Dow Polyurethanes Reports Greater Than 95 Percent Conversion Rate

Midland, MI – As polyurethane foam producers look for simple, quick ways to reduce costs, increase production efficiency and improve the workplace environment, VORANOL™ VORACTIV™ polyols made by Dow Polyurethanes, a business of The Dow Chemical Company, are gaining more widespread acceptance across the industry. The business reports that more than 95 percent of customers globally who trial the product convert their operations to the highly efficient, low-amine emission polyols used to manufacture polyurethane foam according to Dow Chemical Company.

According to Dow Chemical Dow Polyurethanes next-generation technology enabled the development of VORANOL VORACTIV polyols, which feature a captive amine catalyst that significantly reduces worker exposure to volatile amine emissions. Since their introduction, customer trials have shown that VORANOL VORACTIV polyols enable manufacturers to simplify their production process, produce foam with a higher rate of product consistency, and dramatically reduce waste in the cut and trim process. According to Dow, Dow,s customers, foam produced using VORANOL VORACTIV has thinner skins, smoother side walls, improved foam density and hardness distribution through the entire foam slab. In addition, VORANOL VORACTIV has lower sensitivity to changes in ambient temperature resulting in less cooling time for the foam. It is this combination of economic, environmental, production and performance benefits that has led to the high conversion rate among customers who trial the products.

Company says that foam made with previous generation polyols, where the amines are added during the production process, are often associated with unpleasant odors experienced by consumers who purchase goods made with foam, such as bedding and mattresses, and foam seating found in sofas, chairs and automobiles. Concerns over these odors have pushed many foam manufacturers to consider next generation polyols, such as VORANOL VORACTIV polyols, as a way to offer improved consumer benefits, while at the same time driving greater processing efficiency into their operations.VORANOL VORACTIV catalytically active polyols rely on a proprietary and patented Dow process that grafts amine catalysts directly into the polyol, instead of requiring the use of a separate amine catalyst. This allows customers to eliminate or minimize a formulating step, resulting in lower additive costs and reducing or eliminating purchasing, handling and storage of amine catalysts. These polyols allow flexible slab and molded foam manufacturers to reduce amine emissions and dramatically reduce staining-, fogging-, and odor-causing agents from their polyurethane foams.

SOURCE: Dow Polyurethanes