Preparation of rigid polyurethane foams using low-emission catalysts derived from metal acetates and ethanolamine

Abstract

Two metal acetate-ethanolamine complexes, namely Cu(OAc)2(EA) and Zn(OAc)2(EA), were synthesized from metal acetates [M(OAc)2, where M=Cu and Zn] and ethanolamine (EA). These metal acetate-ethanolamine complexes can be used as catalysts in the preparation of rigid polyurethane (RPUR) foams. Both Cu(OAc)2(EA) and Zn(OAc)2(EA) were obtained as viscous liquids, which have very weak odor and could be easily dissolved in the starting materials of RPUR foam formulation. The results were compared with RPUR foam prepared from dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCHA), which is a commercial catalyst with very strong amine odor. Considering the gel time and rise time, Cu(OAc)2(EA) had higher catalytic activity than Zn(OAc)2(EA) and both metal acetate-ethanolamine complexes had lower catalytic activity than DMCHA. Density and compressive strength of RPUR foam catalyzed by Cu(OAc)2(EA) were comparable to that prepared from DMCHA.