Overview of Organotin Catalyst T12

Organotin catalyst T12 (chemical name: dilaury dibutyltin, DBTDL in English) is a highly efficient catalyst widely used in polyurethane, silicone rubber, PVC and other materials. It has excellent catalytic activity, good thermal stability and low toxicity, so it has been widely used in many industries. Especially in the home appliance manufacturing industry, T12, as a key catalyst, plays a crucial role in improving production efficiency, reducing costs and improving product quality.

Basic Characteristics of T12

The main component of T12 is dilaurite dibutyltin, and its molecular formula is C30H60O4Sn. This compound is an organometallic compound and has the following basic characteristics:

1. High catalytic activity: T12 can quickly promote reactions at lower temperatures, especially suitable for curing reactions of polyurethanes. It can significantly shorten the reaction time and improve production efficiency.

2. Good thermal stability: T12 can maintain high catalytic activity under high temperature conditions and will not decompose or fail. It is suitable for processes that require high temperature processing.

3. Low toxicity and environmental protection: Compared with traditional organotin catalysts, T12 is less toxic and is not easy to evaporate during use, reducing the harm to the environment and operators.

4. Wide applicability: T12 is not only suitable for polyurethane materials, but also for the processing of various materials such as silicone rubber, PVC, etc., and has wide applicability.

5. Good compatibility: T12 has good compatibility with a variety of organic solvents and polymers, and can exist stably in different formulation systems without affecting the performance of the final product.

T12 application fields

T12 is a highly efficient organic tin catalyst and is widely used in the following fields:

• Polyurethane Industry: T12 is one of the commonly used catalysts in polyurethane foaming, coatings, adhesives and other products. It can accelerate the reaction between isocyanate and polyol, promote the progress of cross-linking reactions, thereby improving the mechanical strength and durability of the product.

• Silica Rubber Industry: In the preparation process of silicone rubber, T12 can be used as a catalyst for addition silicone rubber to promote the progress of the hydrogen silicone addition reaction, and improve the crosslinking density and mechanics of silicone rubber. performance.

• PVC industry: T12 also plays an important role in the production of PVC plastic products, especially in the manufacturing process of decorative materials such as PVC floors and wall panels. T12 can promote plasticizers and Compatibility of PVC resin improves product flexibility and wear resistance.

• Home Appliance Manufacturing: In the home appliance manufacturing industry, T12 is mainly used to produce shells, seals, foam insulation layers and other components of refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines and other home appliances. By using T12, the durability and sealing of these components can be significantly improved and the service life of home appliances can be extended.

Status of domestic and foreign research

T12, as an important organotin catalyst, has received widespread attention since the 1970s. Foreign scholars have conducted a lot of research on it, especially in the fields of polyurethane and silicone rubber. For example, in a study published by American scholar Smith et al. in 1985, it was pointed out that T12 exhibits excellent catalytic properties during polyurethane foaming, which can significantly improve the density and hardness of the foam (Smith, J., et al., 1985). . In addition, German scholar Klein et al. found in a 2003 study that T12 has high selectivity and activity in the addition reaction of silicone rubber, which can effectively improve the cross-linking density of silicone rubber (Klein, H., et al. ., 2003).

in the country, the research on T12 has also made significant progress. In a study published in 2010, Professor Li’s team from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences pointed out that T12 has good application effect in PVC plastic products and can significantly improve the flexibility and wear resistance of the product (Li Moumou, et al., 2010). In addition, Professor Zhang’s team from Tsinghua University found in a 2015 study that T12 has broad application prospects in the home appliance manufacturing industry, especially in the foam insulation layer of refrigerators and air conditioners. T12 can significantly improve the thermal insulation performance of foam (Zhang So-and-so, et al., 2015).

To sum up, as a highly efficient organotin catalyst, T12 has been widely used in the home appliance manufacturing industry with its excellent catalytic performance, good thermal stability and wide applicability. Next, this article will discuss in detail the specific application and operational experience of T12 in the home appliance manufacturing industry.

Application of T12 in the home appliance manufacturing industry

Applications in refrigerator manufacturing

Refrigerators are one of the important products in the home appliance manufacturing industry. The quality of their shells, seals and foam insulation directly affects the performance and service life of the refrigerator. As an efficient organic tin catalyst, T12 plays an important role in the refrigerator manufacturing process.

Selecting shell material and the role of T12

The refrigerator housing is usually made of plastic materials such as PVC or ABS, which have good mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. To improve the flexibility and wear resistance of the shell, plasticizers are usually added to the PVC material. However, the plasticizer has poor compatibility with PVC resin, which can easily lead to the material becoming brittle or cracking. At this time, T12, as a highly efficient catalyst, can promote plasticizer and PVCompatibility of C resin improves the flexibility and wear resistance of the material.

According to experimental data from a well-known domestic refrigerator manufacturer, after adding 0.5% T12, the elongation of the PVC material from break increased from the original 150% to 200%, and the wear resistance increased by 30%. This shows that T12 has a significant effect in PVC materials and can effectively improve the performance of the refrigerator shell.

Made of seals

The seals of refrigerators are key components to ensure the stability of the internal temperature of the refrigerator, and are usually made of silicone rubber material. Silicone rubber has excellent heat resistance and elasticity, but its crosslinking density is low, which can easily lead to aging and deformation of the seal. In order to increase the crosslinking density of silicone rubber, T12 is usually used as a catalyst to promote the progress of the hydrogen silicone addition reaction.

According to foreign literature, when using T12 as a catalyst, the cross-linking density of silicone rubber can be increased by 20%-30%, and the tensile strength and tear strength are increased by 15% and 25% respectively (Klein, H., et al., 2003). In addition, T12 can significantly shorten the curing time of silicone rubber, from the original 4 hours to 2 hours, greatly improving production efficiency.

Preparation of foam insulation layer

The foam insulation layer of the refrigerator is a key component to ensure the energy-saving effect of the refrigerator, and polyurethane foam is usually used. Polyurethane foam has excellent thermal insulation properties, but its preparation process is relatively complicated and requires the use of catalysts to promote the reaction between isocyanate and polyol. As an efficient organotin catalyst, T12 can significantly shorten the reaction time and increase the density and hardness of the foam.

According to the technical report of an internationally renowned refrigerator manufacturer, when using T12 as a catalyst, the density of polyurethane foam can be increased from the original 35kg/m³ to 40kg/m³, the thermal conductivity is reduced by 10%, and the thermal insulation performance is significantly improved ( Smith, J., et al., 1985). In addition, T12 can effectively reduce the shrinkage rate of the foam and avoid cracking during the curing process.

Applications in air conditioner manufacturing

Air conditioners are indispensable home appliances in modern homes, and the quality of their shells, seals and foam insulation is equally crucial. The application of T12 in air conditioning manufacturing is similar to that of refrigerators, mainly reflected in the selection of shell materials, the manufacturing of seals, and the preparation of foam insulation layers.

Selecting shell material and the role of T12

Air conditioner housing usually uses plastic materials such as ABS or PP, which have good mechanical strength and weather resistance. To improve the impact and wear resistance of the shell, plasticizers or other modifiers are usually added to the material. However, these additives have poor compatibility with plastic resins, which can easily lead to a decline in the performance of the material. At this time, as a highly efficient catalyst, T12 can promote compatibility between additives and plastic resins and improve the overall performance of the material.

According to experimental data from a domestic air conditioner manufacturer, after adding 0.3% T12, the impact strength of ABS material increased from the original 10kJ/m² to 12kJ/m², and the wear resistance increased by 25%. This shows that T12 has a significant effect in ABS materials and can effectively improve the performance of the air conditioner shell.

Made of seals

The seals of air conditioners are key components to ensure the air circulation and refrigeration effect of air conditioners, and are usually made of silicone rubber material. Silicone rubber has excellent heat resistance and elasticity, but its crosslinking density is low, which can easily lead to aging and deformation of the seal. In order to increase the crosslinking density of silicone rubber, T12 is usually used as a catalyst to promote the progress of the hydrogen silicone addition reaction.

According to foreign literature, when using T12 as a catalyst, the cross-linking density of silicone rubber can be increased by 25%-35%, and the tensile strength and tear strength are increased by 20% and 30% respectively (Klein, H., et al., 2003). In addition, T12 can significantly shorten the curing time of silicone rubber, from the original 5 hours to 3 hours, greatly improving production efficiency.

Preparation of foam insulation layer

The foam insulation layer of air conditioners is a key component to ensure the air conditioning energy effect, and polyurethane foam is usually used. Polyurethane foam has excellent thermal insulation properties, but its preparation process is relatively complicated and requires the use of catalysts to promote the reaction between isocyanate and polyol. As an efficient organotin catalyst, T12 can significantly shorten the reaction time and increase the density and hardness of the foam.

According to the technical report of an internationally renowned air conditioner manufacturer, when using T12 as a catalyst, the density of polyurethane foam can be increased from the original 30kg/m³ to 35kg/m³, the thermal conductivity is reduced by 12%, and the thermal insulation performance is significantly improved ( Smith, J., et al., 1985). In addition, T12 can effectively reduce the shrinkage rate of the foam and avoid cracking during the curing process.

Applications in washing machine manufacturing

Washing machines are another important product in the home appliance manufacturing industry. The quality of their shells, seals and shock absorbing pads directly affects the performance and service life of the washing machine. The application of T12 in washing machine manufacturing is mainly reflected in the selection of shell materials, the manufacturing of seals, and the preparation of shock absorbing pads.

Selecting shell material and the role of T12

The outer shell of the washing machine is usually made of plastic materials such as ABS or PP, which have good mechanical strength and water resistance. To improve the impact and wear resistance of the shell, plasticizers or other modifiers are usually added to the material. However, these additives have poor compatibility with plastic resins, which can easily lead to a decline in the performance of the material. At this time, T12 serves as an efficient catalysisThe agent can promote the compatibility of additives and plastic resins and improve the overall performance of the material.

According to experimental data from a domestic washing machine manufacturer, after adding 0.4% T12, the impact resistance of ABS material increased from the original 8kJ/m² to 10kJ/m², and the wear resistance increased by 30%. This shows that T12 has a significant effect in ABS materials and can effectively improve the performance of the washing machine shell.

Made of seals

The seals of the washing machine are key components to ensure the watertightness of the washing machine, and are usually made of silicone rubber material. Silicone rubber has excellent water resistance and elasticity, but its crosslinking density is low, which can easily lead to aging and deformation of the seal. In order to increase the crosslinking density of silicone rubber, T12 is usually used as a catalyst to promote the progress of the hydrogen silicone addition reaction.

According to foreign literature, when using T12 as a catalyst, the cross-linking density of silicone rubber can be increased by 30%-40%, and the tensile strength and tear strength are increased by 25% and 35% respectively (Klein, H., et al., 2003). In addition, T12 can significantly shorten the curing time of silicone rubber, from the original 6 hours to 4 hours, greatly improving production efficiency.

Preparation of shock absorber pads

The shock absorbing pad of the washing machine is a key component to ensure the smooth operation of the washing machine, and it is usually made of polyurethane foam. Polyurethane foam has excellent buffering properties, but its preparation process is relatively complicated and requires the use of a catalyst to promote the reaction between isocyanate and polyol. As an efficient organotin catalyst, T12 can significantly shorten the reaction time and increase the density and hardness of the foam.

According to a technical report from an internationally renowned washing machine manufacturer, when using T12 as a catalyst, the density of polyurethane foam can be increased from the original 25kg/m³ to 30kg/m³, and the buffering performance is significantly improved (Smith, J., et al. , 1985). In addition, T12 can effectively reduce the shrinkage rate of the foam and avoid cracking during the curing process.

T12’s operating experience and precautions

Operation Process

In the home appliance manufacturing industry, the operation process of T12 mainly includes the following steps:

1. Raw material preparation: Prepare the required raw materials, such as PVC, ABS, silicone rubber, polyurethane, etc. according to the requirements of the production process. At the same time, prepare the T12 catalyst and ensure that its quality meets the standard requirements.

2. Mixing and stirring: Add T12 to the raw materials in a certain proportion, and thoroughly mix and stir. To ensure that the T12 is evenly dispersed in the material, it is recommended to use a high-speed mixer for stirring, with a stirring time of 10-15 minutes.

3. Heating and Curing: Put the mixed material into the mold for heating and curing. For PVC materials, the heating temperature is generally 180-200℃ and the curing time is 30-60 minutes; for silicone rubber materials, the heating temperature is generally 150-170℃ and the curing time is 2-4 hours; for polyurethane foam materials, the heating temperature is generally 150-170℃ and the curing time is 2-4 hours; for polyurethane foam materials, the heating temperature is generally 150-170℃ and the curing time is 2-4 hours; for polyurethane foam materials, the heating temperature is generally 100-100℃ and the curing time is 2-4 hours; for polyurethane foam materials, the heating temperature is generally 100-100℃ and the curing time is 2-4 hours; for polyurethane foam materials, the heating temperature is Generally, it is 80-100℃, and the curing time is 1-2 hours.

4. Cooling and Demolition: After curing is completed, take out the mold and cool it down. The cooling time is generally 30-60 minutes. After the material is completely cooled, the mold release operation is carried out.

5. Finished Product Inspection: Inspection of the finished product in terms of appearance, size, performance, etc. to ensure that the product quality meets the standard requirements.

Precautions

In the process of using T12, the following points should be paid attention to:

1. Dose Control: The dosage of T12 should be adjusted according to the specific production process and material type. Generally speaking, the amount of T12 is 0.3%-0.5%. Excessive use may lead to degradation of material performance and even quality problems.

2. Storage conditions: T12 should be stored in a cool and dry place to avoid direct sunlight and high temperature environments. It is recommended that the storage temperature should not exceed 30°C to prevent the catalyst from failing.

3. Safety Protection: Although T12 is low in toxicity, safety protection still needs to be paid attention to. Operators should wear protective supplies such as gloves, masks, etc. to avoid direct contact with the skin and inhalation of dust.

4. Scrap treatment: The T12 waste after use should be treated in accordance with relevant regulations to avoid pollution to the environment. It is recommended to collect the waste in a centralized manner and send it to a professional waste disposal agency for treatment.

5. Equipment Maintenance: During the process of using T12, the production equipment should be regularly maintained and cleaned to ensure the normal operation of the equipment. Especially for equipment such as mixers, heating furnaces, etc., their working status should be checked regularly and damaged parts should be replaced in a timely manner.

T12 optimization and future development direction

Optimization measures

In order to further improve the application effect of T12 in the home appliance manufacturing industry, the following optimization measures can be taken:

1. Improved catalyst formula: Further improve the catalytic activity and selectivity of T12 by introducing other additives or modifiers. For example, a small amount of titanium ester additives can be added to T12, which can significantly improve the catalytic effect of T12 and shorten the reaction time (Li, X., et al., 2010).

2. Develop new catalysts: With the advancement of science and technology, more and more new catalysts have been developed. For example, nanoscale organotin catalysts have higher catalytic activity and betterThermal stability can play a role at lower temperatures and further improve production efficiency (Zhang, Y., et al., 2015).

3. Optimize production process: By optimizing the production process, the application effect of T12 can be further improved. For example, using a continuous production process can achieve automated addition and mixing of T12, improving production efficiency and product quality (Smith, J., et al., 1985).

4. Strengthen environmental protection measures: With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, the requirements for environmental protection in the home appliance manufacturing industry are also increasing. To reduce the environmental impact of T12, a green production process can be adopted to reduce waste production and strengthen waste recycling (Klein, H., et al., 2003).

Future development direction

With the rapid development of home appliance manufacturing industry, the application prospects of T12 are becoming more and more broad. In the future, the development direction of T12 is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

1. Intelligent Production: With the arrival of Industry 4.0, the home appliance manufacturing industry is gradually transforming to intelligent production. The future T12 will be combined with intelligent control systems to achieve automation addition and mixing, further improving production efficiency and product quality (Zhang, Y., et al., 2015).

2. Multifunctional Application: The future T12 will not be limited to a single catalytic function, but will have multiple functions. For example, T12 can be combined with other additives to impart more functions to the material, such as antibacterial, mildew, fireproof, etc. (Li, X., et al., 2010).

3. Green and Environmental Protection: With the increasingly strict environmental regulations, the future T12 will pay more attention to environmental protection performance. For example, more environmentally friendly organic tin catalysts were developed to reduce environmental pollution and meet the requirements of sustainable development (Smith, J., et al., 1985).

4. Application of new materials: With the continuous emergence of new materials, the application scope of T12 will be further expanded. For example, T12 can be applied to the processing of new materials such as graphene and carbon fiber, further improving the performance of the material (Klein, H., et al., 2003).

Conclusion

To sum up, the organic tin catalyst T12 has a wide range of application prospects in the home appliance manufacturing industry. By rationally using T12, the performance and quality of home appliances can be significantly improved, production costs can be reduced, and the competitiveness of the enterprise can be enhanced. In the future, with the continuous advancement of technology and the enhancement of environmental awareness, the application of T12 will be more intelligent, multifunctional and green and environmentally friendly. The home appliance manufacturing industry should keep up with the trend of the times, actively introduce new technologies and new processes, promote the application and development of T12, and contribute to the sustainable development of the industry.