Additives that make more efficient PU foams
Sustainability is at the core of Comfort & Insulation’s strategy and a major driver for our innovation: We reduce our footprint by using resources more efficiently, minimizing emissions and constantly improving our processes and we develop new products and technologies that help our customers to reduce their environmental impact and maximize the handprint.
Polyurethane (PU) is an incredibly versatile polymeric material used in many areas of our daily lives. It plays a crucial role in addressing current and future challenges in our world. Our ongoing development projects are focused on creating more sustainable polyurethanes, enhancing resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact. By innovating in this area we aim to meet the evolving needs of society while promoting ecological balance and sustainability.
In coatings and adhesives, PU materials provide extremely resistant surfaces and long- lasting bonding. In foams, PU is even more widespread and found in furniture and daily consumer goods, but also used as insulating materials, in appliances, gaskets and more.
Products made with PU are durable as PU not only helps to improve the efficiency of materials during use, but also has a better impact over the whole product life cycle. We understand that our additives have a big influence in the final performance and sustainability of the PU material so we constantly develop new products that reach even higher efficiencies, have low, or zero emissions and are made from renewable materials.
Polyurethane insulation reduces energy consumption for heating and cooling
Well known for their insulating performance, rigid PU foams also provide additional mechanical stability. In refrigerators, liquid PU systems fill between the inner and outer surfaces that then polymerize between the walls to ensure a high level of stability and efficient insulation. The K-factor defines the final performance of any PU system, including the degree of foam defects like voids or splits caused by insufficient flow ability. Working closely with our customers, we try to drive the development of our products to support more and more efficient systems, and the latest generation of energy efficient refrigerators that achieve the highest levels of energy efficiency, for instance A+++ for the European markets.
PU is also an efficient heat insulator, with widespread applications from warm water boilers to cooling warehouses. Insulation panels provide a good combination of insulating performance and applicability during the construction phase. By using PU foams for the cold chain, the material can provide a high level of efficiency and helps to lower the energy consumption for these applications significantly. PU materials applied directly at the construction site in liquid form as spray foam means the foam can be adapted to meet the individual requirements of the building. Our latest POLYCAT® 203, POLYCAT® 204, and POLYCAT® 206 catalysts have enabled a smooth transition to environmentally friendly HFO blowing agents by ensuring system stability in spray foam formulations, overcoming the compatibility challenges with conventional amine catalysts.
In all forms of PU, Evonik products help to achieve the best performance, and deliver long-term durable foam systems compatible with the latest systems of propellants that meet regulatory, worker safety and environmental needs.
Safer polyurethane foams for mattresses and furniture
Flexible polyurethane foams are widely used in household applications and in the automotive industry. Many Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have strict requirements on how PU foams should contribute to reduced emissions of Volatile Organic Components (VOC) in the cars they produce.
For mattress and furniture foams several certification labels such as “CERTIPUR” or “Ökotex” help support the visibility of safer products by setting high standards. For many of our market leading TEGOSTAB® surfactants, we have strict emission limits for VOCs established for many decades now. In addition, with the ISCC PLUS accreditation for surfactant production at our Essen, Germany site has made it possible to offer a broad range of bio-based and lower carbon footprint TEGOSTAB additives solutions. We also offer a large variety of DABCO® NE amines that act as catalysts during the foaming stage that integrate into the polymer matrix. Many of our DABCO® products are optimized to give off low odors, and catalysts like these can significantly help to reduce VOC emissions from mattresses to the environment.
For more information on flexible foams please visit EUROPUR website
A more sustainable way to make artificial leather
Today, more than 90% of the global production of PU-based artificial leather uses an energy intensive process that relies on vast amounts of dangerous solvents that pose risks to both manufacturers and consumers known as DMF-solvent coagulation.
DMF is known for possibly being toxic for reproduction and possibly causing damage to liver, alternative technologies that utilize more eco-friendly production techniques are being adopted.
With our ORTEGOL® additive solutions and our specialty PU chemistry knowledge, we support the development of more sustainable PU artificial leather production.