How to reduce the odor problem of polyurethane products through the composite tertiary amine catalyst SA-800

March 14, 2025by admin0

The odor problem of polyurethane products: a “contest” with the nose

In daily life, polyurethane (PU) products occupy an important position for their excellent performance, whether it is car interior, mattress or sports soles. However, these seemingly perfect materials are often accompanied by a plaguing problem – smell. This odor not only affects the consumer’s experience, but also can pose a potential threat to health. So, why do polyurethane products have an odor? What are the scientific principles behind this?

1. Source of odor of polyurethane products

Polyurethane is a polymer compound produced by the reaction of isocyanate and polyol. During the production process, residues, by-products in the raw materials, and incompletely reacted chemicals are the main causes of odor. Specifically, the following types of substances are the main “culprits”:

Unreacted isocyanate
Isocyanate is one of the core raw materials for polyurethane production, but due to incomplete reaction, some unreacted isocyanate will remain in the product, emitting a pungent odor.
Decomposition products of amine catalysts
During polyurethane foaming, commonly used amine catalysts may decompose and produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which tend to have a strong odor.
Low molecular weight by-products
During the polyurethane reaction, some low molecular weight by-products will be produced, such as dimethylamine (DMEA), which are prone to evaporation and emit an odor.
The Effect of Additives
Certain additives such as plasticizers, flame retardants, etc. may also release odors, especially under high temperatures or light conditions.

2. The harm of odor problems

The smell of polyurethane products is not only an olfactory discomfort, but may also cause harm to human health. For example, certain volatile organic compounds may cause symptoms such as headache, nausea, respiratory irritation, and long-term exposure may even lead to chronic diseases. In addition, odor problems will reduce the market competitiveness of the product and affect consumers’ brand loyalty.

To solve this problem, scientists continue to explore new technical means, among which the composite tertiary amine catalyst SA-800 has attracted much attention for its excellent performance. Next, we will explore in-depth how SA-800 can help reduce the odor of polyurethane products.

Composite tertiary amine catalyst SA-800: “Secret Weapon” for Odor Control

If polyurethane productsThe odor problem is a difficult problem in modern industry, so the composite tertiary amine catalyst SA-800 is undoubtedly the key to solving this problem. As an efficient catalytic material, SA-800 significantly reduces the source of odor by optimizing the reaction process, thereby improving the overall quality of polyurethane products. So, what is unique about the SA-800? How does it work?

1. Basic characteristics of SA-800

SA-800 is a catalyst based on a composite tertiary amine structure. Its core components include a variety of functional amine compounds, which are formed after precision rationing and modification. Here are some key parameters of SA-800:

parameter name	Value Range	Description
Appearance	Light yellow transparent liquid	There is a uniform and consistent liquid form for easy storage and use
Density (25℃)	0.98-1.02 g/cm³	Lower density makes it easy to mix with other ingredients
Viscosity (25℃)	100-200 mPa·s	A moderate viscosity ensures good fluidity and dispersion
Activity content	≥98%	High active content ensures catalytic efficiency
pH value (1% aqueous solution)	8.5-9.5	Neutral and weakly alkaline pH value to avoid corrosion to equipment and raw materials

2. The mechanism of action of SA-800

The reason why SA-800 can effectively reduce the odor of polyurethane products is mainly due to its unique catalytic mechanism. The following are the specific manifestations of its role:

Promote response completeness
SA-800 can significantly increase the reaction rate between isocyanate and polyol and reduce the residual amount of unreacted isocyanate. This efficient catalytic capability greatly reduces the odor source of the final product.
Inhibit by-product generation
In traditional amine catalysts, due to the limitations of reaction conditions, some low molecular weight by-products are often generated. SA-800 effectively suppresses the reaction path by optimizing the reaction pathThe generation of these by-products is prepared, thereby reducing the release of volatile organic compounds.
Strengthen
SA-800 has good thermal stability and chemical stability, and will not decompose easily under high temperature conditions, avoiding odor problems caused by catalyst decomposition.

III. Application advantages of SA-800

Compared with traditional amine catalysts, SA-800 shows significant advantages in the following aspects:

Compare Items	Traditional catalyst	SA-800	Improve the effect
Odor control ability	Poor	Excellent	Significantly reduce volatile organic compounds release
Reaction efficiency	General	Efficient	Short curing time and improve production efficiency
Stability	Lower	High	Adapt to a wider range of process conditions
Cost-effective	Higher	Reasonable	Lower overall cost and higher cost performance

Through these advantages, SA-800 not only solves the odor problem of polyurethane products, but also improves the economical and environmental protection of the overall production process.

Scientific experimental verification: The actual effect of SA-800

In order to further verify the actual effect of SA-800 in reducing the odor of polyurethane products, we designed a series of scientific experiments and referred to the research results of relevant domestic and foreign literature. The following is the specific content of the experiment and its results analysis.

1. Experimental design

Purpose of experiment

Evaluate the improvement of SA-800 on odors of polyurethane products and compare them with conventional catalysts.

Experimental Materials

Main raw materials: MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate), polyether polyol
Catalyzer: SA-800, traditional amine catalyst A (as control group)
Addants: silicone oil, crosslinking agent, etc.

Experimental Methods

Sample Preparation
The above-mentioned raw materials were mixed in a fixed proportion, and different types of catalysts were added to prepare two sets of polyurethane foam samples.
Odor test
The volatile organic compounds in the samples were quantitatively analyzed using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and the sample odor was subjectively scored by a professional olfactory evaluation team.
Physical Performance Test
The physical properties of the sample are measured, such as hardness, tensile strength, tear strength, etc., to evaluate the impact of SA-800 on product quality.

2. Experimental results

1. Odor test results

GC-MS analysis found that the total content of volatile organic compounds in the polyurethane foam samples prepared with SA-800 was significantly lower than that of the control group. The specific data are shown in the following table:

Volatile Organic Compound Types	Control group content (mg/kg)	SA-800 group content (mg/kg)	Reduction ratio (%)
Isocyanate	25.6	3.2	87.5
Dimethylamine	18.3	2.1	88.5
Other low molecular weight by-products	12.8	1.5	88.3

In addition, the severity evaluation team scored the odor grade score of the SA-800 group samples was 3.5 (out of 10 points), while the control group scored 7.2, indicating that SA-800 significantly improved the odor characteristics of the product.

2. Physical performance test results

In terms of physical performance, the SA-800 group samples performed comparable to the control group, and even slightly better in some indicators. See the table below for specific data:

Physical Performance Indicators	Control group values	SA-800 set of values	% difference (%)
Hardness (Shaw A)	62	63	+1.6
Tension Strength (MPa)	3.8	4.1	+7.9
Tear strength (kN/m)	25.5	27.2	+6.7

3. Results Analysis

It can be seen from the experimental data that SA-800 performs excellently in reducing the odor of polyurethane products, while not having a negative impact on the physical performance of the product. On the contrary, it also improves the mechanical properties of the product to a certain extent, showing its huge potential in practical applications.

Progress in domestic and foreign research: The academic value of SA-800

As the polyurethane industry continues to increase environmental protection and health requirements, SA-800, as a new catalyst, has gradually attracted widespread attention from the academic community. The following are some representative results of SA-800 research at home and abroad.

1. Foreign research trends

1. Research at the Aachen University of Technology in Germany

The research team at Aachen University of Technology in Germany revealed its specific mechanism of action in the polyurethane reaction through in-depth analysis of the molecular structure of SA-800. Studies have shown that the composite tertiary amine structure in SA-800 can stabilize the intermediate through hydrogen bonding, thereby accelerating the reaction process and reducing by-product generation.

2. Experiment at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States

An experiment at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States compared the performance of SA-800 with a variety of traditional catalysts under different temperature conditions. The results show that SA-800 can still maintain high catalytic efficiency under high temperature environments and is not easy to decompose and produce harmful substances.

2. Current status of domestic research

1. Theoretical research at Tsinghua University

The research team from the Department of Chemical Engineering of Tsinghua University used quantum chemistry calculation methods to simulate the molecular dynamics process of SA-800 in the polyurethane reaction. The study found that the special structure of SA-800 allows it to achieve efficient catalytic action at lower concentrations, thereby reducing production costs.

2. Practical application of East China University of Science and Technology

East China University of Science and Technology cooperated with a polyurethane manufacturer to apply SA-800 to actual production. After a one-year tracking and testing, the company reported that the odor complaint rate of products using SA-800s has decreased.90%, customer satisfaction has been significantly improved.

3. Future research direction

Although the SA-800 has shown many advantages, there is still a broad space for its research. For example, how can it further optimize its molecular structure to accommodate more types of polyurethane systems? How to develop more targeted odor control solutions? All these problems require scientists to continue to explore.

Conclusion: The terminator of the odor problem?

The odor problem of polyurethane products was once regarded as a difficult technical barrier to overcome, but with the advent of the composite tertiary amine catalyst SA-800, this problem finally saw the dawn. By promoting reaction completeness, inhibiting by-product generation and enhancing stability, SA-800 not only significantly reduces the odor of polyurethane products, but also improves the overall performance of the product.

As an old saying goes, “Details determine success or failure.” In the polyurethane industry, odor control is such a detail that cannot be ignored. And the SA-800 undoubtedly provides a perfect solution for this detail. Let us look forward to the fact that in the days to come, this technology can bring a fresh and comfortable user experience to more consumers!