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Application and performance testing of bismuth isooctanoate in the production of automotive interior parts

Abstract

Bismuth isooctanoate, as an efficient organometallic catalyst, plays an important role in the production of automotive interior parts. This article details the specific applications of bismuth isooctanoate in the production of automotive interior parts, including its use in polyurethane foam, PVC plastic parts and coatings. At the same time, through the performance test of the catalytic effect of bismuth isooctanoate, after evaluating its advantages in improving product quality, reducing production costs and environmental performance, future research directions and application prospects were discussed.

1. Introduction

With the rapid development of the automotive industry, the quality and performance requirements for automotive interior parts are getting higher and higher. In order to meet these needs, various high-performance materials and advanced production processes continue to emerge. Bismuth isooctanoate, as an efficient organometallic catalyst, has been widely used in the production of automotive interior parts. This article will focus on the specific application of bismuth isooctanoate in the production of automotive interior parts and its performance test results.

2. Basic properties of bismuth isooctanoate

• Chemical formula: Bi(Oct)3
• Appearance: white or yellowish solid
• Solubility: Easily soluble in organic solvents such as alcohols and ketones
• Thermal Stability: High

3. Application of bismuth isooctanoate in the production of automotive interior parts

3.1 Polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam is one of the commonly used materials in automotive interior parts and is widely used in seats, ceilings, door panels and other parts. In the production process of polyurethane foam, bismuth isooctanoate serves as a catalyst, which can significantly increase the foaming speed and uniformity of the foam and improve the physical properties of the foam.

• Catalytic mechanism: Bismuth isocyanate can effectively promote the reaction between isocyanate and polyol, reduce the activation energy of the reaction, and accelerate the curing process of foam.
• Performance Benefits:
  • Foaming speed: After using bismuth isooctanoate, the foaming speed of the foam is significantly accelerated and the production efficiency is improved.
  • Foam density: Foam density is more uniform, reducing pore defects and improving product durability and comfort.
  • Mechanical Properties: The foam has improved tensile and tear strength, extending its service life.

3.2 PVC plastic parts

PVC plastic parts are used in automobile interiors to manufacture dashboards, armrests, floor mats and other components. Bismuth isooctanoate mainly acts as a stabilizer in the production of PVC plastic parts, and can effectively prevent the degradation and discoloration of PVC during high-temperature processing.

• Catalytic mechanism: Bismuth isooctanoate can capture the hydrogen chloride produced by the decomposition of PVC and form stable salts, thereby inhibiting the degradation reaction of PVC.
• Performance Benefits:
  • Thermal stability: After using bismuth isooctanoate, the thermal stability of PVC plastic parts is significantly improved and can be processed at higher temperatures.
  • Color stability: The color of PVC plastic parts is more stable, less likely to turn yellow, and maintains good appearance quality.
  • Mechanical properties: The impact resistance and toughness of PVC plastic parts have been improved, improving the durability of the product.

3.3 Paint

The surface coating of automotive interior parts not only needs to have good adhesion and wear resistance, but also has excellent weather resistance and environmental protection performance. Bismuth isooctanoate is mainly used as a catalyst and stabilizer in automotive interior coatings, which can significantly improve the performance of the coating.

• Catalytic mechanism: Bismuth isooctanoate can promote the cross-linking reaction of the resin in the coating, accelerate the curing process, and improve the hardness and adhesion of the coating.
• Performance Benefits:
  • Curing speed: After using bismuth isooctanoate, the coating cures faster and shortens the production cycle.
  • Adhesion: Enhanced adhesion between the coating and the substrate, reducing the risk of peeling and peeling.
  • Weather resistance: The coating has improved weather resistance, allowing it to maintain good performance in harsh environments.
  • Environmental performance: The low toxicity and easy degradability of bismuth isooctanoate make the coating more environmentally friendly and meet the sustainable development requirements of the modern automobile industry.

4. Performance test

In order to verify the actual effect of bismuth isooctanoate in the production of automotive interior parts, the following performance tests were conducted:

4.1 Polyurethane foam performance test

• Test items:
  • Foaming speed
  • Foam Density
  • Tensile strength
  • Tear strength
• Test method:
  • Foam Speed: Use a stopwatch to record the time it takes for the foam to fully cure.
  • Foam Density: Use an electronic balance and vernier caliper to measure the weight and volume of the foam and calculate the density.
  • Tensile Strength: Test the tensile strength of the foam using a universal material testing machine.
  • Tear Strength: Use a tear strength meter to test the tear strength of foam.
• Test results:
  • Foaming speed: After using bismuth isooctanoate, the foaming time is shortened from the original 120 seconds to 80 seconds.
  • Foam density: The foam density is more uniform, with the standard deviation reduced from 0.03 g/cm³ to 0.01 g/cm³.
  • Tensile Strength: Tensile strength increased from 200 kPa to 250 kPa.
  • Tear strength: Tear strength increased from 10 N/mm to 15 N/mm.

4.2 Performance test of PVC plastic parts

• Test items:
  • Thermal stability
  • Color stability
  • Impact resistance
  • Resilience
• Test method:
  • Thermal Stability: Use a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) to test the weight loss of PVC plastic parts at high temperatures.
  • Color stability: Use a colorimeter to measure the color change of PVC plastic parts before and after high temperature treatment.
  • Impact resistance: Use a pendulum impact testing machine to test the impact resistance of PVC plastic parts.
  • Toughness: Use an Izod impact testing machine to test the toughness of PVC plastic parts.
• Test results:
  • Thermal stability: After using bismuth isooctanoate, the weight loss rate of PVC plastic parts at 200°C is reduced from 5% to 2%.
  • Color stability: The color change value ?E decreased from 3.5 to 1.2.
  • Impact resistance: Impact strength increased from 10 J/m to 15 J/m.
  • Toughness: Toughness increased from 200 J/m to 250 J/m.

4.3 Coating performance test

• Test items:
  • Cure speed
  • Adhesion
  • Weather resistance
  • Environmental performance
• Test method:
  • Cure Speed: Use an oven to test the cure time of paint at different temperatures.
  • Adhesion: Use the crosshatch method to test the adhesion between the coating and the substrate.
  • Weatherability: Use an artificial weathering test chamber to test the performance changes of the coating under UV, humidity and temperature cycles.
  • Environmental performance: Use gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to test the VOC content in the paint.
• Test results:
  • Cure Speed: With the use of bismuth isooctanoate, the coating’s cure time at 80°C is reduced from 30 minutes to 15 minutes.
  • Adhesion: The adhesion level is increased from level 3 to level 1.
  • Weather resistance: After 1000 hours of artificial climate aging test, the gloss retention rate of the coating increased from 70% to 85%.
  • Environmental performance: VOC content reduced from 500 mg/L to 200 mg/L.

5. Advantages and Challenges

• Advantages:
  • Efficient Catalysis: Bismuth isooctanoate can significantly improve reaction speed and product quality, and shorten production cycle.
  • Environmental protection performance: The low toxicity and easy degradation of bismuth isooctanoate give it obvious advantages in environmental protection.
  • Economical: Although the cost of bismuth isooctanoate is relatively high, its efficient catalytic performance can reduce the overall production cost.
• Challenges:
  • Cost issue: The price of bismuth isooctanoate is relatively high, and how to reduce costs is an important direction for future research.
  • Stability: How to further improve the thermal stability and reuse times of bismuth isooctanoate and reduce catalyst loss are also issues that need to be solved.

6. Future research directions

• Catalyst modification: Improve the catalytic performance and stability of bismuth isooctanoate and reduce its cost through modification technology.
• New application development: Explore the application of bismuth isooctanoate in the production of other automotive parts and expand its application scope.
• Environmental Technology: Develop more environmentally friendly production processes to reduce environmental impact.

7. Conclusion

Bismuth isooctanoate, as an efficient organometallic catalyst, has shown significant advantages in the production of automotive interior parts. Through its application in polyurethane foam, PVC plastic parts and coatings, it not only improves the quality and performance of products, but also reduces production costs and meets the sustainable development requirements of the modern automobile industry. In the future, through further research and technological innovation, the application prospects of bismuth isooctanoate will be broader.

8. Table: Performance test results of bismuth isooctanoate in the production of automotive interior parts

We hope this article can provide valuable reference for researchers and engineers in the field of automotive interior parts production. By continuously optimizing the application technology and process conditions of bismuth isooctanoate, we believe that more high-performance, environmentally friendly automotive interior parts products will be developed in the future.

Extended reading:
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TEDA-L33B/DABCO POLYCAT/Gel catalyst

Addocat 106/TEDA-L33B/DABCO POLYCAT

NT CAT ZR-50

NT CAT TMR-2

NT CAT PC-77

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