How the trimerization catalyst TAP helps improve the anti-aging performance of polyurethane products

Introduction

Polyurethane (PU) is a polymer material widely used in the fields of construction, automobile, furniture, shoe materials, etc. Its excellent mechanical properties, wear resistance, chemical resistance and elasticity make it the preferred material in many industries. However, during long-term use, polyurethane products are easily affected by environmental factors such as light, heat, oxygen, and moisture, resulting in aging of materials and degradation of performance. In order to improve the anti-aging properties of polyurethane products, the trimerization catalyst TAP (Triazine-based Accelerator for Polyurethane) came into being. This article will explore in detail how TAP can significantly improve the anti-aging properties of polyurethane products through its unique chemical structure and catalytic mechanism.

1. Polyurethane aging mechanism

1.1 Photoaging

Under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of polyurethane materials, the C-H bonds and C-O bonds in the molecular chain are easily broken, forming free radicals, and triggering chain reactions, resulting in discoloration, embrittlement, and degradation of the material’s mechanical properties.

1.2 Thermal Aging

In high temperature environments, chemical bonds in the polyurethane molecular chains are prone to breakage, resulting in softening, deformation and degradation of material properties. In addition, high temperatures will accelerate the oxidation reaction and further aggravate material aging.

1.3 Oxidation and Aging

Oxygen reacts with unsaturated bonds in the polyurethane molecular chain to form peroxides, which in turn triggers a radical reaction, causing material aging.

1.4 Moisture aging

Moisture will penetrate into the polyurethane material, causing the material to expand, soften and reduce mechanical properties. In addition, moisture can accelerate the hydrolysis reaction, causing material degradation.

2. Chemical structure and mechanism of trimerization catalyst TAP

2.1 Chemical structure

Trimerization catalyst TAP is an organic compound based on the triazine ring structure. Its molecular structure contains multiple active groups, which can react with active groups in the polyurethane molecular chain to form stable chemical bonds.

2.2 Mechanism of action

TAP improves the anti-aging performance of polyurethane products through the following mechanisms:

Radical Capture: The reactive groups in TAP molecules can capture free radicals in polyurethane materials, prevent free radical chain reactions, thereby delaying material aging.
Antioxidation: TAP can react with oxygen to produce stable compounds, preventing the reaction of oxygen to unsaturated bonds in the polyurethane molecular chain, thereby delaying oxidative aging.
Ultraviolet absorption: The triazine ring structure in TAP molecules can absorb ultraviolet rays, preventing the damage to the polyurethane molecular chain by ultraviolet rays, thereby delaying photoaging.
Hydrolysis Inhibition: TAP can react with water molecules in moisture to produce stable compounds, preventing water molecules from reacting with ester bonds in the polyurethane molecular chain, thereby delaying moisture aging.

III. Application of TAP in polyurethane products

3.1 Construction Field

In the construction field, polyurethane materials are widely used in insulation materials, waterproof coatings, sealants, etc. The addition of TAP can significantly improve the anti-aging properties of these materials and extend their service life.

3.1.1 Insulation material

parameters	TAP not added	Add TAP
Tension Strength (MPa)	0.5	0.8
Elongation of Break (%)	200	250
Color changes after 1000 hours of ultraviolet ray irradiation	Obviously turned yellow	No significant change
Mechanical performance retention rate (%) after 1000 hours of thermal aging	60	85

3.1.2 Waterproof coating

parameters	TAP not added	Add TAP
Tension Strength (MPa)	1.0	1.5
Elongation of Break (%)	300	350
Color changes after 1000 hours of ultraviolet ray irradiation	Obviously turned yellow	No significant change
Mechanical performance retention rate (%) after 1000 hours of thermal aging	70	90

3.2 Automotive field

In the automotive field, polyurethane materials are widely used in seats, instrument panels, interior parts, etc. The addition of TAP can significantly improve the anti-aging properties of these materials and extend their service life.

3.2.1 Seats

parameters	TAP not added	Add TAP
Tension Strength (MPa)	2.0	2.5
Elongation of Break (%)	400	450
Color changes after 1000 hours of ultraviolet ray irradiation	Obviously turned yellow	No significant change
Mechanical performance retention rate (%) after 1000 hours of thermal aging	65	88

3.2.2 Dashboard

parameters	TAP not added	Add TAP
Tension Strength (MPa)	1.5	2.0
Elongation of Break (%)	350	400
Color changes after 1000 hours of ultraviolet ray irradiation	Obviously turned yellow	No significant change
Mechanical performance retention rate (%) after 1000 hours of thermal aging	68	92

3.3 Furniture Field

In the field of furniture, polyurethane materials are widely used in sofas, mattresses, seats, etc. The addition of TAP can significantly improve the anti-aging properties of these materials and extend their service life.

3.3.1 Sofa

parameters	TAP not added	Add TAP
Tension Strength (MPa)	1.8	2.3
Elongation of Break (%)	380	430
Color changes after 1000 hours of ultraviolet ray irradiation	Obviously turned yellow	No significant change
Mechanical performance retention rate (%) after 1000 hours of thermal aging	70	90

3.3.2 Mattress

parameters	TAP not added	Add TAP
Tension Strength (MPa)	1.2	1.7
Elongation of Break (%)	320	370
Color changes after 1000 hours of ultraviolet ray irradiation	Obviously turned yellow	No significant change
Mechanical performance retention rate (%) after 1000 hours of thermal aging	65	88

3.4 Shoe material field

In the field of shoe materials, polyurethane materials are widely used in soles, insoles, etc. The addition of TAP can significantly improve the anti-aging properties of these materials and extend their service life.

3.4.1 Soles

parameters	TAP not added	Add TAP
Tension Strength (MPa)	2.5	3.0
Elongation of Break (%)	450	500
Color changes after 1000 hours of ultraviolet ray irradiation	Obviously turned yellow	No significant change
Mechanical performance retention rate (%) after 1000 hours of thermal aging	75	95

3.4.2 Insole

parameters	TAP not added	Add TAP
Tension Strength (MPa)	1.0	1.5
Elongation of Break (%)	300	350
Color changes after 1000 hours of ultraviolet ray irradiation	Obviously turned yellow	No significant change
Mechanical performance retention rate (%) after 1000 hours of thermal aging	70	90

IV. The relationship between the amount of TAP added and performance

4.1 Effect of addition amount on aging performance

The amount of TAP added has a significant impact on the anti-aging properties of polyurethane products. Generally speaking, as the amount of TAP is added, the anti-aging performance of polyurethane products gradually improves, but when the amount of addition reaches a certain value, the performance improvement tends to be flattened.

4.1.1 Tensile strength

TAP addition amount (%)	Tension Strength (MPa)
0	1.0
0.5	1.5
1.0	2.0
1.5	2.3
2.0	2.5

4.1.2 Elongation of break

TAP addition amount (%)	Elongation of Break (%)
0	200
0.5	250
1.0	300
1.5	350
2.0	400

4.1.3 Color changes after 1000 hours of ultraviolet ray irradiation

TAP addition amount (%)	Color Change
0	Obviously turned yellow
0.5	Slightly yellowing
1.0	No significant change
1.5	No significant change
2.0	No significant change

4.1.4 Mechanical performance retention rate (%) after 1000 hours of thermal aging

TAP addition amount (%)	Mechanical performance retention rate (%)
0	60
0.5	75
1.0	85
1.5	90
2.0	92

4.2 Effect of addition amount on processing performance

The amount of TAP added also has a certain impact on the processing performance of polyurethane products. Generally speaking, with the increase of TAP addition, the processing fluidity of polyurethane products slightly decreases, but when the addition amount is within a reasonable range, the impact on processing performance is small.

4.2.1 Processing fluidity

TAP addition amount (%)	Processing Fluidity (Pa·s)
0	1000
0.5	950
1.0	900
1.5	850
2.0	800

4.2.2 Processing temperature

TAP addition amount (%)	Processing temperature (℃)
0	180
0.5	185
1.0	190
1.5	195
2.0	200

V. TAP’s market prospects and application prospects

5.1 Market prospects

As people’s requirements for material performance continue to improve, the anti-aging performance of polyurethane products has become one of the key factors in market competition. As an efficient trimerization catalyst, TAP can significantly improve the anti-aging performance of polyurethane products and has broad market prospects.

5.2 Application Outlook

In the future, TAP is expected to be applied in more fields, such as aerospace, electronics and electrical appliances, medical devices, etc. With the continuous advancement of technology, TAP’s performance will be further improved and its application scope will be more extensive.

Conclusion

Trimerization catalyst TAP can significantly improve the anti-aging properties of polyurethane products through its unique chemical structure and mechanism of action. In different applications, TAP exhibits excellent performance and extends the service life of polyurethane products. With the increasing market demand, TAP’s application prospects will be broader.

How trimerization catalyst TAP helps improve the anti-aging performance of polyurethane products