Bismuth and Amine Catalyst System for Polyurethane Crosslinking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing catalytic compositions for polyurethane binders in composite propellants do not allow for rapid crosslinking at room temperature, which is necessary for industrial logistics and production rates, and increasing catalyst content leads to adverse impacts on mechanical properties and chemical incompatibilities.

Innovation Solution

A catalytic composition comprising a bismuth organic salt catalyst, a basic tertiary amine catalyst, and an unblocked difunctional aliphatic isocyanate is used for room-temperature crosslinking, allowing synergistic effects and modulation of crosslinking kinetics without significant increases in catalyst content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional catalytic compositions (DBTDL or TPB) are used for polyurethane crosslinking, then crosslinking can proceed at elevated temperatures (40-65°C), but the process requires excessively long cooking times (7-20 days) and does not achieve sufficiently rapid crosslinking compatible with room temperature and industrial logistics constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrosslinking speedVSAvoidcooking time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the catalytic system by replacing conventional catalysts (DBTDL, TPB) with a new composition based on bismuth organic salt and a specific tertiary amine catalyst. This parameter change enables the crosslinking reaction to proceed rapidly at room temperature (20-25°C) without requiring extended cooking times, thus resolving the contradiction between crosslinking speed and cooking time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite catalytic system combining bismuth organic salt and a tertiary amine catalyst in specific proportions. This composite catalyst formulation synergistically accelerates the crosslinking reaction at room temperature, achieving rapid curing compatible with industrial logistics while eliminating the need for prolonged elevated temperature treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If catalyst content is increased to accelerate crosslinking, then crosslinking speed improves, but mechanical properties deteriorate and chemical incompatibilities arise with ammonium perchlorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrosslinking speedVSAvoidmechanical properties and chemical compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of the catalytic system, using bismuth organic salt at 0.01-0.1 wt% and tertiary amine catalyst at 0.1-1.0 wt% of the total formulation. This precise parameter optimization achieves rapid room-temperature crosslinking while maintaining mechanical properties and chemical compatibility with ammonium perchlorate, avoiding the detrimental effects of excessive catalyst content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent selects bismuth organic salt as the catalyst, which offers sufficient catalytic activity at very low concentrations (0.01-0.1 wt%), minimizing the amount of catalyst needed. This approach avoids the accumulation of large catalyst quantities that would compromise mechanical properties and chemical compatibility, while still achieving the desired rapid crosslinking speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Achieves crosslinking kinetics at room temperature comparable to higher temperatures, reducing toxicity and maintaining mechanical properties by using a mixed catalytic system that minimizes amine catalyst impact and avoids chemical incompatibilities.

Implementation Method 1

The invention relates to a catalytic composition for the room-temperature crosslinking of polyurethane binders... comprising: a bismuth organic salt catalyst; a basic tertiary amine catalyst

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

The urethane function results from the condensation reaction between a mobile hydrogen compound of the alcohol type R-OH and an isocyanate R'-N=C=O... These reactions are generally exothermic

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation reaction:

Data Source

PatentEP3882290B1Catalytic composition for ambient temperature cross-linking of polyurethane binders
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 ROXEL FRANCE
  • EP3882290B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3882290B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3882290B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to the crosslinking of polyurethane binders and concerns a catalytic composition for room-temperature crosslinking of polyurethane binders. According to the invention, the catalytic composition comprises: a. A bismuth organic salt catalyst, preferably bismuth neodecanoate; b. A basic tertiary amine catalyst, preferably DMP30; c. An unblocked difunctional aliphatic isocyanate, preferably IPDI.