Silicon-Free Polyether Foam Stabilizers for Fire Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foam stabilizers, particularly polysiloxane-polyoxyalkylene block copolymers, negatively impact the fire behavior and flammability of polyurethane foams and cause emissions, while also making foam surfaces difficult to wet, hindering subsequent treatments.
Innovation Solution
The use of polyethers containing urethane or urea groups, formed by reacting isocyanates with hydrophilic and hydrophobic polyethers, which are designed to stabilize foams without the drawbacks of silicon-based stabilizers, offering a balanced hydrophilic to hydrophobic ratio and adjustable structure for optimal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polysiloxane-polyoxyalkylene block copolymers are used as foam stabilizers, then effective emulsification and foam stabilization is achieved, but fire behavior deteriorates and flammability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful siloxane component from the foam stabilizer system while retaining the functional polyether structure. This extraction eliminates the fire safety issues associated with silicon-based stabilizers while maintaining the emulsification and foam stabilization capabilities through alternative Si-free polyether compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite polyether structures combining hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments to achieve effective foam stabilization without silicon. The composite nature of these polyethers allows them to perform multiple functions (emulsification, foam stabilization) while avoiding the flammability problems of conventional siloxane-based stabilizers.
2Reliability
If polysiloxane-polyoxyalkylene block copolymers are used as foam stabilizers, then foam stabilization is achieved, but volatile siloxanes are released causing emissions and fogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the volatile siloxane components that cause emissions and fogging problems. By using silicon-free polyether stabilizers, the system maintains foam stabilization effectiveness while removing the source of harmful volatile organic compound emissions and fogging issues.
3Reliability
If polysiloxane-polyoxyalkylene block copolymers are used as foam stabilizers, then foam stabilization is achieved, but surface wettability deteriorates making subsequent treatments difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite polyether structures with balanced hydrophilic and hydrophobic characteristics to achieve effective foam stabilization while maintaining good surface wettability. The amphiphilic nature of these Si-free polyethers allows them to stabilize foam effectively without creating the surface contamination problems that hinder subsequent painting and coating operations.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If Si-free stabilizers are produced by radical polymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone and esters, then silicon-free foam stabilization is achieved, but the patent describes complex multi-component polymerization processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves silicon-free foam stabilization by changing the chemical composition parameters of the stabilizer system. Instead of using siloxane-based compounds, the invention employs polyethers with specific molecular weight ranges and structural characteristics, simplifying the approach while maintaining effectiveness.
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
These polyether stabilizers provide effective emulsification and stabilization, improving surface quality and cell fineness, and enhancing thermal conductivity of polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams, while avoiding the flammability and emission issues associated with silicon-based stabilizers.
Implementation Method 1
These emulsify the raw materials used, stabilize the foam during the manufacturing process
Implementation Method 2
stabilize the foam during the manufacturing process and enable the formation of a homogeneous foam with a uniform pore structure
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the use of polyethers containing urethane or urea groups as foam stabilizers, obtained by reacting A. at least one isocyanate with B. (a) at least one hydrophilic polyether statistically carrying at least one OH and/or NH2 and/or NH function and (b) at least one hydrophobic polyether statistically carrying at least one OH and/or NH2 and/or NH function and optionally (c) further compounds carrying at least one OH and/or NH2 and/or NH function and/or other isocyanate-reactive groups such as carboxylic acid or epoxide functions, provided that at least one isocyanate A. ≥ is difunctional.