyanate and polyol and shorten the foam formation time.
Control foam structure: By adjusting the type and amount of catalyst, the pore size and density of the foam can be controlled, thereby optimizing the performance of the material.
Improving refractory performance: Some amine catalysts have flame retardant properties and can improve the refractory performance of polyurethane foam.

2. Research progress of refractory polyurethane foam materials

2.1 Introduction of refractory additives

In order to improve the refractory properties of polyurethane foam, researchers have introduced a variety of refractory additives, mainly including:

Inorganic fillers: such as aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, etc., the material temperature is reduced through endothermic decomposition reaction.
Organic flame retardant: such as phosphate esters, halogen compounds, etc., improve the refractory performance of the material through the gas-phase and condensation phase flame retardant mechanisms.
Nanomaterials: Such as nanoclays, carbon nanotubes, etc., improve the flame retardant properties and mechanical properties of materials through nanoeffects.

2.2 Optimization of amine catalysts

In order to further improve the performance of refractory polyurethane foam, the researchers optimized the amine catalyst, mainly including:

Multifunctional amine catalysts: Developing amine catalysts with flame retardant functions, such as phosphoamine catalysts, can improve the refractory properties of materials while catalyzing the reaction.
Composite Catalyst System: Optimize the foam formation process and performance through the synergistic action of multiple catalysts. For example, combining an amine catalyst with a metal catalyst improves the mechanical properties and refractory properties of the foam.

2.3 Product parameters and performance optimization

The following table lists the product parameters and performance optimization measures of several common refractory polyurethane foam materials:

Product Number	Density (kg/m³)	Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)	Fire resistance level	Optimization measures
PU-001	40	0.025	B1	Add aluminum hydroxide
PU-002	50	0.030	A2	Phosamine Catalyst
PU-003	60	0.035	A1	Nanoclay composite

III. Application Cases

3.1 Building insulation materials

Refractory polyurethane foam materials are widely used in the field of building insulation. For example, the exterior wall insulation system of a high-rise building uses PU-002 material, and its fire resistance level reaches A2, effectively improving the fire safety of the building.

3.2 Automobile interior materials

In automotive interior materials, refractory polyurethane foam can improve the fire resistance of the vehicle. A certain automobile manufacturer uses PU-001 material in seat and ceiling materials, which has low density, low thermal conductivity, and good fire resistance.

3.3 Furniture Manufacturing

In furniture manufacturing, refractory polyurethane foam materials can improve the safety performance of furniture. A furniture manufacturer uses PU-003 material in sofas and mattresses, and its fire resistance level reaches A1, effectively reducing fire risk.

IV. Future development direction

4.1 Green and environmentally friendly

With the increase in environmental protection requirements, future research on refractory polyurethane foam materials will pay more attention to green environmental protection. For example, biodegradable amine catalysts and refractory additives are developed to reduce the environmental impact of the material.

4.2 High performance

Future research on refractory polyurethane foam materials will pay more attention to high performance. For example, develop materials with higher fire resistance and better mechanical properties to meet application needs in extreme environments.

4.3 Intelligent

With the development of intelligent technology, future research on refractory polyurethane foam materials will pay more attention to intelligence. For example, develop materials with self-healing functions to improve the service life and safety of the materials.

Conclusion

Remarkable progress has been made in the study of the application of polyurethane foam amine catalysts in the manufacturing of refractory foam materials. The refractory and mechanical properties of polyurethane foam are significantly improved by introducing refractory additives, optimizing amine catalysts, and developing multifunctional and composite catalyst systems. In the future, with the development of green, environmentally friendly, high-performance and intelligent technologies, refractory polyurethane foam materials will be widely used in more fields.

Appendix: Common refractory polyurethane foam material product parameter list

Product Number	Density (kg/m³)	Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)	Fire resistance level	Optimization measures
PU-001	40	0.025	B1	Add aluminum hydroxide
PU-002	50	0.030	A2	Phosamine Catalyst
PU-003	60	0.035	A1	Nanoclay composite
PU-004	45	0.028	B1	Composite Catalyst System
PU-005	55	0.032	A2	Multifunctional amine catalyst

Through the above content, we introduce in detail the new research progress of polyurethane foam amine catalysts in the manufacturing of refractory foam materials. It is hoped that this article can provide valuable reference for researchers and engineering and technical personnel in related fields.