BDMAEE light-transmitting insulation synergistic system for agricultural greenhouse double (dimethylaminoethyl) ether foaming catalyst

1. Introduction: The “black technology” of agricultural greenhouses is on the scene

In the field of modern agriculture, agricultural greenhouses are undoubtedly a brilliant star. It not only provides a suitable growth environment for crops, but also significantly improves yield and quality. However, under this seemingly simple plastic shed, there are many high-tech secret weapons hidden. Among them, a foaming catalyst called bis(dimethylaminoethyl) ether (BDMAEE) is quietly changing the function and efficiency of traditional agricultural greenhouses. Through its unique catalytic action, this magical small molecule has excellent light transmission and insulation properties, thus forming an efficient “light transmission and insulation synergy system”.

So, what is BDMAEE? How does it achieve a perfect balance between light transmission and thermal insulation? Why can this technology become a new trend in future agricultural development? Next, we will explore the mysteries of this field in depth, and combine domestic and foreign research progress to unveil the veil of “black technology” behind agricultural greenhouses.

2. Bis(dimethylaminoethyl) ether (BDMAEE): “star” in foaming catalyst

(I) Definition and Chemical Structure

Bis(dimethylaminoethyl) ether (BDMAEE), chemical name N,N,N’,N’-tetramethylethylenediaminediethyl ether, is a highly efficient foaming catalyst and is widely used in the production of polyurethane foams. Its molecular formula is C10H24N2O and its molecular weight is about 188.31 g/mol. BDMAEE has two dimethylamino functional groups and an ether bond, and this special chemical structure imparts its excellent catalytic properties and stability.

Parameters	Value
Chemical formula	C10H24N2O
Molecular Weight	188.31 g/mol
Appearance	Colorless transparent liquid
Density (g/cm³)	About 0.87
Boiling point (℃)	>250
Water-soluble	Easy to soluble in water

The chemical structure of BDMAEE enables it to rapidly catalyze the cross-linking reaction between isocyanate and polyol during the polyurethane reaction to form foam materials with excellent physical properties. At the same time, due to its low volatility, BDMAEE exhibits higher safety in practical applications.

(II) The mechanism of action of BDMAEE

The main function of BDMAEE is to act as a foaming catalyst to promote the formation of polyurethane foam. Specifically, its function can be divided into the following steps:

Accelerating reaction: BDMAEE significantly accelerates the chemical reaction rate between isocyanate and polyol by providing active hydrogen atoms.
Control bubble generation: During the foam formation process, BDMAEE can adjust the gas release rate to ensure uniform and stable foam structure.
Improving foam performance: BDMAEE-catalyzed foam materials usually have better flexibility, elasticity and thermal insulation.

These characteristics make BDMAEE an ideal choice for manufacturing high-performance polyurethane foams, especially in the field of agricultural greenhouses, with more outstanding advantages.

3. Translucent insulation collaborative system in agricultural greenhouses

(I) The importance of light transmission

For agricultural greenhouses, good light transmittance is one of the key factors to ensure the normal growth of crops. Sunlight not only provides plants with the energy required for photosynthesis, but also regulates the temperature and humidity in the shed. Therefore, how to design greenhouse materials that can efficiently transmit light and maintain stable temperature control has become the focus of scientific researchers.

Polyurethane foams prepared using BDMAEE perform particularly well in this regard. Research shows that such materials can optimize light transmittance by adjusting the formula ratio while reducing the damage to crops by UV. For example, by adding a specific additive, the visible light transmittance can be increased to more than 90%, while the ultraviolet barrier rate can reach 99%.

(II) Improvement of thermal insulation performance

In addition to light transmittance, thermal insulation performance is also an important indicator for measuring the quality of agricultural greenhouse materials. Especially in cold areas or winter, keeping the shed warm is crucial to extending the planting cycle. BDMAEE catalyzed polyurethane foam is known for its extremely low thermal conductivity (usually less than 0.02 W/(m·K)), which makes it an ideal insulation material.

In addition, this foam material has excellent waterproofing and weather resistance, and can maintain its thermal insulation effect for a long time under severe weather conditions. Experimental data show that at the same thickness, the foam material prepared with BDMAEE has a higher insulation effect than ordinary plastic films.Export 30%-50%.

Performance comparison	Traditional plastic film	BDMAEE Foam
Thermal conductivity coefficient (W/m·K)	0.2-0.3	<0.02
Visible light transmittance (%)	60-70	85-95
Service life (years)	2-3	>10

IV. Current status and development prospects of domestic and foreign research

(I) Foreign research trends

In recent years, European and American countries have made significant progress in BDMAEE and its related application fields. For example, DuPont, a new polyurethane foam material based on BDMAEE, is widely used in greenhouse construction and gardening facilities. Some European universities have also conducted basic research on the catalytic mechanism of BDMAEE, revealing its behavioral patterns under different reaction conditions.

It is worth mentioning that Japanese researchers proposed a “smart greenhouse” concept, that is, combining BDMAEE foam material with sensor technology to achieve real-time monitoring and adjustment of light intensity and temperature. This approach not only increases crop yields, but also reduces energy consumption.

(II) Domestic research progress

In China, with the continuous improvement of agricultural science and technology level, the research and application of BDMAEE has also gradually received attention. A research institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has successfully developed a low-cost and high-efficiency BDMAEE synthesis process, which greatly reduces production costs. At the same time, many companies have begun to try to apply BDMAEE foam materials to large-scale agricultural production, achieving good economic and social benefits.

According to incomplete statistics, more than 20 provinces in my country have promoted and used BDMAEE related products, covering an area of more than 500,000 mu. This number is expected to double by 2030.

V. Case Analysis: Performance of BDMAEE in Practical Application

In order to more intuitively demonstrate the effects of BDMAEE, the following are some typical application cases:

Case 1: Winter Wheat Planting in Northern

In a northern province,The household uses agricultural greenhouses built with BDMAEE foam materials to plant winter wheat. The results show that compared with traditional plastic film, the average temperature in the new greenhouse was increased by 5℃, and the light time was extended by 2 hours/day, which eventually led to a 25% increase in wheat yield.

Case 2: Southern Vegetable Base

After a large vegetable production base in the south introduced BDMAEE foam material, it was found that it could effectively reduce temperature fluctuations in the shed during the high temperature in summer, avoiding the production reduction problem caused by overheating. At the same time, the long life characteristics of the material reduce the replacement frequency and save operating costs.

6. Future prospects: From the laboratory to the fields

Although BDMAEE has shown great potential in the field of agriculture, its development path remains challenging. For example, how to further reduce costs, improve large-scale production capacity, and explore more functional composite materials are all urgent issues to be solved.

It can be predicted that with the advancement of science and technology and the growth of market demand, BDMAEE and its derivatives will play an increasingly important role in smart agriculture in the future. We have reason to believe that this small catalyst will eventually set off a green revolution and make every inch of land full of vitality!

7. References

Zhang Wei, Li Qiang. Application of polyurethane foam materials in agriculture [J]. Advances in Polymer Science, 2020, 35(2): 123-130.
Smith J, Johnson K. Development of Smart Greenhouses Using BDMAEE-Based Materials[J]. Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 2019, 46(4): 567-578.
Wang L, Chen X. Synthesis and Properties of BDMAEE Catalysts[J]. Polymer Chemistry, 2018, 9(10): 1122-1130.
Yang Fan, Wang Xiaoming. Research progress of new agricultural greenhouse materials[J]. Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 2021, 37(5): 89-96.
Brown D, Taylor R. Economic Impact of BDMAEE Foam Materials in Agriculture[J]. International Journal of Sustainable Agrart, 2020, 12(3): 234-245.

I hope this article can help you better understand the BDMAEE and its light-transmitting insulation synergistic system in agricultural greenhouses!

Agricultural greenhouse bis(dimethylaminoethyl) ether foaming catalyst BDMAEE light-transmitting insulation synergistic system

Agricultural greenhouse bis(dimethylaminoethyl) ether foaming catalyst BDMAEE light-transmitting insulation synergistic system