DMCHA (N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine): an ideal water-based polyurethane catalyst option to facilitate green production
Introduction
With the increasing emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development around the world, green chemistry and green production technology have become an important development direction of the chemical industry. As an environmentally friendly material, water-based polyurethane (WPU) is widely used in coatings, adhesives, leather, textiles and other fields due to its low volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions, non-toxic and pollution-free. However, in the production process of water-based polyurethane, the choice of catalyst is crucial. It not only affects the reaction rate and product quality, but also directly affects the environmental protection of the production process. As a highly efficient and environmentally friendly catalyst, N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCHA) has gradually become an ideal choice for the production of water-based polyurethanes. This article will introduce the characteristics, applications of DMCHA and its advantages in the production of aqueous polyurethanes in detail.
1. Basic characteristics of DMCHA
1.1 Chemical structure
The chemical name of DMCHA is N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine, the molecular formula is C8H17N, and the molecular weight is 127.23 g/mol. Its chemical structure is as follows:
CH3
|
N-CH3
/
/
/
/
CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH21.2 Physical Properties
DMCHA is a colorless to light yellow liquid with a unique amine odor. Its main physical properties are shown in the following table:
| Properties | value |
|---|---|
| Boiling point (℃) | 160-162 |
| Density (g/cm³) | 0.85-0.87 |
| Flash point (℃) | 45 |
| Solution | Easy soluble in water, alcohols, and ethers |
| Steam pressure (mmHg) | 1.2 (20℃) |
1.3 Chemical Properties
DMCHA is a strong basic organic amine with high reactivity. It can react with isocyanate (NCO) groups to form carbamic acidester, thereby accelerating the polymerization of polyurethane. In addition, DMCHA also has good thermal and chemical stability, and can maintain its catalytic activity over a wide temperature range.
2. Application of DMCHA in the production of aqueous polyurethane
2.1 Catalytic mechanism
In the production process of aqueous polyurethane, DMCHA mainly acts as a catalyst to promote the reaction between isocyanate and polyol. The catalytic mechanism is as follows:
- Nucleophilic addition reaction: The nitrogen atoms in DMCHA have lone pairs of electrons, which can attack carbon atoms in isocyanate and form intermediates.
- Proton Transfer: The intermediate forms carbamate through proton transfer.
- Chapter Growth: The carbamate further reacts with the polyol to form a polyurethane chain.
2.2 Catalytic effect
DMCHA has significant catalytic effect, which can significantly increase the reaction rate and shorten the production cycle. In addition, DMCHA can also improve the molecular structure of polyurethane, improve the mechanical properties and weather resistance of the product. The following table compares the catalytic effects of DMCHA and other commonly used catalysts:
| Catalyzer | Reaction rate (relative value) | Product Mechanical Performance | Weather resistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMCHA | 1.5 | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Dibutyltin dilaurate | 1.0 | Good | Good |
| Triethylamine | 0.8 | in | in |
2.3 Application Example
DMCHA is widely used in water-based polyurethane coatings, adhesives, leather coatings and other fields. The following are some specific application examples:
- Water-based polyurethane coating: DMCHA can significantly improve the curing speed of the coating, improve the hardness and wear resistance of the coating film.
- Water-based polyurethane adhesive: DMCHA can improve the initial adhesion and final adhesion strength of the adhesive, and is suitable for bonding of various materials such as wood, plastic, and metal.
- Leather Coating: DMCHA can improve the softness and fold resistance of leather coatings and improve the service life of leather products.
3. Environmental advantages of DMCHA
3.1 Low VOC emissions
DMCHA, as an aqueous catalyst, can significantly reduce VOC emissions during production. Compared with traditional solvent-based catalysts, the use of DMCHA can reduce VOC emissions by more than 80%, which complies with the requirements of environmental protection regulations.
3.2 Non-toxic and harmless
DMCHA is non-toxic and harmless to the human body and the environment, and will not cause any harm to the health of operators. In addition, DMCHA will not produce harmful by-products during the production process and is in line with the principles of green chemistry.
3.3 Biodegradable
DMCHA has good biodegradability and can decompose quickly in the natural environment without causing long-term pollution to the environment. This characteristic makes DMCHA an ideal choice for water-based polyurethane production.
4. DMCHA product parameters
4.1 Product Specifications
DMCHA’s product specifications are shown in the following table:
| Project | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colorless to light yellow liquid |
| Purity (%) | ≥99.0 |
| Moisture (%) | ≤0.1 |
| Acne Number (mg KOH/g) | ≤0.5 |
| Amine value (mg KOH/g) | 440-460 |
| Density (g/cm³) | 0.85-0.87 |
| Boiling point (℃) | 160-162 |
| Flash point (℃) | 45 |
4.2 Packaging and storage
DMCHA is usually packaged in 200L galvanized iron barrels or 1000L IBC barrels. It should be avoided when storing, keep it well ventilated, and stay away from fire and heat sources. The storage temperature should be controlled between 5-30℃ to avoid high and low temperature environments.
4.3 Safety precautions
DMCHA is irritating to a certain extent. Protective gloves, goggles and protective clothing should be worn during operation to avoid direct contact with the skin and eyes. If you are not careful, you should immediately rinse with a lot of clean water and seek medical help. In addition, DMCHA should be kept away from strong oxidants and strong acids to avoid severe reactions.
5. DMCHA market prospects
5.1 Market demand
With the increasing strictness of environmental protection regulations and the improvement of consumers’ environmental awareness, the market demand for water-based polyurethanes has been growing year by year. As a key catalyst for the production of water-based polyurethanes, the market demand for DMCHA has also increased. It is expected that the market size of DMCHA will maintain an average annual growth rate of more than 10% in the next few years.
5.2 Competition pattern
At present, the global DMCHA market is mainly dominated by several large chemical companies, such as BASF, Dow Chemical, Huntsman, etc. These companies have occupied a major market share with their advanced production technology and complete sales network. However, with the development of emerging markets and technological progress, more and more small and medium-sized enterprises have begun to enter the DMCHA market, and market competition is becoming increasingly fierce.
5.3 Development trend
In the future, the development trend of DMCHA will mainly focus on the following aspects:
- Green: With the increasing strictness of environmental protection regulations, the green production of DMCHA will become the mainstream. Enterprises will pay more attention to the research and development and application of environmental protection technologies to reduce environmental pollution during production.
- Efficiency: DMCHA’s efficient production will become the key to corporate competition. By improving production processes and improving catalytic efficiency, enterprises can reduce production costs and improve market competitiveness.
- Multifunctionalization: The multifunctional application of DMCHA will become the future development direction. Through the combination with other functional additives, DMCHA can meet the needs of different application fields and expand the market space.
6. Conclusion
DMCHA as an efficient and environmentally friendly water-based polyurethane catalyst has significant advantages and broad market prospects. Its excellent catalytic properties, low VOC emissions, non-toxic and harmless and biodegradable properties make it an ideal choice for water-based polyurethane production. With the increasing strictness of environmental regulations and the improvement of consumers’ environmental awareness, the market demand for DMCHA will continue to grow. In the future, the green, efficient and multifunctional development of DMCHA will become the mainstream trend in the industry, helping the green and sustainable development of water-based polyurethane production.
Appendix: Comparison between DMCHA and other catalysts
| Catalyzer | Reaction rate (relative value) | Product Mechanical Performance | Weather resistance | VOC emissions | Toxicity | Biodegradability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMCHA | 1.5 | Outstanding | Outstanding | Low | Non-toxic | Degradable |
| Dibutyltin dilaurate | 1.0 | Good | Good | High | Toxic | Difficult to degrade |
| Triethylamine | 0.8 | in | in | in | Low toxic | Degradable |
From the above comparison, it can be seen that DMCHA has significant advantages in reaction rate, product mechanical properties, weather resistance, VOC emissions, toxicity and biodegradability, and is an ideal catalyst for the production of water-based polyurethane.
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