Modifying polyurethane cure rate via varying catalyst concentration

Modifying polyurethane cure rate via varying catalyst concentration

Physics

Conklin, Mackenzie

Bruce, Rodenborn (Mentor)

Eric Galindo, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Matthew Hinton, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Sabine Fuierer, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Michael Hargather, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Chelsey Hargather Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

English

Polyurethanes are formed when polymers such as hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) react with diisocyanates and are commonly used as rigid insulation, adhesives/bonding agent, or as a binder in solid composite rocket propellant. Polymers cure faster when the amount of catalyst is varied, which allows for different applications. In this work, the HTPB is cured with two diisocyanates: touluene diisocynate (TDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). Dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL) catalyst is used to accelerate the cure rate of the polyurethane, and the viscosity of the curing polymer is measured as a function of time for a series of curative and catalytic agents. Conclusions can be drawn on cure rate by measuring viscosity, which increases with faster cure rate. Experimental data showed that increasing the amount of catalyst increases the cure rate of the HTPB, and that temperature effects from increased catalyst caused a non-linear relationship between HTPB viscosity and temperature.