Polyurethane Microcellular Elastomers. 5. Effect of Catalysts on the Foam Formation Kinetics

The influence of aliphatic tertiary amines: tetramethylethanediamine 1,2 (TMEDA), tetramethylpropanediamine 1,3 (TMPDA), dimethylcyclohexylamine PMCyHA); of cyclic amine: DABCO, as well as of the tin(II) octoate, on the rise rate, gelling and temperature during the foaming process of microcellular elastomers used in RIM technology has been studied. Aliphatic tertiary amines have a moderate catalytic effect, acting in a comparable extent on both the blowing and chain extender processes, while DABCO will influence predominantly the molecular mass increasing phenomenon. The Tin(II) octoate influences just the urethane formation process.