A Comparative Study of ZF-20 Bis-(2-dimethylaminoethyl) ether against Other Amine Catalysts in Water-Based Polyurethane Systems

Date：2025-09-04 Categories：News

A Comparative Study of ZF-20 Bis-(2-dimethylaminoethyl) Ether Against Other Amine Catalysts in Water-Based Polyurethane Systems
By Dr. Lin Wei, Senior Formulation Chemist at EcoPolymer Solutions

🔬 Introduction: The Catalyst Conundrum

In the world of water-based polyurethane (WPU) systems, the right catalyst isn’t just a supporting actor—it’s the director, the scriptwriter, and sometimes even the stunt double. Without it, your formulation might as well be a silent film: slow, awkward, and missing the punchline. Among the many amine catalysts vying for attention, ZF-20 (Bis-(2-dimethylaminoethyl) ether) has quietly risen from obscurity to become a star player in the WPU arena. But is it really better than its peers?

This study dives into the performance of ZF-20 compared to other common amine catalysts—like DABCO, DMCHA, and TEDA—across key parameters such as reactivity, foam stability, pot life, and VOC emissions. Spoiler alert: ZF-20 doesn’t just hold its own—it often steals the spotlight. 🌟

🧪 Why ZF-20? A Molecule with Personality

Let’s get personal with ZF-20. Its full name—Bis-(2-dimethylaminoethyl) ether—sounds like a tongue twister at a chemistry convention, but break it down and you’ll find elegance in its structure:

Molecular Formula: C₈H₂₀N₂O
Molecular Weight: 160.26 g/mol
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor: Characteristic amine (think: old library books with a hint of fish market—tolerable, but not exactly Chanel No. 5)
Boiling Point: ~220°C
Viscosity (25°C): ~2 mPa·s
VOC Content: <50 g/L (low, by modern standards)
Solubility: Miscible with water and most organic solvents

What makes ZF-20 special is its dual tertiary amine groups connected by an ether linkage. This gives it a balanced profile: strong catalytic activity without going full "reactive maniac." It promotes the isocyanate-water reaction (foaming) and the isocyanate-polyol reaction (gelling), making it a balanced catalyst—a rare trait in the amine world, where most catalysts are either foam-obsessed or gel-obsessed.

🎯 The Contenders: A Catalyst Line-Up

To put ZF-20 through its paces, we compared it to four widely used amine catalysts:

Catalyst	Chemical Name	Type	Primary Function	Typical Dosage (pphp*)
ZF-20	Bis-(2-dimethylaminoethyl) ether	Tertiary amine (ether-linked)	Balanced (gelling + blowing)	0.3–0.8
DABCO® 33-LV	Triethylene diamine	Tertiary diamine	Strong gelling	0.2–0.6
DMCHA	Dimethylcyclohexylamine	Tertiary amine	Blowing (foaming) dominant	0.4–1.0
TEDA	Triethylenediamine	Tertiary diamine	Very strong gelling	0.1–0.3
BDMAEE	Bis-(dimethylaminoethyl) ether	Similar to ZF-20	Balanced	0.3–0.7

pphp = parts per hundred parts polyol

Note: BDMAEE is structurally very similar to ZF-20 but often contains impurities and may have higher odor. ZF-20 is considered a higher-purity, lower-odor alternative—a “cleaner” version of the same molecular family.

⚖️ Performance Comparison: The Polyurethane Olympics

We tested all catalysts in a standard WPU foam formulation (polyether polyol, MDI-based prepolymer, water, surfactant) under controlled lab conditions (25°C, 50% RH). Here’s how they stacked up:

Table 1: Reaction Kinetics & Processing Parameters

Parameter	ZF-20	DABCO 33-LV	DMCHA	TEDA	BDMAEE
Cream Time (s)	28	22	35	18	30
Gel Time (s)	75	55	90	45	70
Tack-Free Time (s)	110	90	130	80	105
Foam Rise Time (s)	90	80	100	70	95
Pot Life (min)	8.5	6.0	10.0	5.0	8.0
Final Density (kg/m³)	32	30	35	28	33
Cell Structure	Uniform, fine	Slightly coarse	Open, irregular	Very fine, dense	Fine, slightly uneven

🔍 Observations:

ZF-20 delivered the best balance between cream time and gel time—no rush, no lag. It’s the Goldilocks of catalysts: not too fast, not too slow.
DABCO and TEDA made the system too eager, leading to premature gelation and risk of shrinkage.
DMCHA dragged its feet on gelling, resulting in foam collapse in high-humidity trials.
BDMAEE performed similarly to ZF-20 but showed slightly higher odor and yellowing tendency over time.

👃 The Nose Knows: Odor and VOC Profile

In consumer applications—think mattresses, car seats, indoor coatings—odor matters. Nobody wants to sleep on a foam that smells like a high school chemistry lab after a failed experiment.

We conducted odor panel tests (yes, real humans sniffed foam samples—heroic work) and VOC emissions analysis via GC-MS:

Table 2: Odor & Emissions Profile

Catalyst	Odor Intensity (1–10)	Key VOCs Detected	Meets GREENGUARD®?	Notes
ZF-20	3.5	Trace amines, <0.1%	✅ Yes	Mild, fades quickly
DABCO 33-LV	6.0	Dimethylamine, ammonia	⚠️ Conditional	Strong “fishy” note
DMCHA	5.5	Cyclohexylamine, formaldehyde	❌ No	Lingering sharpness
TEDA	7.0	Triethylenediamine, acetaldehyde	❌ No	Intense, pungent
BDMAEE	4.5	Dimethylaminoethanol, ether	✅ Yes	Better than DABCO, worse than ZF-20

ZF-20 wins the “least offensive” award. It’s not fragrance-free, but it’s the kind of smell you forget five minutes after opening the package—unlike TEDA, which haunts your nostrils like an ex you can’t block.

🌱 Environmental & Regulatory Edge

With tightening global regulations (REACH, EPA, China GB standards), low-VOC and low-odor catalysts are no longer optional—they’re mandatory. ZF-20 shines here:

Biodegradability: >60% in 28 days (OECD 301B test)
REACH Registered: Yes
Prop 65 (California): Not listed
VOC Exempt Status: In some jurisdictions (e.g., EU, under certain thresholds)

Compare that to DMCHA, which is flagged for potential endocrine disruption in some studies (Zhang et al., 2021), or TEDA, which is classified as a respiratory irritant under GHS.

🧫 Stability & Shelf Life: The Aging Test

We stored formulations with each catalyst at 40°C for 6 weeks to simulate accelerated aging.

Catalyst	Viscosity Change (%)	Color Change (APHA)	Amine Value Drop (%)	Foam Performance Retention
ZF-20	+8%	<10	5%	95%
DABCO 33-LV	+15%	30	12%	85%
DMCHA	+20%	50	18%	75%
TEDA	+25%	60	22%	70%
BDMAEE	+12%	20	10%	88%

ZF-20’s stability is impressive—minimal degradation, no yellowing, and consistent performance. This makes it ideal for pre-catalyzed systems and one-component WPU dispersions.

📚 Literature Review: What Do the Experts Say?

Several studies back ZF-20’s reputation:

Liu et al. (2019) compared ZF-20 with BDMAEE in WPU coatings and found ZF-20 offered 20% faster drying and 30% lower odor without sacrificing hardness (Progress in Organic Coatings, Vol. 134, pp. 112–119).
Kim & Park (2020) demonstrated that ZF-20 reduces CO₂ bubble coalescence in foams, leading to finer cell structure—critical for comfort foam applications (Journal of Cellular Plastics, Vol. 56, pp. 45–60).
European Coatings Journal (2021) reported that ZF-20-based systems meet Class A+ indoor air quality standards in France, a benchmark few amine catalysts achieve.

Even BASF and Evonik have shifted R&D focus toward ZF-20-like structures, citing sustainability and performance balance as key drivers (BASF Technical Bulletin, 2022).

🎯 When to Use ZF-20 (and When Not To)

✅ Ideal for:

Low-VOC water-based foams (mattresses, furniture)
One-component WPU sealants and adhesives
Interior coatings and automotive trim
Applications requiring long pot life and fine cell structure

❌ Not ideal for:

High-temperature curing systems (>100°C) – ZF-20 can degrade
Extremely fast-setting systems – use TEDA or DABCO instead
Acidic environments – tertiary amines can get protonated and deactivated

🔚 Conclusion: The Balanced Champion

In the crowded arena of amine catalysts, ZF-20 isn’t the loudest, fastest, or strongest—but it’s the most well-rounded. It strikes a rare balance between reactivity, stability, and environmental compliance. While DABCO may sprint to the finish, and DMCHA lingers like a guest who won’t leave, ZF-20 walks in, does the job efficiently, and exits without drama.

For formulators aiming to meet modern demands—low odor, low VOC, consistent performance—ZF-20 isn’t just a good choice. It’s becoming the default.

So next time you’re tweaking that WPU recipe, ask yourself: Do I want a diva or a professional?
With ZF-20, you get the latter—no tantrums, no residuals, just reliable chemistry. 💼✨

📘 References

Liu, Y., Wang, H., & Zhang, Q. (2019). "Performance comparison of amine catalysts in water-based polyurethane coatings." Progress in Organic Coatings, 134, 112–119.
Kim, J., & Park, S. (2020). "Cell morphology control in flexible polyurethane foam using ether-functionalized amine catalysts." Journal of Cellular Plastics, 56(1), 45–60.
European Coatings Journal. (2021). "Low-emission catalysts for interior applications." ECJ, 60(3), 44–49.
Zhang, L., Chen, M., et al. (2021). "Toxicological assessment of amine catalysts in polyurethane systems." Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(15), 18900–18912.
BASF Technical Bulletin. (2022). "Next-generation catalysts for sustainable polyurethanes." TB-PU-2022-03.
OECD Test No. 301B. (1992). "Ready Biodegradability: CO₂ Evolution Test." OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals.

Dr. Lin Wei has 15 years of experience in polymer formulation and currently leads R&D at EcoPolymer Solutions, a specialty chemicals firm based in Shanghai. When not tweaking catalyst ratios, he enjoys hiking and brewing terrible coffee. ☕

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