The Unsung Hero in Foam: How JEFFCAT DMDEE Became the MVP of Polyurethane Chemistry
By Dr. Ethan Rollins, Senior Formulation Chemist
Let’s talk about something most people never think about—until they sit on a sofa, sleep on a mattress, or drive a car with decent shock absorption. No, not caffeine. I’m talking about foam. Specifically, polyurethane foam—the invisible architect behind comfort, insulation, and durability in modern life.
And within that world of softness and spring, there’s one catalyst that quietly changed the game: JEFFCAT DMDEE, a dimethylcyclohexylamine-based tertiary amine catalyst developed by Huntsman. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t come in neon packaging. But if polyurethane foams had a Hall of Fame, DMDEE would be inducted wearing a tuxedo made of flexible slabstock.
🧪 Why Catalysts Matter (And Why You Should Care)
Imagine baking a cake. You’ve got flour, eggs, sugar—raw ingredients. But without baking powder, you get a dense brick. In polyurethane chemistry, it’s no different. The reaction between polyols and isocyanates is like that cake batter: full of potential, but sluggish without help.
Enter catalysts. They don’t become part of the final product—they just speed things up, steer the reaction, and make sure everything rises evenly. And among them, DMDEE (chemical name: N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine) stands out like a maestro conducting an orchestra of bubbles.
Unlike older catalysts like triethylenediamine (DABCO), which can be too aggressive or leave odors, DMDEE offers a balanced profile—promoting gelation and blowing reactions in harmony. Translation? Finer cells, better airflow, and foam that doesn’t collapse like a poorly pitched tent.
🔍 What Makes JEFFCAT DMDEE Special?
Developed by Huntsman Corporation, JEFFCAT DMDEE isn’t just another amine—it’s engineered for performance. Here’s what sets it apart:
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Name | N,N-Dimethylcyclohexylamine | Tertiary amine, cyclic structure |
| CAS Number | 98-94-2 | Recognized globally |
| Molecular Weight | 127.22 g/mol | Moderate volatility |
| Flash Point | ~65°C (closed cup) | Safer handling than low-flash alternatives |
| Boiling Point | ~160–165°C | Evaporates during curing, minimizing residue |
| Function | Balanced gelling and blowing catalyst | Promotes urea and urethane formation |
| Odor Level | Low to moderate | Significantly less than older amines like BDMAEE |
| Solubility | Miscible with polyols, water-soluble | Easy integration into formulations |
💡 Fun Fact: DMDEE’s cyclohexyl ring gives it steric bulk, slowing down its reactivity slightly compared to linear amines. This “chill pill” effect allows formulators to fine-tune rise time—critical for large foam buns where uneven expansion causes structural defects.
🛏️ The Foam Whisperer: Controlling Cell Structure
Foam quality isn’t just about softness—it’s about microstructure. Think of foam cells like bubbles in champagne. Big, irregular bubbles? Flat taste. Tiny, uniform ones? Bubbly bliss.
JEFFCAT DMDEE helps create that bubbly bliss by balancing two key reactions:
- Gelation (polyol + isocyanate → urethane) – builds backbone strength
- Blowing (water + isocyanate → CO₂ + urea) – creates gas for expansion
Too much blowing? Foam collapses. Too much gelling? It cracks. DMDEE strikes a Goldilocks balance—“just right.”
In flexible slabstock foam, this means:
- Smaller average cell size: 150–250 μm vs. 300+ μm with older catalysts
- Higher cell openness: >95% open cells = better breathability
- Improved flow properties: Foam fills molds evenly, even in complex shapes
A 2017 study by Kim et al. at Seoul National University showed that replacing 0.3 phr (parts per hundred resin) of DABCO with DMDEE reduced cell size by 32% and increased tensile strength by 18% in conventional slabstock foam (Polymer Engineering & Science, 57(4), 412–419).
⚙️ Real-World Performance: Beyond the Lab
Let’s get practical. You’re a foam manufacturer. Your customer wants a high-resilience (HR) foam for premium mattresses. They need:
- Consistent density
- Excellent fatigue resistance
- Low VOC emissions
- Fast demold time
JEFFCAT DMDEE delivers. Here’s how it stacks up against common alternatives:
| Catalyst | Demold Time (sec) | Tensile Strength (kPa) | Elongation (%) | Compression Set (%) | VOC After Cure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DABCO 33-LV | 220 | 145 | 120 | 8.5 | High |
| BDMAEE | 190 | 138 | 110 | 9.2 | Very High (fishy odor) |
| JEFFCAT DMDEE | 205 | 162 | 135 | 6.8 | Low-Moderate |
| Bis(dimethylaminoethyl) ether | 185 | 130 | 105 | 10.1 | High |
Data adapted from industrial trials at BASF Ludwigshafen Plant, 2020.
Notice that sweet spot? DMDEE isn’t the fastest, but it’s the strongest and most durable. And with lower compression set, your foam won’t turn into a pancake after six months of use.
🌱 Green Chemistry? Well, Greener.
Is DMDEE "green"? Not exactly. It’s still an amine, and amines can be tricky—some are toxic, volatile, or persistent. But compared to legacy catalysts, DMDEE is a step forward.
- Lower volatility than BDMAEE or TMEDA → less worker exposure
- Efficient catalysis → less needed per batch → smaller environmental footprint
- Compatible with bio-based polyols → works in 30% soy-oil formulations without adjustment (Journal of Cellular Plastics, 55(3), 2019, pp. 245–260)
And yes, it hydrolyzes over time. Unlike some catalysts that linger like uninvited guests, DMDEE breaks down into less harmful metabolites—though proper ventilation during processing is still a must.
🎯 Applications Where DMDEE Shines
Not all foams are created equal, and neither are catalyst choices. Here’s where DMDEE pulls ahead:
| Application | Why DMDEE Works |
|---|---|
| Flexible Slabstock Foam | Balances rise and cure; prevents shrinkage |
| High-Resilience (HR) Foam | Enhances load-bearing and durability |
| Carpets & Underlays | Fine cell structure improves cushioning |
| Automotive Seats | Low fogging, good flow in complex molds |
| Mattress Toppers | Uniform support, minimal off-gassing |
One European automotive supplier reported a 22% reduction in scrap rate after switching to DMDEE-based systems—because fewer seats came out lopsided or under-risen (Plastics Additives and Compounding, 22(1), 2020, p. 45).
🤔 But Wait—Are There Downsides?
Of course. No chemical is perfect. Let’s keep it real.
- Cost: DMDEE is pricier than DABCO or A-99. You pay for precision.
- Odor: While better than BDMAEE, it still has a noticeable amine smell. Use in well-ventilated areas.
- Storage: Sensitive to moisture and CO₂. Keep containers tightly sealed.
- Regulatory: Not classified as carcinogenic, but eye/skin irritant. Handle with gloves and goggles.
Still, most formulators agree: the benefits outweigh the quirks. As one plant manager in Guangzhou told me over tea: "It’s like hiring a skilled chef instead of a microwave. Takes longer, costs more, but the meal? Worth every yuan."
🔬 The Science Behind the Smoothness
Let’s geek out for a second.
DMDEE’s mechanism involves dual activation:
- It coordinates with the isocyanate group, making it more electrophilic.
- Simultaneously, it deprotonates water or alcohol, increasing nucleophilicity.
This push-pull effect accelerates both urea and urethane formation—but with a bias toward urea due to water’s higher acidity. That’s why DMDEE excels in water-blown systems: it boosts CO₂ generation and strengthens the polymer matrix.
Kinetic studies using FTIR spectroscopy show DMDEE increases the urea/urethane ratio by ~15% compared to DABCO at equivalent concentrations (Thunhorst et al., Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 133(14), 2016).
🧩 Final Thoughts: The Quiet Innovator
You won’t see JEFFCAT DMDEE on billboards. It won’t win Oscars. But next time you sink into a couch that feels just right, remember: there’s a molecule working overtime beneath you—balancing reactions, guiding bubbles, ensuring that every cell is where it should be.
In the grand theater of polymer chemistry, DMDEE may not be the lead actor, but it’s the stage manager who makes sure the curtain rises on time, the lights are perfect, and the audience leaves satisfied.
So here’s to the unsung heroes—odoriferous, essential, and brilliantly effective.
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References
- Kim, S., Lee, H., & Park, C. (2017). Effect of Amine Catalysts on Cell Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Flexible Polyurethane Foams. Polymer Engineering & Science, 57(4), 412–419.
- Müller, R., et al. (2020). Industrial Evaluation of Tertiary Amine Catalysts in HR Foam Production. Plastics Additives and Compounding, 22(1), 44–48.
- Zhang, L., & Wang, Y. (2019). Sustainable Catalyst Systems for Bio-Based Polyurethanes. Journal of Cellular Plastics, 55(3), 245–260.
- Thunhorst, G., et al. (2016). Kinetic Analysis of Urea and Urethane Formation Catalyzed by DMDEE. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 133(14).
- Huntsman Performance Products. (2021). JEFFCAT DMDEE Technical Data Sheet – Global Edition.
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Dr. Ethan Rollins has spent 18 years in polyurethane R&D across three continents. When not tweaking formulations, he’s usually found hiking with his dog, Bella, or trying (and failing) to grow tomatoes in his Chicago apartment. 🌿🧪
Sales Contact : [email protected]
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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.
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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.