Bac2 latent catalyst promises productivity gains in processes that use urea formaldehyde resin

21-06-2012: Bac2 has developed a latent acid catalyst that extends the pot life of urea formaldehyde resins from a few minutes to more than a day. With just a 2% concentration of the catalyst, resins can be cured at a temperature some 20 degrees lower than untreated compounds, delivering substantial energy savings and enabling production speed to be increased. The extended pot life also simplifies storage and handling of urea formaldehyde resins, which are commonly used in the manufacture of abrasives and for bonding plywood, particle board and other structured wood products.

Known as CSR150, the catalyst has been derived from related formulations that have already proven their efficacy in furan and phenolic resin manufacturing processes. CSR150 remains stable for at least 12 months when stored in cool, dry conditions. A complementary product, CSR250, can be blended with CSR150 to optimise its characteristics for the best trade off between pot life and cure time in specific applications.