Additives

Our experts work in close cooperation with our customers to research, formulate and produce high performing Polyurethane and Phenolic foams. As a result, we distribute valuable mixtures of surfactants, stabilizers and plasticizers, which are crucial for foam cell stabilization in the Polyurethane Polyisocyanurate and Phenolic foam process. Our additive mixtures can be used as emulsifiers and dispersants in a wide variety of applications, including emulsion polymerization and resin dispersions. Our additive mixtures are especially suitable for pentane blown foam processes in hot and humid climates.

Advantages

Our mixtures of surfactants, stabilizers and plasticizers affect the mechanical properties of the cured foam, such as air permeability and foam cell size, significantly:

• Our mixtures have an important impact on both the bubble generation and the cell window stabilization stage, especially in hot and humid climates. It helps eliminating fernings and pinholes, and regulates cell structures;
  • Our additive mixtures provide lower surface tension and thus help to increase the number of air bubbles introduced during mixing. These air bubbles are the starting point for foam cell growth. As a result, cured Polyurethane polyisocyanurate and Phenolic foams made with our mixtures have a smaller bubble size;
  • Our mixtures can reduce the cell window drainage rate due to the surface tension gradient along the cell window;
  • Our additives give higher Gibbs and dynamic film elasticity. The film drainage rate versus surfactant composition will be optimized. Using the vertical film drainage and foam column tests, it is shown that foams using our additives, especially under high humid temperature conditions, give higher film elasticity, which yields a slower drainage rate and better foam cell stability.
• Our mixtures allow for a superior strength/density relationship; both lightweight and strong.  As a result, the cured foam is applicable as both technical and construction insulation:
  • Pipe supports
  • Ducting panels
  • Duct supports
  • Steel faced composite panels (including walk-on ceilings)
  • Sandwich panels
  • Flat roof top
  • Facades