Smart Molding International 3-2021

13 newsfeed www.smart-molding.com The Urethane Systems business unit of special - ty chemi cal s company LANXESS presented innova - tive material developments at this year’s Polyurethane Manufacturers Association (PMA) annual meeting. They presented two new prepoly - mers of the Adiprene range that are produced using low free (LF) technology so they contain very low diisocya - nate content. The PMA took place August 7-9 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Meeting highest requirements One of the most chal - lenging applications for polyurethane casting sys - tems is high-temperature applications. As polyure - thane chemistries have advanced over the years, casting systems are being used more frequently in this high-performance segment. Ian Laskowitz, Applications Development Manager for U r e t h a ne S y s t ems a t LANXESS, highlighted at the PMA Meeting the novel Adi - prene LF TR400 high-temper - ature prepolymer, which is based on polycarbonate. This low free TDI prepoly - mer is cured with MCDEA (4,4'-methylenebis(3-chlo - ro-2,6-diethyl-aniline). It is much easier to process than comparable prepoly - mer systems for high-tem - perature applications. For example, it offers a man - ageable processing/pour life. The resulting cast elas - tomers demonstrate have improved high-performance properties that comparable established polyurethane high-temperature system and have excellent high- temperature property reten - tion. Thus, the tear strength is hardly reduced at elevat - ed temperatures. A further strength is high resistance to heat aging at 150 ⁰C. Laskowitz’s presentation ex - panded on the use of physical property testing at high tem - perature, comparing this new prepolymer to standard cast urethane materials, as well as high temperature physi - cal property retention after heat aging at high application temperatures. The processing needs of the materials were also discussed. Easy processing and enhanced performance LANXESS developed a unique 1K blocked prepoly - mer, Adiprene K LFM E820, based on caprolactam (CAP) blocked prepolymer and di - amine curatives. This was the focus of the presenta - tion given by Senior Chemist George Brereton at the PMA annual meeting. Less viscous blocked pre - polymer systems, which are based on LF technology, al - low for chemistries with non-traditional raw materi - als, including more viscous polycarbonate polyols and unique amine types. These stable 1K systems provide processors with numerous advantages, including in - creased control of the curing process and increased prod - uct consistency frombatch to batch. Without restriction on pot life, these systems allow for the processing of large parts, complex contour de - signs, and roto-molding of hollow parts. These systems can offer enhanced thermos- mechanical performance, processing ease, and en - hanced industrial hygiene. The variety of possible ap - plications of blocked LF pre - polymers ranges from small thicknesses of 1-2 mm to re - ally large parts up to several tons. For example, these sys - tems are used as abrasive pad binders or coatings of indus - trial rollers, as well as in the impregnation of industrial belts. Another advantage for the processor is the elimina - tion of the need for a mixing and metering system, which pays off in terms of compo - nent costs. Potential applica - tions include dynamic bend stiffeners for thick cables such as submarine cables, industri - al rolls, components for wind turbine rotor blades or large composite structures. LANXESS www.lanxess.com The LANXESS Urethane Systems business unit is one of the world’s leading suppliers of polyurethane systems. New low free prepolymer technologies