February 15, 2012

Product Stewardship

Jim Chapman

Bayer MaterialScience LLC
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Overview

• What is Product Stewardship

• Basic Polyurethane Chemistry

• Physical Properties of Isocyanates

• Polyurethane Products

• Polyurethane and Raw Material Growth
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What is Product Stewardship? 

Product

Development

Manufacture

Disposal

Distribution

Use

Product

Life-Cycle
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What is Product Stewardship

A product stewardship program encompasses 

environmental, safety and health issues

• Environmental- Chemical spills or leaks, emissions, 

disposal, etc.

• Safety- Working with raw materials and hot 

products; moving, storing, and transporting 

chemicals, etc. 

• Health- Worker protection, chemical health 

effects, understanding worker risks, etc. 
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MDI, TDI and the Polyurethanes 

Industry 

• Polyurethanes are produced by reacting

diisocyanates with polymers and other

chemicals

Diisocyanate + Polyol Polyurethane Polymer + Heat

• Today, we will be discussing three types of 

diisocyanate:

• Methylene diphenyl diisocyante (MDI)

• Polymeric MDI (PMDI)

• Toluene diisocyante (TDI)
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Basic Formula of MDI/PMDI

Monomeric MDI (4,4’-isomer)

Polymeric MDI 

O C N CH2 N C O
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Basic Formula of TDI 

2,4-isomer

CH

3

NCO

NCO

2,6-isomer

CH3

OCN NCO
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Basic Isocyanate Reactions 

R N C O + R' OH

R N C O + R' NH2

R N O

O

R'

H

R N N

O

R'

H H

ISOCYANATE ALCOHOL

ISOCYANATE AMINE

URETHANE

UREA
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Physical Properties of MDI 

Physical State Solid at Ambient Conditions

Molecular weight 250

Boiling point 392°F (200°C) @ 5 mm Hg

Freezing/Melting point 100°F (38°C) Varies

Specific Gravity 1.33 @ 68°F (20°C) 1.18 @ 122°F 

(50°C)

Density 10.2 lbs/gal

Vapor Pressure <10-5 mm Hg at 68°F (20°C)

Viscosity 4.0 cps @ 68°F (20°C)

Solubility in water Not soluble: reacts with the 

evolution of C02

Flash point >392°F (200°C)
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Physical Properties of PMDI 

Physical State Liquid

Molecular weight Varies

Boiling Point 410°F (210°C) @5 mm Hg

Freezing/Melting Point Varies

Specific Gravity 1.24 @ 68°F (20°C)

Density 10.2 lbs/gal

Vapor Pressure < 10-6 mm Hg at 68°F (20°C)

Viscosity Varies

Solubility in Water Not soluble: reacts with the evolution of 

CO2

Flashpoint >392°F (200°C)
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Physical Properties of TDI 

Physical State Liquid at ambient conditions

Molecular Weight 174.2

Boiling Point 482F (250C)

Freezing Point 72F (22C)- 2,4 TDI

57F (14C)- 2,4 and 2,6 (80-20 Mix)

Specific Gravity 1.22 at 77F (25C)

Density 10.2 lbs/gal

Vapor Pressure 0.25 mm Hg at 77F (25C)

Saturate Vapor Concentration 21.0 ppm at 77F (55C)

Viscosity 3.0 cps at 77F (25C)

Solubility in Water Not soluble: reacts with the evolution of C02

Flash Point >295 (135C) coc

Autoignition Temperature >1231F (>666C)

Flammability Limits 0.9% mole to 9.5% mole in air
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Saturated Vapor Concentrations 

of MDI and TDI 
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Types of Polyurethane

Rigid Foams

• Thermal insulations of 

buildings refrigeration, 

pipelines and storage 

tanks

• Buoyancy aids in boats

• Packaging

• Furniture

• Equipment housing
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Types of Polyurethane 

Flexible Foams

• Household 

furniture including 

bedding

• Automotive seating

• Cushioning for 

diverse industrial 

applications

• Textile laminates
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Types of Polyurethane 

• Integral skin, semi-rigid 

and low density 

structural foams

– Steering wheels, headrests 

and other automotive interior 

trim components

– Furniture elements

– Sports goods such as skis and 

surfboards
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Types of Polyurethane 

Elastomers

• Sealants for the 

construction and 

automotive industries

• Shoe soles

• Vehicle body panels

• Rollers and gear wheels

• Conveyors
United States Polyurethanes Market 

Growth 1952 - 2010

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Sales in $Billion

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Global Polyurethane Industry 

Growth 2008-2010

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000

2008

2009

2010

Growth in the Global PU Industry 2008-2010 

( Mlbs)

Asia Pacific excl China

Europe

China

NAFTA
2008-2010 Polyurethane 

Products North America

• Total = 6,263.6 Million 

Pounds

• The N. America PU 

industry has 

experienced an 

average decline of 

2.4% between 2008-

2010

Million Pounds

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NAFTA Production of PU by 

Product Type 2010

(Reaction Injection Molding)

(Thermoplastic Polyurethanes)

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NAFTA Isocyanate Consumption 

by Type – 2008 

Polymeric 

MDI

1924 MM 

lbs

Pure MDI

269 MM lbs

TDI

724 MM lbs

Other Isocy.

113 MM lbs

63.5%

8.9%

23.9%

3.7%

Total Isocyanates

3030 MM lbs

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