Seeking "VOC-free" Solutions for Flexible PU Foam

A global company manufacturing industrial parts is seeking flexible foam for seats with a maximum of 200 ppm of toxic VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) with performance profile similar to PU foam.

The SpecialChem Client is a leading manufacturer of polyurethane foam for industry. For toxicity reasons, and as most PU foams contain VOCs, our client is looking for solutions to reduce amounts of volatile compounds known, or suspected to be carcinogens.

As the SpecialChem Client is producing millions of pounds of foam per year, the opportunity for a relevant solution is very large.

The solution sought by the SpecialChem Client to reduce total system VOC must:

• Reduce the following compounds to a maximum total of 200 ppm
• Aromatics, benzene, toluene
• Aromatic Amines
• Aliphatic amines
• Siloxanes
• Glycol ether
• Reduce Formaldehyde amount to a maximum of 30ppm
• Keep current performance profile of High Resilient (HR) flexible PU Foam.

Desired solution could be one of the following:

• Chemical components that selectively react with targeted VOC’s within flexible polyurethane foam (including formaldehyde, aromatic amines, aliphatic amines and siloxanes)
• Chemical scavengers (maintaining performance profile)
• Physical scavengers (maintaining performance profile
• Material absorbing VOC’s

or


• A chemical formulation for flexible foam without the use of isocyanates
• Non PU foam with similar performance profile

Post cure processes that drive off VOC’s are not of interest to the SpecialChem Client.

An efficient solution could be adopted within 6 months.

The SpecialChem Client is ready to pay a premium for a differentiated solution, and is even interested in the exclusive use of a proven technology.