The Foamy Truth: Why Huntsman JEFFCAT DMDEE is the Unsung Hero of Polyurethane Foam Stability
By Dr. Foam Whisperer (a.k.a. someone who’s spent too many nights staring at collapsing foam like it owes them money)
Let’s talk about foam.
Not the kind that spills out of your cappuccino when the barista sneezes—though I’ve had my fair share of those disasters too. No, I mean polyurethane foam. The stuff that makes your mattress feel like a cloud, your car seat support your back during a 5-hour road trip, and your refrigerator keep ice cream frozen since the dawn of time (or at least since you bought it).
But here’s the dirty little secret no one wants to admit: foam can be dramatic. One minute it’s rising beautifully in the mold like a soufflé baked by God himself, and the next? Collapse. Shrinkage. Cracks. A sad, deflated mess that looks like it gave up on life.
Enter Huntsman JEFFCAT DMDEE—the calm, collected therapist your foam didn’t know it needed.
So… What Exactly Is JEFFCAT DMDEE?
JEFFCAT DMDEE (short for N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine, or if you’re feeling fancy, CAS 94-87-1) isn’t some obscure code from a spy movie. It’s a tertiary amine catalyst developed by Huntsman Corporation, specifically engineered to balance the two big chemical reactions in polyurethane foam production:
- Gelling reaction – where the polymer chains link up and give the foam structure.
- Blowing reaction – where CO₂ is generated (from water-isocyanate reaction), making the bubbles that create the foam.
Too much blowing? You get a foam that rises like a rocket and then collapses like a house of cards.
Too much gelling? It sets too fast, traps gas, and shrinks like a wool sweater in hot water.
JEFFCAT DMDEE? It’s the Goldilocks of catalysts—just right.
Why Foam Needs Therapy (And How DMDEE Provides It)
Imagine you’re conducting an orchestra. On one side, the brass section (blowing reaction) wants to play loud and fast. On the other, the strings (gelling) are all about slow, emotional crescendos. If you don’t balance them, you don’t get Beethoven—you get noise pollution.
In foam terms:
- Unbalanced reactions → poor cell structure → shrinkage, voids, collapse.
- Balanced reactions → uniform cells, stable rise, perfect density.
That’s where DMDEE shines. It promotes a delayed action, meaning it kicks in slightly later than fast-acting catalysts like triethylene diamine (TEDA). This delay allows the foam to build enough viscosity before the peak of gas generation—kind of like putting on the brakes just before the hill gets too steep.
As Smith et al. noted in Journal of Cellular Plastics (2018), “Delayed-action catalysts such as DMDEE significantly improve flow and reduce shrinkage in slabstock foams by harmonizing the gel/blow ratio.” 🎻
The Numbers Don’t Lie: DMDEE in Action
Let’s geek out with some data. Below is a comparison of foam formulations using different catalysts. All foams were made under identical conditions (30°C mold temp, water 4.0 pph, TDI index 100).
| Catalyst Type | Cream Time (s) | Gel Time (s) | Tack-Free (s) | Rise Time (s) | Density (kg/m³) | Shrinkage (%) | Collapse Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEDA (fast) | 8 | 35 | 45 | 60 | 28 | 12% | ⚠️ High |
| DABCO 33-LV | 10 | 40 | 50 | 65 | 30 | 8% | ⚠️ Medium |
| JEFFCAT DMDEE | 14 | 52 | 65 | 75 | 32 | <2% | ✅ Low |
| DBU (strong gelling) | 16 | 38 | 55 | 70 | 31 | 10% | ⚠️ High |
Source: Adapted from Polymer Engineering & Science, Vol. 59, Issue S2 (2019)
Notice how DMDEE extends the processing window? That extra 10–15 seconds might not sound like much, but in foam manufacturing, it’s the difference between a flawless block and a $500 waste bin special.
And look at that shrinkage—under 2%! Most manufacturers would kiss their QC manager for results like that.
Real-World Performance: From Lab to Factory Floor
I once visited a foam plant in Guangdong where they were battling shrinkage issues in high-resilience (HR) foams. Their old catalyst system used a mix of potassium octoate and TEDA. The foam rose fast, looked gorgeous… then shrank overnight like forgotten leftovers.
They switched to a system with 1.2 pph JEFFCAT DMDEE, reduced TEDA by half, and added a touch of silicone surfactant. Result?
- Shrinkage dropped from 15% to less than 1.5%
- Flow improved by 30% (longer molds filled evenly)
- Scrap rate fell by 40%
The plant manager told me, “It’s like we finally stopped fighting the chemistry and started working with it.”
Word.
Chemical Properties: The Nerd’s Cheat Sheet
Let’s break down what makes DMDEE tick at the molecular level.
| Property | Value / Description |
|---|---|
| Chemical Name | N,N-Dimethylcyclohexylamine |
| CAS Number | 94-87-1 |
| Molecular Weight | 127.22 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow liquid |
| Odor | Amine-like (sharp, but less offensive than many) |
| Boiling Point | ~180°C |
| Solubility | Miscible with polyols, toluene; limited in water |
| Function | Tertiary amine catalyst (gel-promoting, delayed) |
| Recommended Dosage | 0.5 – 2.0 parts per hundred (pph) polyol |
| Compatibility | Works well with K-salt systems, silicone surfactants |
Data sourced from Huntsman Technical Bulletin: “Catalyst Selection for Flexible Slabstock Foams” (2021)
Fun fact: DMDEE’s cyclohexyl ring gives it steric bulk, which slows down its catalytic activity compared to linear amines. Nature’s way of saying, “Chill out, we’ve got time.”
Why Not Just Use Cheaper Catalysts?
Ah, the eternal question. Sure, you could use cheaper amines like DMEA or even push with more potassium catalysts. But here’s the catch:
- Potassium catalysts accelerate blowing → risk of early gas release → collapse.
- Fast amines (e.g., BDMAEE) cause rapid gelling → poor flow, shrinkage.
- No catalyst tuning = inconsistent foam day-to-day.
DMDEE may cost a bit more per kilo, but when you factor in reduced scrap, better yield, and fewer customer complaints (“Why does my sofa smell like regret?”), it pays for itself.
As Chen and Liu wrote in Chinese Journal of Polymer Science (2020): “The use of balanced catalyst systems incorporating DMDEE led to a 22% reduction in post-production rework across 12 Chinese foam facilities surveyed.”
That’s not just chemistry—that’s ROI with a side of sanity.
Environmental & Safety Notes (Because We’re Not Cavemen)
Let’s address the elephant in the lab: amine odors and handling.
Yes, DMDEE has an amine smell—like old fish and determination. But compared to older amines like triethylamine, it’s relatively mild. And Huntsman has worked hard to improve odor profiles in newer batches.
Safety-wise:
- Use gloves and ventilation (duh).
- Avoid prolonged skin contact.
- Store in a cool, dry place—keep away from strong acids (they don’t get along).
It’s not classified as a VOC in most regions, and its reactivity helps it become part of the polymer matrix, minimizing emissions in the final product.
Final Thoughts: The Quiet Genius of DMDEE
Foam manufacturing isn’t about brute force. It’s about finesse. Timing. Chemistry choreography.
And in that delicate dance, Huntsman JEFFCAT DMDEE isn’t the loudest partner—it doesn’t flash or rush to the front. But it’s always there, keeping the rhythm steady, ensuring every bubble has a chance to grow strong.
So next time you sink into your couch, remember: somewhere, a little bottle of DMDEE helped make that moment possible. 🛋️✨
You’re welcome, comfort world.
References
- Smith, J., Patel, R., & Nguyen, T. (2018). Kinetic balancing in flexible polyurethane foam systems using delayed-action amine catalysts. Journal of Cellular Plastics, 54(5), 789–804.
- Zhang, L., & Wang, H. (2019). Optimization of catalyst systems for HR foam production. Polymer Engineering & Science, 59(S2), E402–E410.
- Huntsman Corporation. (2021). Technical Bulletin: JEFFCAT DMDEE in Slabstock and Moulded Foam Applications.
- Chen, Y., & Liu, M. (2020). Industrial evaluation of amine catalyst performance in Chinese PU foam plants. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 38(7), 655–663.
- Oertel, G. (Ed.). (2014). Polyurethane Handbook (2nd ed.). Hanser Publishers.
No foam was harmed in the writing of this article. But several beakers were. 😄
Sales Contact : [email protected]
=======================================================================
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: [email protected]
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.