Polyurethane Amine Catalysts
Product Stewardship Summary
Amine catalysts can be used in a variety of polyurethane foam applications, including automobile
seat cushions, upholstered furniture and mattresses, refrigerators and freezers, and roof and wall
insulation. Every day these durable products make our lives more comfortable, supportive and
safer. Common polyurethane amine catalysts include triethylenediamine, pentamethyldiethylenetriamine and dimethylcyclohexylamine.
New catalysts are continuously introduced
to help foam producers precisely control cell
structure, reduce emissions and improve
foam performance. New reduced-emission,
high-efficiency catalysts help manufacturers create eco-friendly foams. Examples of
these reduced-emission catalysts along with
traditional catalysts are shown in the table to
the right. Pictures and descriptions of flexible
slabstock foam, flexible molded foam and rigid
foam applications are shown on the next page.
4
POLYCAT® 30
4
POLYCAT 31
4
®
Traditional DABCO 33 LV
Catalysts
DABCO® BL-19
®
4
4
DABCO DMEA
®
4
DABCO T
4
POLYCAT® 5
4
®
POLYCAT® 8
4
POLYCAT® 9
4
POLYCAT 12
4
POLYCAT 15
4
POLYCAT 17
4
®
®
®
POLYCAT 41
®
POLYCAT 77
®
4
4
Flexible
Molded
Foam
4
Flexible
Slabstock
Foam
Reduced- DABCO® NE300 4
Emission
®
Catalysts DABCO NE1070
DABCO® RE530
Product
Trade Name
Uses
Balanced
Type
Gelling
Polyurethane foams are one of the most versatile materials available. Foam can be created in
almost any variety of shape and firmness. Foam
production is comparable to bread making.
Foam ingredients are mixed; they react and rise
to resemble a loaf of bread. However, unlike
bread making, foam production is much more
controlled and catalysts play a key role. In a
typical foam mixture, a catalyst may accelerate the gelling reaction or promote the blowing
(gas-forming) reaction.
Air Products’ Amine Catalysts
Blowing
Uses and Benefits
Flexible Slabstock Foam
Flexible Molded Foam
Rigid Foam
Foam mixture poured on moving conveyor
and expands to a slab. Durable, comfortable support for furniture cushioning and
bedding.
Foam mixture poured into shaped molds.
For comfort, energy and sound absorption,
moisture and heat resistance in automotive
interiors, and flexibility and resiliency for
office furniture design.
Foam injected between plastic and metal
cabinet. Higher energy efficiencies for
insulation foams, including spray, board
laminate and refrigerator formulations.
Physical and Chemical
Properties
These amine catalysts are alkaline. Amines
have a fish-like odor. Dabco DMEA, Dabco T,
Dabco RE530, Polycat catalysts 5, 8, 15, 30,
31, and 77 are combustible liquids. All of the
amine catalysts in the Amine Catalysts table
are water-soluble, with the exception of Polycat
catalysts 5, 8 ,and 12.
Environmental Effects
The process used to manufacture polyurethane
foam is well controlled and designed to be
environmentally safe. Amine catalysts are typically 0.1 to 5.0 percent of a foam formulation.
These amines tend to break down rapidly in the
atmosphere and therefore are unlikely to accumulate significantly in the environment.
Health Effects
Liquid amine catalysts are corrosive to skin
and eyes and can cause burns. Because amine
vapors cause nose, throat and lung irritation, air
emissions are controlled in industrial settings.
Amine vapors are also irritating to the eyes at
very low concentrations. Some workers have
observed blurred or foggy vision with a blue tint
(“blue haze”) and sometimes a halo phenomenon around lights. This symptom is temporary
and there is no long-term effect. Although it is
not harmful to the eyes, blue haze may place
a person at risk for accidental injury due to
impaired vision. For more information, consult
Safetygram 32, The Facts About Amine-Induced
Visual Disturbances: Halovision-Blue HazeGlaucopsia.
Exposure Potential and Risk Management Measures
Industrial Use
The manufacture of polyurethane foam is
closely regulated for environmental, health,
and safety aspects at the local, state and
federal levels. In all processes and operations,
manufacturers are required to meet demanding
emissions and workplace safety requirements.
It is important to provide adequate ventilation in
work areas. In some cases, emissions from the
process are handled by local exhaust ventilation and treatment systems designed to draw
vapors away from the worker’s breathing zone.
Where engineering controls are not feasible
and work practices do not reduce amine vapor
Regulatory Information
Several regulations govern the manufacture,
sale, transportation, use and disposal of amine
catalysts. These laws vary by country and geographic region. You can find general regulatory
information in the Material Safety Data Sheet.
concentrations below recommended exposure
limits, workers must use air-purifying respirators. Where there is a possibility of exposure to
amine catalysts, workers must wear a full-face
shield over chemical goggles, gloves, longsleeved coveralls and safety shoes or rubber
boots.
Consumer Use
We sell amine catalysts to industrial manufacturers, not the public. Foams that are made
with the amine catalysts are used in a variety of
consumer products.
Sources for Additional
Information
• Air Products Material Safety Data Sheets
• Air Products Polyurethane Additives
• Air Products Safetygrams
• Center for the Polyurethanes Industry
Conclusion
Amine catalysts can be used for the production
of polyurethane foams. Users can handle amine
catalysts safely with minimal environmental
effects when they follow industry and company
guidelines.
Contact Information
Emergency Response System
• Tel 1-800-523-9374
(Continental U.S. and Puerto Rico)
• Tel 1-610-481-7711 (other locations)
• 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• For assistance involving Air Products and
Chemicals, Inc. gases and equipment
Technical Information Center
• Tel 1-800-752-1597 (U.S.)
• Tel 1-610-481-8565 (other locations)
• Fax 1-610-481-8690
• E-mail [email protected]
• Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. EST
We developed this Product Stewardship
Summary to give you a general overview of the
chemical. This Summary is not meant to provide emergency response or medical treatment
information. You can find in-depth safety and
health information on the Material Safety Data
Sheet for the product.
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© Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 2010 (32020)
900-10-006-US