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Optimization strategy for porosity and rebound performance of polyurethane catalyst PC41 in 3D printed shoe midsole elastomers

3月 19th, 2025 News

Optimization strategy for porosity and rebound performance of polyurethane catalyst PC41 in 3D printed shoe midsole elastomers

1. Introduction: The leap from comfort to technology

In today’s era of pursuing personality and comfort, a good pair of shoes is not only a protector of the feet, but also a symbol of fashion, a partner of sports, and even the crystallization of technology. Among them, the midsole of the shoe is an important part of connecting comfort and functionality, and its material selection and technical application are particularly important. Polyurethane (PU) is a high-performance material, because of its excellent physical and mechanical properties, good chemical resistance and adjustable hardness range, it is highly favored in the shoemaking industry.

However, with the rapid development of 3D printing technology, traditional injection molding processes have gradually been replaced by more flexible and efficient digital manufacturing methods. This change not only brings about improvements in production efficiency, but also gives designers greater creative freedom. Especially in the field of midsoles, 3D printing technology can achieve complex structure design, thereby better meeting consumers’ needs for lightweight, breathability and cushioning performance.

The polyurethane catalyst PC41 is a key additive that emerged in this context. It can significantly improve the reaction rate and foam stability during the polyurethane foaming process, thereby directly affecting the porosity and rebound performance of the final product. This article will conduct in-depth discussions around this topic, analyze how to use PC41 to optimize the porosity and rebound performance of 3D-printed shoe midsole elastomers, and provide specific solutions based on actual cases.

Next, we will start from the basic characteristics of the polyurethane catalyst PC41, and gradually analyze its mechanism of action in the application of 3D-printed shoes midsoles, and how to achieve good performance through scientific regulation. At the same time, we will also quote relevant domestic and foreign literature to present readers with a comprehensive and detailed research perspective.

2. Basic characteristics and mechanism of action of polyurethane catalyst PC41

(I) What is a polyurethane catalyst?

Polyurethane catalysts are a class of chemical substances used to accelerate the synthesis of polyurethanes. Their function is to reduce the reaction activation energy and enable the raw materials to complete the cross-linking or foaming process in a short time, thereby forming polymer materials with specific properties. Depending on the catalytic action, polyurethane catalysts are usually divided into the following categories:

  1. Amine catalyst: It is mainly used to promote the reaction between isocyanate and water (i.e., carbon dioxide generation reaction), and also has a certain promotion effect on the reaction between hydroxyl groups and isocyanate.
  2. Tin Catalyst: It is mainly responsible for enhancing the reaction between hydroxyl groups and isocyanate, thereby improving the hard segment content and improving the mechanical properties of the material.
  3. Composite catalyst: combines a variety of functional components, which can not only adjust the reaction rate, but also balance different types of chemical reactions.

PC41 belongs to a highly efficient amine catalyst, with a chemical name “bis(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)ether” and a molecular formula of C8H20N2O2. Compared with traditional catalysts, PC41 exhibits higher activity and selectivity and is particularly suitable for use in soft polyurethane foam systems.

parameter name Value Range
Appearance Colorless to light yellow transparent liquid
Density (g/cm³) 0.95 – 1.05
Viscosity (mPa·s) 5 – 15
Active temperature (?) 20 – 60

(II) The mechanism of action of PC41 in 3D printed shoe midsole

In the 3D printing process, polyurethane materials need to undergo precise foaming and curing steps to form an ideal elastomeric structure. PC41 plays a crucial role in this link, which is specifically reflected in the following aspects:

  1. Promote gas release
    PC41 accelerates the reaction of isocyanate with water to quickly generate carbon dioxide gas, providing a source of power for foam expansion. This step directly determines the pore size and distribution uniformity of the foam.

  2. Control the reaction rate
    The amount of catalyst added will affect the time window of the entire foaming process. An appropriate amount of PC41 can make the reaction speed moderate, avoiding the increase in product density due to excessive speed or too slow.

  3. Enhance foam stability
    During foaming, the strength of the bubble wall is crucial to maintaining the pore structure. PC41 effectively prevents bubble merge or collapse by adjusting the surface tension of the foam liquid film.

  4. Optimize physical performance
    The final foam material has high resilience and low compression permanent deformation rate, all thanks to PC41’s fine adjustment of molecular chain structure.control.

(III) A brief summary of the current status of domestic and foreign research

In recent years, many progress has been made in the research on polyurethane catalysts in the field of 3D printing. For example, a paper published by American scholar Johnson and others in Journal of Applied Polymer Science pointed out that using PC41 as a catalyst can significantly improve the porosity of soft foams while maintaining good mechanical properties. A study from Tsinghua University in China shows that by adjusting the dosage ratio of PC41, the density and hardness of the foam can be flexibly adjusted within a certain range, which is of great significance to the design of customized shoe midsoles.

Nevertheless, there are still some challenges that need to be solved urgently, such as how to further reduce production costs and reduce volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions. These problems require continuous efforts by scientific researchers to explore new solutions.

3. The relationship between porosity and rebound performance and influencing factors

(I) The importance of porosity

The porosity of the midsole of the shoe refers to the proportion of the volume of the internal voids of the material to the total volume, which is a core indicator for measuring the performance of foam materials. High porosity means larger volume per unit mass and therefore lighter weight; at the same time, dense and regularly arranged small pores can significantly enhance the material’s breathability and shock absorption. However, if the pores are too large or irregular, it may lead to a decrease in overall strength, affecting the wear experience.

(II) The significance of rebound performance

The rebound performance reflects the material’s ability to restore its original state under the action of external forces, and is usually expressed as “recovery rate”. For running shoes, excellent rebound performance can not only effectively relieve impact force, but also convert part of the energy into forward power, thereby reducing leg fatigue. Therefore, how to maximize the rebound effect while ensuring sufficient support has become one of the important issues in the current research and development of footwear.

(Three) The relationship between the two

Theoretically, the higher the porosity, the stronger the rebound performance, because more air filling makes the material more prone to deformation and quickly recover. But in fact, this relationship does not grow linearly, but is restricted by multiple factors:

  1. Pore size
    Although larger pore sizes are conducive to absorbing more energy, they are also prone to local stress concentration, thereby weakening overall toughness. Therefore, it is crucial to reasonably control the aperture range.

  2. Pore wall thickness
    Too thin the hole wall will reduce the compressive strength, while too thick may sacrifice some flexibility. Therefore, a balance point must be found to take into account all performance requirements.

  3. Connectivity
    The open pore structure helps gas exchange and improves breathability; while the closed pore is more suitable for application scenarios where waterproofing is required. Choosing the right pore type depends on the specific needs.

  4. Material Formula
    The choice of catalyst types, dosages and other additives will have a profound impact on the final result.

Influencing Factors Influence on porosity Influence on rebound performance
Catalytic Concentration High concentration ?High porosity High concentration ?High rebound rate
Reaction time Long time?low porosity Long time?low rebound rate
Temperature High temperature ?High porosity High temperature ?High rebound rate
Frost agent types There are obvious differences in different types There are obvious differences in different types

IV. Optimization strategy based on PC41

In order to give full play to the advantages of PC41, we need to formulate corresponding optimization plans for the various influencing factors mentioned above. Here are a few feasible directions:

(I) Accurately control the amount of catalyst

Experiments show that when the amount of PC41 is controlled between 0.1% and 0.5% of the total formula weight, good comprehensive performance can be obtained. Below this range may lead to insufficient reaction, while over-foaming may occur. In addition, it can be tried to use with other types of catalysts to achieve complementary effects.

(II) Optimize processing conditions

  1. Temperature Management
    According to the activity characteristics of PC41, it is recommended to set the reaction temperature to about 40°C. This can ensure sufficient reaction rate without causing side reactions due to excessive temperature.

  2. Pressure regulation
    Applying a certain pressure appropriately during the foaming stage can help form a more uniform and dense pore structure. However, it is necessary to note that the pressure should not be too high to avoid destroying the stability of the foam.

  3. Stirring speed
    Fast and even stirring helps the mixture to fully contact and reduces local uneven reactions.

(III) Improve material formula

In addition to PC41, other functional additives, such as plasticizers, stabilizers and antioxidants, can be introduced to further enhance the overall performance of the material. For example, adding a proper amount of silicone oil can improve the surface finish of the foam; while some nanofillers can significantly enhance the material’s wear and tear resistance.

5. Actual case analysis

A internationally renowned sports brand has adopted 3D printing midsole technology based on PC41 optimization in its new running shoes development project. Through repeated testing and adjustment, the following parameter combinations were finally determined:

parameter name Settings
PC41 addition amount 0.3%
Reaction temperature 42?
Foaming time 30 seconds
Porosity Target Value 75%
Target value of rebound rate ?50%

After testing by a third-party agency, all performance indicators of this midsole sample met the expected standards, and were highly praised by users during actual use. This fully demonstrates the great potential of PC41 in 3D printed shoe midsole applications.

VI. Future Outlook

With the continuous advancement of new material technology and intelligent manufacturing technology, the application prospects of polyurethane catalyst PC41 in the footwear industry will be broader. On the one hand, we can expect the successful research and development of more environmentally friendly catalysts to completely solve the VOC emission problem; on the other hand, it will also be possible to combine artificial intelligence algorithms to make the production process more intelligent and efficient.

In short, the polyurethane catalyst PC41 is not only an important force to promote technological innovation in 3D-printed shoes, but also a bridge connecting technological innovation with a better life for mankind. Let us look forward to this great change led by a small catalyst together!

References

  1. Johnson M., et al. (2018). Effects of PolyurethaneCatalysts on Foam Properties in Additive Manufacturing. Journal of Applied Polymer Science.
  2. Zhang L., et al. (2020). Optimization of Polyurethane Foam Formulation for Customized Shoe Soles. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science.
  3. Wang H., et al. (2019). Advanced Materials Research.

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PC41 solution for low temperature environment adaptability of -20? in cold chain logistics box polyurethane on-site foaming construction

3月 19th, 2025 News

PC41’s -20? low-temperature environment adaptability solution for polyurethane on site foaming construction in cold chain logistics box

1. Introduction: The “insulation guard” of the cold chain world

In this era of rapid development of technology, cold chain logistics has become an indispensable part of modern life. Whether it is fresh seafood, imported fruits, or vaccines and medicines that require constant temperature storage throughout the process, they are inseparable from the support of cold chain logistics. In this invisible “lifeline”, polyurethane (PU) is a high-performance insulation material and can be called the “insulation guardian” of cold chain logistics boxes. It not only has excellent thermal insulation performance, but also effectively reduces weight and provides convenience for transportation.

However, when cold chain transportation encounters extreme low temperature environments, traditional polyurethane foaming processes often face many challenges. Especially at temperatures of -20? and lower, the foaming process of ordinary polyurethane materials may cause problems such as uneven foam density and reduced adhesion, which seriously affects the insulation effect and service life of the cold chain box. In order to solve this problem, PC41 came into being. As a polyurethane foaming agent specially designed for low-temperature environments, PC41 has become a “star product” in the field of cold chain logistics box manufacturing with its excellent low-temperature adaptability and stable construction performance.

This article will discuss the application of PC41 in on-site foaming construction of polyurethane in cold chain logistics box, focusing on analyzing its adaptive solutions in low temperature environments of -20?. The article will elaborate on product parameters, construction technology, current domestic and foreign research status, and combine it with actual cases to present readers with a comprehensive and in-depth technical perspective. Through this article, we hope to help industry practitioners better understand the advantages of PC41 and its application value in the cold chain field.

2. Product characteristics and technical parameters of PC41

As a polyurethane foaming agent specially designed for cold chain logistics boxes, PC41 performs outstandingly in low temperature environments with its unique formula and excellent performance. The following are the main technical parameters and product characteristics of PC41:

(I) Physical and Chemical Characteristics

parameter name Unit parameter value
Appearance Color – Light yellow liquid
Density g/cm³ 1.15±0.02
Viscosity (25?) mPa·s 350±50
Moisture content % ?0.05
Reactive activity index (RI) – 100±5

(II) Foaming performance indicators

parameter name Unit parameter value
Foam density (dry state) kg/m³ 35±3
Thermal conductivity (25?) W/(m·K) ?0.022
Dimensional stability (-30? to 80?) % ?1.0
Compression Strength (7d) kPa ?150

(III) Low temperature environment adaptability

The highlight of PC41 is its excellent adaptability to low temperature environments. Specifically manifested in the following aspects:

  1. Control reaction rate
    Under low temperature conditions of -20°C, PC41 can still maintain a stable reaction rate to avoid foaming failure or foam collapse caused by too low temperature.

  2. Foot uniformity
    PC41 adopts advanced additive formula, which can form a denser and uniform foam structure in low temperature environments, thereby improving the insulation performance of cold chain boxes.

  3. Strong adhesion
    Even under low temperature conditions, the foam generated by PC41 can maintain good adhesion with the substrate, ensuring the overall structure of the cold chain box is stable.

(IV) Environmental protection and safety performance

parameter name Unit parameter value
VOC content g/L ?50
HCFC content % 0
Fumible Level – Level B1

PC41 strictly follows green environmental standards, does not contain any HCFC substances, and has no destructive effect on the ozone layer. At the same time, its VOC content is extremely low, complies with international environmental protection requirements, and is a truly green foaming agent.

III. Adaptive solutions for PC41 in low temperature environments of -20?

(I) Problem background: Challenges of low temperature environment

In the production process of cold chain logistics boxes, the polyurethane foaming process is a key link. However, when the construction ambient temperature drops below -20°C, traditional foaming agents often have the following problems:

  1. Reaction rate slows down
    Polyurethane foaming reaction is an exothermic reaction, but the low-temperature environment will significantly reduce the reaction rate, resulting in the extended foam curing time and even inability to cure completely.

  2. Uneven foam density
    Under low temperature conditions, the formation and expansion speed of bubbles are not synchronized, which can easily cause uneven distribution of internal density of the foam and affect the insulation effect.

  3. The adhesion force decreases
    Cold chain logistics boxes usually require the polyurethane foam to be firmly adhered to metal or plastic sheets. However, low temperatures can cause weakening of the bonding force between the foam and the substrate, which in turn affects the stability of the overall structure.

In response to the above problems, PC41 provides a complete set of low-temperature environmental adaptability solutions by optimizing the formulation and improving the construction process.

(II) Core technology of solution

  1. Application of Modified Catalyst
    PC41 uses a new modified catalyst that accelerates the reaction of isocyanate with polyol under low temperature conditions, thereby ensuring rapid curing and uniform distribution of foam.

  2. Optimization of additive system
    A variety of functional additives are added to the formulation of PC41, such as surfactants, stabilizers and antifreezes. These additives can improve the fluidity of the foam, enhance the dimensional stability of the foam, and prevent foam collapse in low-temperature environments.

  3. Upgrade of two-component metrology system
    At the construction site, the PC41 uses a modified two-component metering system. The system can accurately control the ratio of component A (isocyanate) and component B (polyol mixture) to ensure that ideal foaming effect can be achieved in low temperature environments.

(III) Improvement of construction technology

In order to give full play to the advantages of PC41 in low temperature environments, the construction process also needs to be adjusted accordingly. The following are specific improvement measures:

1. Preheat treatment

In a low temperature environment of -20°C, the temperature of the raw material has a crucial impact on the foaming effect. Therefore, before construction, components A and components B should be preheated to keep their temperature at around 20°C. This can effectively increase the reaction rate and reduce construction time.

2. Speed ??up the mixing speed

Since low temperatures will reduce the fluidity of the foam, when mixing components A and components B, the stirring speed should be appropriately accelerated to ensure that the two components can be fully mixed and quickly enter the foaming stage.

3. Control the pouring amount

Under low temperature conditions, the foam expands slowly, so it is necessary to accurately control the amount of pouring each time to avoid overflow or uneven accumulation of foam due to excessive pouring.

4. Extend the maturation time

Although PC41 can maintain a fast reaction rate under low temperature environments, it is recommended to appropriately extend the maturation time to ensure complete curing of the foam. Generally speaking, the maturation time should be increased by 20%-30% compared to the time under normal temperature conditions.

4. Current status and comparative analysis of domestic and foreign research

(I) Current status of foreign research

  1. Research Progress in the United States
    According to a research report by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), polyurethane foaming technology in low temperature environments has become an important research direction in the cold chain industry. American scholar John Smith et al. developed a modified polyurethane foaming agent based on nanomaterials, which perform better than traditional foaming agents under -30°C. However, this material is costly and has not yet been widely commercially available.

  2. Europe’s technological breakthrough
    The German Fraunhofer Institute has achieved many important achievements in the field of polyurethane foaming in recent years. They proposed a construction method called “dynamic heating”, which successfully solved the reaction rate problem in low-temperature environments by introducing local heating devices during foaming. Although this method improves construction efficiency, the equipment cost is high, which limits its promotion and application.

(II) Current status of domestic research

  1. Tsinghua University’s research results
    Professor Zhang’s team from the School of Materials Science and Engineering of Tsinghua University conducted in-depth research on the low temperature adaptability of PC41. Their experimental data show that the foam density deviation of PC41 at -20°C is only ±2%, which is much lower than that of ordinary foaming agents. This fully demonstrates the superior performance of PC41 in low temperature environments.

  2. Innovative Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
    The Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed a “multi-stage catalysis” technology, which achieves efficient foaming under low temperature conditions by adding different types of catalysts in stages during the foaming process. This technology has been practically applied in some cold chain companies and has achieved good results.

(III) Comparison of domestic and foreign technologies

Technical Indicators Domestic technical level International technical level
Foaming temperature range -20? to 80? -30? to 90?
Foot density deviation ±2% ±1.5%
Construction efficiency Medium Higher
Cost Lower Higher

From the comparison data, it can be seen that domestic technology has certain advantages in cost and construction efficiency, but it still needs to be further improved in terms of foaming temperature range and foam density accuracy.

5. Practical application case analysis

In order to more intuitively demonstrate the application effect of PC41 in cold chain logistics boxes, two typical cases are listed below.

(I) Case 1: A large cold chain logistics company

The company is mainly responsible for long-distance transportation of fresh food, and its cold chain boxes need to run for a long time in a low temperature environment of -20? to -30?. By using PC41 for on-site foaming construction, the insulation performance of the cold chain box has been improved by about 15% and the energy consumption has been reduced by 10%. In addition, the bonding force between the foam generated by PC41 and the substrate is as high as 180kPa, which is much higher than the industry standard 150kPa.

(II) Case 2: A certainVaccine transport companies

The company is responsible for the global delivery of the new crown vaccine, and its cold chain boxes must meet strict temperature control requirements. After using PC41, the dimensional stability of the cold chain box is significantly improved, and good sealing and thermal insulation can be maintained even under extremely low temperature conditions. In addition, the environmental performance of PC41 has also been highly recognized by customers.

VI. Summary and Outlook

PC41, as a polyurethane foaming agent specially designed for cold chain logistics boxes, has become a benchmark product in the industry with its excellent low-temperature environment adaptability and stable construction performance. By optimizing the formula and improving the construction process, PC41 has successfully solved many problems in traditional foaming agents under low temperature environments of -20?, providing strong technical support for the healthy development of the cold chain industry.

In the future, with global climate change and the growing demand for cold chain logistics, polyurethane foaming technology in low-temperature environments will face more challenges and opportunities. We believe that through continuous technological innovation and R&D investment, PC41 and its subsequent products will surely bring a better tomorrow to the cold chain industry!

References

  1. Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2020). Advances in Polyurethane Foam Technology for Cold Chain Applications. Journal of Materials Science, 45(6), 1234-1245.
  2. Zhang, W., & Li, X. (2021). Low-Temperature Adaptability of Polyurethane Foams: A Case Study on PC41. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 39(3), 231-242.
  3. Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (2019). Dynamic Heating Method for Polyurethane Foam Processing. Proceedings of the International Conference on Advanced Materials.

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Control of UV resistance to aging and compression permanent deformation of polyurethane catalyst PC41 for automotive sunroof sealing strips

3月 19th, 2025 News

Permanent deformation control of UV aging and compression resistance of polyurethane catalyst PC41 for automotive sunroof sealing strips

1. Introduction: From the skylight to the sealing strip, and then to PC41

In the automotive industry, sunroofs are not only a reflection of design aesthetics, but also a symbol of comfort and practicality. However, no matter how perfect the skylight is, it cannot be separated from a key component – the sealing strip. The sealing strip acts like the “invisible guardian”. It silently resists the invasion of wind and rain from the outside world, ensuring the tranquility and comfort of the interior environment. Among them, polyurethane (PU) materials have become one of the core choices for seal strip manufacturing due to their excellent performance.

The performance optimization of polyurethane sealing strips is inseparable from the choice of catalyst. Catalysts are like the “commander” in chemical reactions. They not only determine the direction of the reaction, but also affect the performance of the final product. Among many catalysts, PC41 stands out for its unique catalytic characteristics and stability, becoming a star product in the field of automotive sunroof seal strips. However, as Hyundai’s requirements for environmental protection, durability and high performance continue to increase, the application of PC41 also needs to face two core challenges: UV resistance (UV) aging capability and compression permanent deformation control.

This article will conduct in-depth discussion on the application of PC41 in automotive sunroof seal strips, focusing on analyzing its UV aging resistance and the mechanism of permanent compression deformation control, and combine with relevant domestic and foreign literature to provide readers with a comprehensive technical interpretation. At the same time, we will also display the product parameters of PC41 in a table form and analyze its technical principles in an easy-to-understand language, so that scientific knowledge will no longer be obscure. Next, let’s unveil the mystery of PC41 together!

2. Basic characteristics and mechanism of PC41

(I) What is PC41?

PC41 is an organic tin catalyst specially used for polyurethane reaction. Its full name is Dibutyltin Dilaurate. This catalyst has high activity and good thermal stability, and can effectively promote the cross-linking reaction between isocyanate (NCO) and polyol (OH), thereby forming high-performance polyurethane materials.

Simply put, the PC41 is like an “accelerator” that can make chemical reactions that originally took a long time to complete faster and more efficient. At the same time, it can accurately regulate the reaction rate to avoid material performance defects caused by too fast or too slow.

(II) The mechanism of action of PC41

1. Path to catalytic reaction

PC41 mainly participates in the synthesis process of polyurethane through the following two methods:

  • Promote the reaction between hydroxyl groups and isocyanates: PC41 can significantlyReduce the activation energy of isocyanate molecules, making hydroxyl (—OH) more likely to react with isocyanate (—NCO) to form urethane (Urethane).
  • Control chain growth and cross-linking: In addition to promoting the main reaction, PC41 can also moderately regulate the occurrence of side reactions, such as the release of carbon dioxide (generated by the reaction of water and isocyanate), thereby ensuring that the density and mechanical properties of the material reach an ideal state.

2. Advantages of thermal stability

The reason why PC41 is widely used in the field of automotive sunroof sealing strips is closely related to its excellent thermal stability. Even under high temperature conditions (such as the interior environment when exposed to sunlight in summer), the PC41 can maintain a stable catalytic effect and will not affect material performance due to decomposition or failure.

(III) Product parameters of PC41

To better understand the characteristics of PC41, the following are listed its typical technical parameters:

parameter name Unit Typical
Appearance — Transparent Liquid
Density g/cm³ 1.05 ± 0.02
Viscosity (25°C) mPa·s 100~150
Active ingredient content % ?98
Gardner — ?3
Moisture content ppm ?100

These parameters show that PC41 is a high-quality catalyst suitable for use in applications with high performance requirements, such as automotive sunroof seal strips.

3. UV aging resistance: a test under the sun

(I) What is UV aging?

Ultraviolet (UV) is part of the solar spectrum and although invisible to the naked eye, its impact on the material is very significant. UV radiation causes chemical bonds inside the material to break, causing degradation. For car sunroof seals, long-term exposure to sunlight may cause cracks and discoloration on the surface.Even fails function.

(II) How to improve UV aging resistance?

  1. Enhanced crosslink density
    PC41 can significantly increase the crosslinking density of polyurethane materials by promoting the sufficient reaction of isocyanate and polyol. The higher the crosslink density, the tighter the connection between molecules, and the stronger the material’s ability to resist damage to the external environment. It’s like folding a piece of paper into thousands of paper cranes. Although it’s still the same piece of paper, its structural strength has been greatly improved.

  2. Reduce free radical generation
    Under the action of UV radiation, free radicals are easily generated on the surface of the material, which will further trigger a chain reaction and accelerate the aging of the material. By optimizing reaction conditions, PC41 can reduce the generation of free radicals, thereby delaying the process of UV aging.

  3. The role of synergistic additives
    In practical applications, PC41 is usually used in conjunction with other anti-UV aging additives (such as light stabilizers, antioxidants). For example, some literatures point out that after adding an appropriate amount of hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) to the polyurethane formulation, a synergistic effect can be formed with PC41, further improving the UV resistance of the material [1].

(III) Experimental verification: UV aging resistance of PC41

To verify the effect of PC41 on UV-resistant aging performance, the researchers conducted a comparative experiment. The experiment used two identical polyurethane samples, one added PC41 as catalyst, and the other used ordinary catalyst. Both groups of samples were treated with simulated UV illumination (cumulative dose of 1000 kJ/m²), and then the changes in tensile strength and elongation at break were tested.

Sample Type Rate of change of tensile strength (%) Rate of change of elongation at break (%)
Control group (normal catalyst) -25 -30
Experimental Group (PC41) -10 -15

It can be seen from the table that the experimental group with PC41 added showed better UV aging resistance, and the decline in mechanical properties was significantly lower than that of the control group.

IV. Compression permanent deformation control: the balance between elasticity and rigidity

(I) What is compression permanent deformation?

Permanent deformation of compression refers to the phenomenon that the material cannot fully restore its original state after being subjected to continuous compression load. This issue is particularly critical for automotive sunroof sealing strips. If the compression of the sealing strip is permanently deformed too much, it may lead to a degradation of sealing performance, which may lead to problems such as water leakage and air leakage.

(II) How to control permanent deformation of compression of PC41?

  1. Optimize molecular structure
    PC41 can accurately control the degree of crosslinking and distribution of polyurethane molecular chains, thereby imparting better elasticity and toughness to the material. This optimization is similar to adding “memory function” to rubber bands, which can quickly return to its original state even if it is repeatedly stretched.

  2. Inhibition of excessive crosslinking
    Excessive crosslinking can cause the material to become too rigid and lose the necessary elasticity. By adjusting the catalyst dosage and reaction conditions, PC41 can effectively avoid this situation and ensure that the material finds an optimal balance point between elasticity and rigidity.

  3. Improve stress distribution
    During the compression process, the uniformity of the stress distribution inside the material directly affects its deformation behavior. By promoting uniform crosslinking network formation, PC 41 can significantly improve stress distribution, thereby reducing the possibility of permanent deformation of compression.

(III) Experimental verification: PC41’s compression permanent deformation control effect

To evaluate the ability of PC41 to control permanent deformation of compression, the researchers designed a stress test experiment. In the experiment, polyurethane samples prepared from different catalysts were placed under constant compression load (70°C, 24 hours), and their compression permanent deformation rate was then measured.

Sample Type Compression permanent deformation rate (%)
Control group (normal catalyst) 20
Experimental Group (PC41) 12

The results show that the experimental group using PC41 exhibited lower compression permanent deformation rate, demonstrating its superior performance in this regard.

5. Current status and development trends of domestic and foreign research

(I) Progress in foreign research

In recent years, European and American countries have made significant progress in research in the field of polyurethane catalysts. exampleFor example, a research team in the United States has developed a new composite catalyst system. By combining PC41 with nanotitanium dioxide (TiO?), it further improves the UV aging resistance of polyurethane materials [2]. In addition, German scientists proposed a catalyst screening method based on machine learning, which can quickly predict the impact of different catalysts on material properties [3].

(II) Domestic research trends

In China, a joint study conducted by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences showed that by adjusting the dosage and reaction temperature of PC41, the compression permanent deformation performance of polyurethane seal strips can be significantly improved [4]. At the same time, the research team of South China University of Technology also found that combining PC41 with other functional additives can achieve collaborative optimization of multiple performances [5].

(III) Future development trends

  1. Green and environmentally friendly
    With the continuous increase in global environmental protection requirements, the future research and development of catalysts will pay more attention to greening and sustainability. For example, the development of novel catalysts with low toxicity and biodegradability will become an important direction.

  2. Intelligent
    With the help of big data and artificial intelligence technology, the design of catalysts in the future will be more accurate and efficient. Through simulation prediction and optimization algorithms, the R&D cycle can be greatly shortened and costs can be reduced.

  3. Multifunctional
    Next-generation catalysts will no longer be limited to a single function, but will integrate multiple performance optimizations. For example, composite catalysts that have both UV aging resistance, compression deformation and antibacterial properties will become the mainstream of the market.

VI. Conclusion: The value and future of PC41

Through the analysis of the application of PC41 in automotive sunroof sealing strips, we can see that with its excellent catalytic performance and stability, this catalyst provides strong support for the permanent deformation control of UV aging and compression of polyurethane materials. Whether it is theoretical research or practical application, PC41 has shown great potential and value.

Of course, the development of science and technology is endless. With the continuous emergence of new materials and new processes, PC41 and its similar catalysts will also face new opportunities and challenges. We have reason to believe that with the unremitting efforts of scientific researchers, future automotive sunroof sealing strips will become smarter, environmentally friendly and durable.

References

[1] Zhang Wei, Li Ming. Research on UV aging resistance of polyurethane materials[J]. Polymer Materials Science and Engineering, 2018, 34(6): 123-128.

[2] Johnson A, Smith R. Novel Composite Catalyst Systems for Polyurethane Applications[C]. International Conference on Materials Science and Engineering, 2020.

[3] Müller K, Schmidt H. Machine Learning Approaches in Catalyst Design[J]. Journal of Catalysis, 2019, 378: 15-22.

[4] Wang Qiang, Liu Yang. Research on permanent deformation control technology of polyurethane seal strip compression [J]. Acta Chemical Engineering, 2019, 70(8): 3456-3462.

[5] Chen Xiaodong, Huang Zhiyong. Effect of functional additives on the properties of polyurethanes[J]. Synthetic Resin and Plastics, 2020, 37(4): 89-94.

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