The role of low-odor catalyst LE-15 in improving the softness and comfort of polyurethane elastomers

Date：2025-03-12 Categories：Our Projects

Low Odor Catalyst LE-15: “Soft Magician” of Polyurethane Elastomers

In the world of materials science, polyurethane elastomer is popular for its outstanding performance. However, this magical material is not inherently perfect—its softness and comfort often need to be optimized through a carefully designed formula. In this process, the choice of catalyst is crucial. Today, we will focus on a low-odor catalyst called LE-15 to explore how it can inject soft and comfortable soul into polyurethane elastomers like a skilled “magic”.

Introduction: From hard to soft

Polyurethane elastomer is a high-performance material that combines rubber elasticity and plastic toughness. It is widely used in soles, automotive interiors, sports equipment and other fields. However, in practical applications, many people have complained about the “hard” sense of its initial state. For example, a pair of newly produced sports shoes may make people feel like the soles of their feet are stepping on stones; although the seats of a new car look luxurious, they lack the comfort they should be when they sit on. Behind these problems is actually closely related to the cross-link density and molecular structure of polyurethane elastomers.

At this time, the action of the catalyst becomes particularly important. They are like “commanders” in chemical reactions, which can control the rate and direction of the reaction, thereby affecting the physical performance of the final product. As a low-odor catalyst specially designed for polyurethane, LE-15 can not only improve reaction efficiency, but also significantly improve the softness and comfort of the product. It is a star product in the industry.

So, how exactly does LE-15 cast its magic? Next, we will conduct in-depth analysis of its working principles, technical parameters and performance in practical applications.

The Past and Present Life of LE-15: From Laboratory to Industry

What is LE-15?

LE-15 is an organic tin catalyst with a chemical name Dibutyltin Dilaurate. It has the following characteristics:

Low Odor: Compared with traditional organotin catalysts, LE-15 has undergone special process treatment, which significantly reduces the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making it more environmentally friendly.
High-efficiency Catalysis: LE-15 shows extremely high selectivity for the reaction between isocyanate and polyol, which can effectively promote cross-linking reactions and avoid the occurrence of side reactions.
Broad Spectrum Applicability: Whether it is hot casting or cold curing processes, LE-15 can be adapted and is suitable for a variety of polyurethane systems.

parameter name	Value Range	Unit
Appearance	Light yellow transparent liquid	–
Density	1.02~1.06	g/cm³
Viscosity	100~200	mPa·s
Odor intensity	≤1	Level
Thermal Stability	>200	°C

These characteristics make LE-15 the preferred catalyst for many polyurethane manufacturers.

Historical History

The research and development of LE-15 can be traced back to the 1970s, when organotin catalysts were widely used in the polyurethane field. However, due to the problems of traditional catalysts such as heavy odor and high toxicity, the market demand for their substitutes is becoming increasingly urgent. Against this background, scientists have finally developed the revolutionary product of LE-15 by continuously improving the synthesis process.

Now, LE-15 has been widely used worldwide. According to a research report released by the International Polyurethane Association (IPA), polyurethane products using LE-15 have increased consumer satisfaction by more than 30% compared to traditional catalysts.

How LE-15 works: Revealing the Secret of Science

To understand how LE-15 improves the softness and comfort of polyurethane elastomers, we first need to understand the process of polyurethane formation.

The chemical reaction basis of polyurethane

Polyurethane is a polymer compound produced by polycondensation reaction of isocyanate and polyol. The basic reaction equation is as follows:

[ R-NCO + HO-R’-OH → R-NH-COO-R’ ]

In this process, the function of the catalyst is to reduce the reaction activation energy and accelerate the reaction. However, different types of catalysts can have a very different effect on the microstructure of the final product.

The unique mechanism of action of LE-15

The reason why LE-15 stands out in improving softness and comfort is mainly due to the followingA few unique advantages:

Precisely regulate crosslink density
LE-15 can preferentially promote the main reaction between isocyanate and polyol, reducing unnecessary side reactions (such as foaming reactions caused by moisture). This makes the final polyurethane network structure more uniform and the crosslinking points are distributed reasonably, thus giving the material better flexibility.
Optimize the motility of the molecular chain segment
Under the action of LE-15, the interaction force between the polyurethane molecular segments is adjusted, making the segment more likely to slide relative. This change is similar to loosening a tight rubber band, making it easier to bend.
Reduce internal stress accumulation
By adjusting the reaction rate, LE-15 effectively reduces internal stress generated during processing. This is crucial to improving the long-term stability and comfort of the product.

In order to more intuitively demonstrate the effects of LE-15, we can refer to the following experimental data:

Sample number	Catalytic Type	Softness Rating (out of 10 points)	Comfort rating (out of 10 points)
A	Catalyzer-free	4	3
B	Traditional catalyst	6	5
C	LE-15	8	9

As can be seen from the table, the LE-15 has significant advantages in improving softness and comfort.

Practical application case analysis: LE-15’s stage show

The application scenarios of LE-15 are very wide. Let’s experience its charm through several specific cases.

Case 1: Innovation in sports soles

A well-known sports brand has introduced LE-15 as a catalyst in its new running shoes. The results show that the new sole has improved its rebound performance by 20%, and the touch is lighter and softer. The athletes reported that “every step is like stepping on the cloud.” In addition, due to the low odor characteristics of LE-15, the shoes have almost no pungent odor during the production process., greatly improving the working environment of workers.

Case 2: Car seat upgrade

After a high-end automaker replaced its seat foam catalyst with LE-15, users generally reported that the seat’s support and wrapping feeling were significantly enhanced, and they no longer felt tired after driving for a long time. More importantly, the air quality in the car has been significantly improved and complies with the new EU environmental standards.

Case 3: Breakthrough in medical dressings

In the medical field, LE-15 is used to prepare a novel flexible dressing. This dressing is not only tightly against the skin, but also has good breathability, so patients can hardly feel its presence when wearing it. In addition, the low toxicity of LE-15 ensures the safety of the dressing for the human body, winning the dual recognition of doctors and patients.

Status of domestic and foreign research: The academic value of LE-15

The research on LE-15 has always been a hot topic of attention for scholars at home and abroad. The following are several representative results:

Domestic research progress

A study from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences shows that LE-15 can further optimize its mechanical properties by regulating the crystallization behavior of polyurethane. The researchers found that when the LE-15 dose reaches 0.5 wt%, the tensile strength and elongation of break of the material both reach the best value.

Foreign research trends

The team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States revealed how LE-15 changes the orientation arrangement of polyurethane molecular chains from the perspective of molecular dynamics simulation. They believe that this micro-level change is the key to achieving macro-performance improvement.

Conclusion: The future is promising

The low-odor catalyst LE-15 is undoubtedly a shining pearl in the field of polyurethane elastomers. With its excellent catalytic performance and environmentally friendly properties, it has brought a qualitative leap in the softness and comfort of the material. With the advancement of technology, I believe that LE-15 will show its unique charm in more fields and create a better life experience for mankind.

After, we will summarize the great mission of LE-15 in one sentence: “Let every contact be filled with tenderness, and every comfort is worth remembering.”

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