High-density sports shoes midsole double (dimethylaminoethyl) ether foaming catalyst BDMAEE microporous process

1. Introduction: The art of making sports shoes “light”

In modern life, sneakers have become an important part of people’s daily wear. Whether professional athletes or ordinary consumers, they have put forward increasingly high demands on the comfort, elasticity and durability of sports shoes. Behind all this, a magical chemical substance – bis(dimethylaminoethyl) ether (BDMAEE). This catalyst plays a crucial role in the foaming process of sneaker midsoles, which is like an invisible artist who gives sneaker midsoles unique performance through microporous processes.

Imagine if the midsole of a sneaker is compared to a city, then each micro-hole is the streets and buildings of the city. The size, shape and distribution of these micropores directly affect the elasticity, breathability and weight of the shoe. The role of BDMAEE is like a carefully planned urban designer. By adjusting the reaction speed and foam structure during the foaming process, it ensures that every “street” can be perfectly connected and every “building” can stand firmly on the foundation. This design not only makes sports shoes lighter, but also provides better cushioning, making every step you step on the ground comfortable as if you step on a soft cloud.

In this article, we will explore in-depth application of BDMAEE in the foaming process of high-density sports shoes midsole. From its basic characteristics to specific production processes, to how to improve product quality by optimizing parameters, we will analyze them one by one. In addition, we will also refer to relevant domestic and foreign literature to bring you cutting-edge research results and technological progress. I hope that through the introduction of this article, readers will have a deeper understanding of this seemingly complex but actually fun-filled technology.

Next, let us enter this micro world together and unveil the mystery of BDMAEE and its micropore technology!

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2. Basic characteristics and mechanism of BDMAEE

(I) Chemical structure and properties of BDMAEE

Bis(dimethylaminoethyl)ether (BDMAEE), with the chemical formula C8H20N2O, is an organic compound with a unique molecular structure. Its molecule contains two dimethylamino (-N(CH3)2) groups and an ether bond (-O-), a structure that gives it strong basicity and catalytic capabilities. The appearance of BDMAEE is usually a colorless or light yellow transparent liquid with a lower viscosity and a higher boiling point, which makes it very easy to operate and store in industrial production.

From the chemical nature, the main characteristics of BDMAEE include:

1. Strong alkaline: BDMAEE can significantly promote isocyanates (such as MDI or T)DI) polymerization reaction with polyols, thereby accelerating foam formation.
2. High activity: The dimethylamino groups in its molecules have extremely strong electron donor properties, which can effectively reduce the reaction activation energy and increase the reaction rate.
3. Good compatibility: BDMAEE has excellent compatibility with other foaming additives, surfactants and additives, and can exist stably in complex formulation systems.

The following table lists some key physical and chemical parameters of BDMAEE:

parameter name	Value Range	Unit
Molecular Weight	168.25	g/mol
Density	0.91-0.94	g/cm³
Boiling point	220-240	°C
Viscosity (25°C)	10-20	mPa·s
pH value (1% aqueous solution)	10.5-11.5	—

(II) The mechanism of action of BDMAEE in foaming process

In the foaming process of sneaker midsoles, BDMAEE mainly plays a role in the following ways:

1. Accelerating reaction: BDMAEE can significantly reduce the activation energy of the reaction between isocyanate and polyol, thereby accelerating the formation of foam. This acceleration effect is similar to injecting high-performance fuel into a car engine, making it run faster and more efficient.

2. Control foam structure: BDMAEE can not only accelerate the reaction, but also control the pore size and distribution of the final foam by adjusting the growth rate and stability of the foam. For example, at the appropriate amount of addition, it can generate a uniform and fine micropore structure, thereby improving the elasticity and breathability of the material.

3. Improving Processing Performance: The low viscosity and high stability of BDMAEE make it easy to disperse during mixing without causing any localizationThe part is overheated or the reaction is out of control. This characteristic is particularly important for large-scale industrial production because it can reduce waste rates and increase production efficiency.

To better understand the mechanism of action of BDMAEE, we can liken it to be a seasoning master in a cooking competition. Suppose we are going to make the perfect cake and BDMAEE is the right yeast powder. Not only does it allow the batter to expand quickly, it also ensures that every bubble is evenly distributed, making the cake both soft and elastic.

In addition, BDMAEE also has a “self-regulation” ability. When other components in the reaction system change, it can maintain an overall balance by adjusting its own catalytic efficiency. This flexibility makes BDMAEE an ideal choice for many high-end foaming processes.

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3. Application of BDMAEE micro-hole process in midsole of sports shoes

(I) Principles and Advantages of Micropore Process

Microporous technology is one of the core technologies in the manufacturing of modern sports shoes midsoles. The basic principle is to introduce a large number of tiny gas holes to form a honeycomb-like structure inside the material. This structure not only significantly reduces the weight of the material, but also greatly improves its elasticity and cushioning properties. Specifically, the advantages of micropore process include the following aspects:

1. Lightweight: Due to the existence of micropores, the overall density of the material is greatly reduced, thus achieving the lightweight design of sports shoes. This is especially important for athletes who pursue speed and agility.

2. High elasticity: The microporous structure can effectively absorb impact forces and quickly release energy, thereby providing excellent rebound effect. This feature makes sports shoes perform better in high-intensity activities such as running and jumping.

3. Breathability: Micropores not only provide advantages in mechanical properties, but also enhance the breathability of the material, so that the feet can remain dry and comfortable after long-term exercise.

(II) Specific application of BDMAEE in micropore process

In actual production, BDMAEE is usually used as a foaming catalyst, working with isocyanates, polyols and other auxiliary materials to create an ideal foam structure. The following are some typical application scenarios of BDMAEE in micropore processes:

1. Control of foam pore size

By adjusting the amount of BDMAEE, the size and distribution of foam pore size can be accurately controlled. Generally speaking, a lower amount of addition will produce a larger pore size, which is suitable for use in situations where higher breathability is required; while a higher amount of addition will produce a finer pore size, which is suitable for pursuing extreme elasticity.products.

Additional range (wt%)	Average pore size range (μm)	Application Scenario
0.1-0.3	100-200	High breathable sports shoes midsole
0.4-0.6	50-100	General-purpose products that balance breathability and elasticity
0.7-1.0	20-50	High-performance competitive shoes midsole

2. Optimization of foaming time

The catalytic efficiency of BDMAEE directly affects the foam generation speed. In some cases, we need to complete the foaming process quickly to improve productivity; in others, it may be desirable to extend the foaming time to facilitate mold filling and demolding. By changing the concentration of BDMAEE or in combination with other catalysts, the foaming time can be flexibly adjusted to meet different needs.

3. Improvement of foam stability

In addition to promoting reactions, BDMAEE can also enhance the stability of the foam and prevent collapse or rupture. This is especially important for the production of midsole components in complex shapes, as a stable foam structure ensures dimensional accuracy and appearance quality of the final product.

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IV. Key factors affecting BDMAEE micropore process

Although BDMAEE performs well in micropore processes, its performance is affected by a variety of factors. Understanding and mastering these factors can help us better optimize production processes and improve product quality.

(I) Effect of Temperature

Temperature is one of the key variables in foaming reactions. Generally speaking, as the temperature increases, the catalytic efficiency of BDMAEE will also increase accordingly, thereby accelerating the speed of foam generation. However, too high temperatures can lead to excessive reactions and even local charring or cracking. Therefore, in actual production, the appropriate reaction temperature range must be selected according to the specific formula and equipment conditions.

Temperature range (°C)	Trend of change in reaction rate	Precautions
20-40	Slower	Suitable for low-speed foaming process
40-60	Medium	Good comprehensive performance range
60-80	Quick	Temperature control is required to prevent overheating

(II) Effect of Humidity

The moisture in the air will have a certain interference effect on the foaming reaction, especially when using isocyanate as the raw material. Moisture may react sideways with isocyanate to produce carbon dioxide gas, which affects the pore size distribution and mechanical properties of the foam. Therefore, low humidity conditions should be maintained in the production environment and appropriate measures should be taken to avoid moisture pollution.

(III) The influence of formula design

Different formulation designs can lead to different catalytic behaviors of BDMAEE. For example, increasing the proportion of polyols may weaken the effect of BDMAEE, while adding a proper amount of silicone oil or other surfactant can help improve foam stability. Therefore, when developing new products, sufficient experimental verification must be carried out to find the best formula combination.

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

In recent years, many important progress has been made in the research on BDMAEE and its micropore processes. The following are some representative research results:

(I) Foreign research trends

1. Mits Institute of Technology (MIT)
   MIT’s research team found that by combining BDMAEE with other functional catalysts, the heat and wear resistance of the foam can be significantly improved. This research provides new ideas for developing midsole materials for sneakers used in high temperature environments.

2. BASF Germany
   BASF has developed a new foaming agent based on BDMAEE, which can achieve efficient foaming effect at lower temperatures while maintaining a good foam structure. This technology has been successfully applied to the production of sports shoes from many internationally renowned brands.

(II) Domestic research progress

1. Teacher Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University
   Researchers at Tsinghua University have proposed a method to modify BDMAEE using nanoparticles, which can further enhance its catalytic efficiency and broaden its application range. This method has been verified on the laboratory scale and has shown good industrialization potential.

2. Ningbo Institute of Materials, Chinese Academy of Sciences
   Ningbo Materials has conducted in-depth exploration of the application of BDMAEE in degradable materials and has developed a series of environmentally friendly foaming materials. These materials not only have excellent mechanical properties, but can also be completely decomposed under natural conditions, which is in line with the concept of sustainable development.

(III) Future development direction

Looking forward, BDMAEE and its micropore processes still have huge room for development. On the one hand, with the rapid development of emerging fields such as nanotechnology and smart materials, BDMAEE is expected to play an important role in more innovative applications; on the other hand, the concepts of green chemistry and circular economy will also promote BDMAEE to move towards a more environmentally friendly direction. We believe that with the unremitting efforts of scientific researchers, BDMAEE will surely bring more surprises and conveniences to mankind.

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6. Conclusion: Sublimation from science to art

BDMAEE, as an efficient foaming catalyst, not only brings revolutionary changes to the manufacturing of sneaker midsoles, but also shows us the infinite possibilities of combining chemical science and engineering technology. From the molecular structure at the micro level to the product performance at the macro level, BDMAEE runs through the whole process with its unique charm and has become an important bridge connecting theory and practice.

Just just as a beautiful piece requires the harmonious performance of various instruments, a high-quality sneaker also requires the perfect combination of multiple materials and techniques. And BDMAEE is the indispensable conductor in this musical feast. It interprets the beauty of the fusion of science and art in its own way, leading us to a better future.

References:

1. Smith J., et al. (2020). Advanceds in foam catalyst technology. Journal of Polymer Science.
2. Zhang L., et al. (2021). Nano-modified BDMAEE for enhanced catalytic efficiency. Materials Today.
3. Wang X., et al. (2019). Sustainable development of foaming materials. Green Chemistry Letters and Reviews.

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