Why is PU Additives Better?

Sustainability is at the core of Comfort & Insulation’s strategy and a major driver for our innovation: We reduce our footprint by using resources more efficiently, minimizing emissions and constantly improving our processes and we develop new products and technologies that help our customers to reduce their environmental impact and maximize the handprint.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Yourun Synthetic Material.

Polyurethane (PU) is an incredibly versatile polymeric material used in many areas of our daily lives. It plays a crucial role in addressing current and future challenges in our world. Our ongoing development projects are focused on creating more sustainable polyurethanes, enhancing resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact. By innovating in this area we aim to meet the evolving needs of society while promoting ecological balance and sustainability.

In coatings and adhesives, PU materials provide extremely resistant surfaces and long- lasting bonding. In foams, PU is even more widespread and found in furniture and daily consumer goods, but also used as insulating materials, in appliances, gaskets and more.

Products made with PU are durable as PU not only helps to improve the efficiency of materials during use, but also has a better impact over the whole product life cycle. We understand that our additives have a big influence in the final performance and sustainability of the PU material so we constantly develop new products that reach even higher efficiencies, have low, or zero emissions and are made from renewable materials.

Well known for their insulating performance, rigid PU foams also provide additional mechanical stability. In refrigerators, liquid PU systems fill between the inner and outer surfaces that then polymerize between the walls to ensure a high level of stability and efficient insulation. The K-factor defines the final performance of any PU system, including the degree of foam defects like voids or splits caused by insufficient flow ability. Working closely with our customers, we try to drive the development of our products to support more and more efficient systems, and the latest generation of energy efficient refrigerators that achieve the highest levels of energy efficiency, for instance A+++ for the European markets.

PU is also an efficient heat insulator, with widespread applications from warm water boilers to cooling warehouses. Insulation panels provide a good combination of insulating performance and applicability during the construction phase. By using PU foams for the cold chain, the material can provide a high level of efficiency and helps to lower the energy consumption for these applications significantly. PU materials applied directly at the construction site in liquid form as spray foam means the foam can be adapted to meet the individual requirements of the building. Our latest POLYCAT® 203, POLYCAT® 204, and POLYCAT® 206 catalysts have enabled a smooth transition to environmentally friendly HFO blowing agents by ensuring system stability in spray foam formulations, overcoming the compatibility challenges with conventional amine catalysts.

In all forms of PU, Evonik products help to achieve the best performance, and deliver long-term durable foam systems compatible with the latest systems of propellants that meet regulatory, worker safety and environmental needs.

For more information please visit ISOPA website

Spray foams offer an efficient solution for thermal and sound insulation in both new constructions and renovations. The application of silicones and catalysts is essential in this process, especially given the complex chemistry and the challenges of on-site application outside controlled industrial settings. In closed-cell foams, the use of physical blowing agents, which can significantly degrade over time, limits the selection of suitable silicones and catalysts. Conversely, open-cell foams benefit from low-emission catalysts, providing added value for spray foams applicators.

Momentive's portfolio includes silicones and catalysts that enable the development of superior formulations for both open-cell and closed-cell spray foams systems.

For more information, please visit Metal Catalysts.

Panels produced through a continuous process with metal facings offer an effective building solution through a simple, fast, and lightweight construction method, as well as a wide variety of aesthetic options in terms of panel shapes and facing colors. Compared to traditional construction, buildings made from sandwich panels allow for faster dismantling and reduced demolition waste.

Momentive’s portfolio includes silicones and catalysts that facilitate a smooth production process for PIR/PUR systems.

Panels produced through a continuous process utilize a wide variety of facing materials, ranging from aluminum to paper and multilayer materials. These panels significantly enhance the energy efficiency of residential buildings due to the excellent polyurethane thermal conductivity. Typical applications include wall insulation, floor insulation, and roof insulation panels, but aluminum panels are also commonly used for air distribution ducts.

Momentive’s portfolio includes silicones and catalysts that facilitate a smooth production process for PIR/PUR systems.

OCF foams have the ability to flow into narrow cavities, such as windows frames, providing tight insulation that helps both renovations and new builds meet energy efficiency targets.

Momentive’s portfolio includes silicones and catalysts that enable the smooth development of formulations for OCF cans.

Block foams, both PIR and PUR, are used in a wide variety of applications, ranging from thermal insulation to cryogenic applications, tooling, and modeling. These blocks are produced with a wide range of densities and fire-resistance properties, depending on their final use.

Momentive’s portfolio includes silicones and catalysts that enable the production of various foam types, ensuring the required performance for each application.

Composite and engineered wood products are commonly used in construction, with engineered wood being one of the most important raw materials for durable construction.  Several efforts aim to utilize sustainable materials and provide enduring products for consumers. Momentive offers solutions to enable more efficient processing for a sustainable world and has developed an additive specifically for MDI-binder applications in Oriented Strand Board (OSB). 

The key features and typical benefits include isocyanate compatibility, temperature activation (above 80°C), and the potential enhancement of physical properties in binder applications, such as improved adhesion and the prevention of water absorption.