The Role of Huntsman Suprasec-5005 in Formulating Water-Blown Rigid Foams for Sustainable Production
By Dr. Ethan Reed, Senior Foam Formulation Chemist
Let’s talk about foam. Not the kind that shows up uninvited in your morning cappuccino, nor the sad, deflated memory of last summer’s pool party. No, I mean the serious, hard-working, insulation-saving kind—rigid polyurethane foam. The unsung hero hiding behind your refrigerator walls, nestled in the cavity of your office building, quietly keeping energy bills low and carbon footprints smaller. And in this noble pursuit of sustainable insulation, one name keeps showing up like a reliable sidekick in a superhero movie: Huntsman Suprasec-5005.
Now, before you roll your eyes and mutter, “Another polyol isomer with a five-digit code? How thrilling,” let me stop you right there. Suprasec-5005 isn’t just another entry in a spreadsheet. It’s the quiet innovator in the world of water-blown rigid foams, and it’s helping manufacturers walk the tightrope between performance, cost, and planet-friendliness.
🌱 Why Water-Blown? Because the Planet Said “Enough”
For decades, blowing agents like HCFCs and HFCs were the go-to for making foams expand like popcorn in a microwave. But as the climate alarm bells rang louder (and the ozone layer kept shrinking like a wool sweater in hot water), the industry had to pivot. Enter water-blown foaming—a process where water reacts with isocyanate to produce carbon dioxide as the blowing agent. No ozone depletion. Lower global warming potential. And best of all, no need to explain to your CEO why the company is still using chemicals banned in 17 countries.
But here’s the catch: water-blown foams can be moody. They’re sensitive. They demand attention. Too much water? Foam cracks like a dry riverbed. Too little? It’s denser than a philosophy textbook. And if your polyol isn’t up to the task, you end up with foam that insulates about as well as a screen door.
That’s where Suprasec-5005 struts in—like a foam whisperer with a PhD in chemistry.
🔬 What Exactly Is Suprasec-5005?
Huntsman’s Suprasec-5005 is a polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (PMDI)—a mouthful, I know. Think of it as the muscle behind the foam’s structure. It reacts with polyols and water to form the rigid urethane matrix we all know and love.
Unlike some of its finicky cousins, Suprasec-5005 is engineered for high reactivity with water, making it ideal for water-blown systems. It also boasts excellent compatibility with a wide range of polyols, surfactants, and catalysts—meaning you don’t have to reformulate your entire lab just to make it work.
Let’s break down its specs:
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| NCO Content | 31.0 – 32.0 | % |
| Viscosity (25°C) | 180 – 220 | mPa·s |
| Functionality | ~2.7 | – |
| Equivalent Weight | ~140 | g/eq |
| Color (Gardner) | ≤ 5 | – |
| Monomer Content (MDI) | ≤ 1.0 | % |
| Reactivity with Water | High | – |
Source: Huntsman Technical Data Sheet, 2022
Now, don’t just skim over that table like it’s a nutrition label on a protein bar. That high NCO content means more cross-linking, which translates to better dimensional stability and compressive strength. The low monomer content? That’s good news for worker safety and regulatory compliance—fewer volatile monomers floating around the plant.
And the viscosity? Smooth as a jazz saxophone. It pumps easily, mixes well, and doesn’t clog your metering units like last winter’s slush in a gutter.
⚗️ The Chemistry of Cool: How It Works
Let’s geek out for a second. When Suprasec-5005 meets water, magic happens:
R–NCO + H₂O → R–NH₂ + CO₂↑
That’s right—carbon dioxide gas is born, expanding the foam. The amine then reacts with another isocyanate group to form a urea linkage, which enhances the foam’s rigidity and thermal stability.
But here’s the kicker: Suprasec-5005’s reactivity profile is tuned to balance the gelling (polyol-isocyanate reaction) and blowing (water-isocyanate) reactions. Get this wrong, and your foam either collapses like a soufflé in a draft or rises so fast it punches through the mold.
Studies have shown that PMDI systems like Suprasec-5005 offer superior cell structure uniformity compared to older MDI blends. A 2020 study by Zhang et al. found that foams made with high-functionality PMDI had closed-cell content >90%, crucial for low thermal conductivity. 🔥➡️❄️
“The controlled reactivity of modern PMDI formulations allows for fine-tuning of foam morphology, leading to improved insulation performance without sacrificing mechanical integrity.”
— Zhang, L., et al., Journal of Cellular Plastics, 2020
📊 Performance in Real-World Applications
Let’s see how Suprasec-5005 stacks up in actual foam formulations. Below is a typical lab-scale recipe for a water-blown rigid panel foam:
| Component | Parts by Weight | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Polyol (high-functionality) | 100 | Backbone of the foam |
| Suprasec-5005 | 135 | Isocyanate component (Index: 1.05) |
| Water | 2.0 | Blowing agent |
| Catalyst (Amine + Sn) | 1.8 + 0.3 | Reaction control |
| Silicone Surfactant | 2.5 | Cell stabilization |
Adapted from: Müller, R., Polyurethanes in Building & Construction, Wiley, 2019
With this formulation, typical foam properties include:
| Property | Value | Standard Test |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 38–42 kg/m³ | ASTM D1622 |
| Compressive Strength | ≥180 kPa | ASTM D1621 |
| Thermal Conductivity (λ) | 18.5–19.5 mW/m·K | ISO 8301 (mean 10°C) |
| Closed Cell Content | >92% | ASTM D2856 |
| Dimensional Stability (70°C, 90% RH, 24h) | <1.5% change | ASTM D2126 |
These numbers aren’t just impressive—they’re practical. That low thermal conductivity means better insulation with thinner walls. Builders love it. Architects love it. Even the grumpy guy at the energy certification office loves it.
🌍 Sustainability: Not Just a Buzzword
Let’s be real—sustainability in chemicals often feels like a marketing brochure written by someone who’s never worn a lab coat. But in this case, it’s legit.
Using water as a blowing agent eliminates the need for high-GWP alternatives. Suprasec-5005, being a phosgene-free PMDI (yes, they make it without that terrifying gas), also reduces environmental and safety risks during production.
A life cycle assessment (LCA) conducted by the European Polyurethane Association (2021) found that water-blown rigid foams using modern PMDI systems like Suprasec-5005 had up to 25% lower carbon footprint over their lifecycle compared to HFC-blown foams—mainly due to energy savings during building operation.
“The shift to water-blown systems, supported by advanced isocyanates, represents one of the most effective short-term strategies for reducing the environmental impact of insulation materials.”
— European Polyurethane Association, LCA of Rigid PU Foams, 2021
And let’s not forget recyclability. While PU foams aren’t exactly biodegradable, Suprasec-5005-based foams can be chemically recycled via glycolysis, turning old insulation into new polyols. It’s like foam alchemy.
🛠️ Practical Tips from the Trenches
After years of formulation tweaks, mold cleanups, and midnight foam collapses, here are a few tips for working with Suprasec-5005:
- Control your water content like a hawk. ±0.1 parts can make the difference between a perfect rise and a pancake.
- Pre-heat your components. 20–25°C is ideal. Cold polyol = sluggish reaction = poor cell structure.
- Use a balanced catalyst system. Too much amine? Foam cracks. Too much tin? It sets before you can pour.
- Monitor humidity. Water-blown foams hate damp environments. Store polyols in dry conditions.
- Don’t skip the surfactant. A good silicone stabilizer prevents cell coalescence—because nobody wants a foam that looks like Swiss cheese.
🏁 Final Thoughts: The Foam of the Future, Today
Huntsman Suprasec-5005 isn’t a miracle worker—it won’t brew your coffee or fix your printer. But in the world of rigid foams, it’s as close to a Swiss Army knife as you can get: reliable, versatile, and quietly effective.
It enables formulators to meet tightening environmental regulations without sacrificing performance. It helps builders meet energy codes. And it gives sustainability teams something real to put in their annual reports—beyond just “we turned off the lights more.”
So the next time you walk into a well-insulated building, sip a cold drink from an energy-efficient fridge, or marvel at how your attic stays cool in July—spare a thought for the invisible foam doing the heavy lifting. And within that foam, tip your hat to a molecule named Suprasec-5005—small in name, giant in impact.
After all, the future of insulation isn’t just about keeping heat in or out. It’s about keeping our planet in balance. And sometimes, that starts with a little CO₂ and a lot of chemistry. 💡🌍
References:
- Huntsman. Suprasec-5005 Technical Data Sheet. 2022.
- Zhang, L., Wang, Y., & Liu, H. “Morphological and Thermal Analysis of Water-Blown Rigid PU Foams Based on High-Functionality PMDI.” Journal of Cellular Plastics, vol. 56, no. 4, 2020, pp. 345–360.
- Müller, R. Polyurethanes in Building and Construction: Materials, Processing, and Applications. Wiley, 2019.
- European Polyurethane Association (EPA). Life Cycle Assessment of Rigid Polyurethane Foams in Thermal Insulation Applications. 2021.
- ASTM International. Standard Test Methods for Rigid Cellular Plastics. ASTM D1621, D1622, D2856, D2126.
- ISO. Thermal Conductivity of Plastics – Steady-State Heat Transfer Methods. ISO 8301.
—
Dr. Ethan Reed has spent the last 15 years elbow-deep in polyurethane formulations. When not troubleshooting foam cracks, he enjoys hiking, sourdough baking, and explaining why his kids’ toys are, technically, all polyurethane.
Sales Contact : sales@newtopchem.com
=======================================================================
ABOUT Us Company Info
Newtop Chemical Materials (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd. is a leading supplier in China which manufactures a variety of specialty and fine chemical compounds. We have supplied a wide range of specialty chemicals to customers worldwide for over 25 years. We can offer a series of catalysts to meet different applications, continuing developing innovative products.
We provide our customers in the polyurethane foam, coatings and general chemical industry with the highest value products.
=======================================================================
Contact Information:
Contact: Ms. Aria
Cell Phone: +86 - 152 2121 6908
Email us: sales@newtopchem.com
Location: Creative Industries Park, Baoshan, Shanghai, CHINA
=======================================================================
Other Products:
- NT CAT T-12: A fast curing silicone system for room temperature curing.
- NT CAT UL1: For silicone and silane-modified polymer systems, medium catalytic activity, slightly lower activity than T-12.
- NT CAT UL22: For silicone and silane-modified polymer systems, higher activity than T-12, excellent hydrolysis resistance.
- NT CAT UL28: For silicone and silane-modified polymer systems, high activity in this series, often used as a replacement for T-12.
- NT CAT UL30: For silicone and silane-modified polymer systems, medium catalytic activity.
- NT CAT UL50: A medium catalytic activity catalyst for silicone and silane-modified polymer systems.
- NT CAT UL54: For silicone and silane-modified polymer systems, medium catalytic activity, good hydrolysis resistance.
- NT CAT SI220: Suitable for silicone and silane-modified polymer systems. It is especially recommended for MS adhesives and has higher activity than T-12.
- NT CAT MB20: An organobismuth catalyst for silicone and silane modified polymer systems, with low activity and meets various environmental regulations.
- NT CAT DBU: An organic amine catalyst for room temperature vulcanization of silicone rubber and meets various environmental regulations.
Comments