In the development and further use of release agents for polyurethane, there are several important factors to be taken into account to ensure the good performance and the quality of the final product, and to avoid any impact on the workers’ health during their use in production. Regulated aspects are the products’ volatile components (VOC and FOG), their toxicity (DNEL and TLV), their flammability and others, such as transport or packaging..
The CONCENTROL products LP ZMC-17 MXN, a concentrated mold release for flexible and semi-rigid integral skin polyurethane, and LP FC-67-3 FTH, a concentrated cold cured mold release agent for flexible polyurethane foam, offer a significant advantage in their composition. Both have high performance in terms of finish and mold release ability, and importantly, are free of tin products.
Tin organometallic compounds are used in the formulations of polyurethane release agents, with the aim of improving the surface appearance of the parts and facilitating their release. Their use was essential until today. Nevertheless, the toxicity of tin compounds has a negative and significant effect on the variables DNEL and TLV, making necessary the research of viable alternatives that allow the development of mold release agents that do not have those compounds and achieve the same results .
Tin compounds, especially DBTDLs (Dibutyltin dilaurate) and DOTDLs (dioctyltin dilaurate), are commonly used in mold release agents to facilitate the isocyanate-polyol surface reaction, with the improvements discussed above. However, due to the high toxicity of some of these tin organic compounds, their use on the market is being limited. Concentrol has focused on the study of alternatives in the formulation, replacing these traditional compounds, whose risks to health and the environment are undeniable. .
The initial result is the release agents we present, LP ZMC-17 MXN and LP FC-67-3 FTH, both free of tin compounds, ready-to-use concentrates and therefore low-consumption, with the possibility of having electrostatic application versions. Furthermore, while they are products with a flash point > 24 ° C and > 55 ° C respectively, they are available at any of the usual flash points. .
Due to the excellent results obtained with the alternative products by a considerable number of customers, other products are also being reformulated, eliminating the tin compounds they used to incorporate, so that the application sectors and the number of products is constantly increasing. The studies carried out by Concentrol in this project represent a definite step in the research and development of alternative products, replacing the traditional components of limited or prohibited use.
Concentrol remains committed to providing more sustainable chemical solutions that are harmless to the environment and human health.
