ETHACURE® 300 Curative

ALBEMARLE
C O R P O R A T I O N
A Convenient Liquid
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, For All Urethane Applications
CALL OR WRITE:

AMERICAS

Albemarle Corporation
451 Florida Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801-1765
Phone: 800-535-3030
225-388-7402
Fax: 225-388-7848

EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA

Albemarle S.A.
Parc Scientifique Einstein
Rue du Bosquet 9
B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve Sud, Belgium
Phone: 32-10-48-1711
Fax: 32-10-48-1717

ASIA PACIFIC

Albemarle Asia Pacific Company

111 Somerset Road # 13-03
Singapore 238164
Phone: 65-732-6286
Fax: 65-737-4155

Albemarle Asano Corporation

16th Floor, Fukoku Seimei Bldg.
2-2, Uchisaiwaicho, 2-Chome
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100, Japan
Phone: 81-3-5251-0791
Fax: 81-3-3500-5623

INTERNET

www.curatives.com

ALBEMARLE
C O R P O R A T I O N
6,5,4,3,2 2 2 ±3,5,4,2 -2 4 ±1,3,5,7 SM
74 4 19.3
5828
3680
1.85
2745
1560
20 7 1.55
1757
1112
1.251
77.35
63.14
668 1.429
90.18
50.35
90 85
11.7
5061
2028
610
575
–

W
Be CaN DO Th At
Tungsten
Beryllium
183.85 9.01218
Calcium Nitrogen
40.08 14.0067
Dysprosiu
Oxygen
162.50
15.9994
Thorium
232.0381
Astatine
(210)
[Xe]4f 14 5d 4 6s 2 1s 2 2s 2 [Ar]4s 2 1s 2 2s 2 p 3 [Xe]4f 101s
6s222s 2 p 4 [Rn]6d 2 7s 2 [Xe]4f 14 5d 10 6s 2 p 5

, ALBEMARLE, ABZOL, ADMA, ADMOX, ASUR, BT-93, BT-93W, CLEARBROM, DAMA, ETHACURE, ETHANOX, EZA, NcendX, SANIBROM, SAYTEX, WELLBROM,
WELLGUARD, We Can Do That, and 8010 are trademarks of Albemarle Corporation.

The information presented herein is believed to be accurate and reliable, but is presented without guarantee or responsibility on the part of Albemarle Corporation.
It is the responsibility of the user to comply with all applicable laws and regulations and to provide for a safe workplace. The user should consider any health or
safety hazards or information contained herein only as a guide, and should take those precautions which are necessary or prudent to instruct employees and to develop
work practice procedures in order to promote a safe work environment. Further, nothing contained herein shall be taken as an inducement or recommendation to
manufacture or use any of the herein materials or processes in violation of existing or future patents.

SC-7004 9/99 Printed in USA © 1999 Albemarle Corporation

No Dust.
®
The Curative That Puts You In Control ETHACURE 300 Applications

• Mix and match prepolymers to fit your needs Cast Elastomers

No Melting. • Adjust reaction times as required Hot-Cast Process To Produce:

• Rollers used in paper and steel mills

®
ETHACURE 300 curative
• Eliminate dust exposure • Small wheels used for skates and casters
• Eliminate melting • Large wheels used for off-road equipment
is a liquid urethane curative,
• Reduce costly, inconvenient heating • Abrasion-resistant mining equipment

so there’s never any need

• Simplify handling and blending Cold-Cast Process To Produce:

for melting, even in cold climates. • Prototype tools and parts

• Reduce exposure to hazardous materials
• Molds for short production runs
Because it’s a liquid,
Coatings
there’s never any hazardous dust
Sprays

to be concerned about. • Architectural coatings for concrete or masonry

• Industrial coatings for mines and sewers

And it works with virtually any
Hand-Applied
commercially available prepolymer, • Crack-bridging coatings for concrete

including both polyether • Roofing and water proofing

Reaction Injection Molding

and polyester systems.
• Large RIM parts

• Structural RIM (SRIM) parts

Specialty Adhesives

• Bonding of dissimilar materials

• Production of non-woven articles

EASY
TO HANDLE
ETHACURE 300 curative is a low-viscosity liquid that is
easy to mix, meter and dispense. You can use it to produce
polymers at temperatures as low as room temperature, a
benefit few other aromatic diamines can claim.
ETHACURE 300 curative does not solidify in machine
process lines if you lose power to heating and circulating
equipment. You can perform machine clean-out at room
temperature, which makes the process faster and safer.
SUPERIOR
TOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
ETHACURE 300 curative is a liquid with relatively
low vapor pressure, so there are no detectable fumes and
no dust exposure. Albemarle's toxicity testing for
ETHACURE 300 curative includes LD50 studies by
the skin and oral route, skin and eye irritation tests,
mutagenicity tests, subchronic studies (14-, 28- and 90-day
repeated oral dose) and carcinogenicity studies.
Acute toxicity testing shows a low degree of acute toxicity,
indicating that protective equipment and good handling
practices will prevent skin and eye effects. Negative
results from the 2-year rodent cancer study indicate
that ETHACURE 300 curative is not likely to exhibit a
mutagenic or carcinogenic risk when handled using our
recommended industrial hygiene practices. (Details of
toxicity testing results are available on request.)
ADJUSTABLE
REACTIVITY
Because ETHACURE 300 curative is a liquid, it offers an
added bonus. You can adjust reactivity by merely changing
processing temperatures.
You can lengthen system pot life by lowering the curative
temperature. Lowering the temperature of the prepolymer
will increase pot life further, but if this is done, demold time
may also lengthen.
Pot life can be shortened by using a typical urethane
catalyst. Tertiary amine catalysts such as diazabicyclooctane
(DABCO) give excellent results.
ETHACURE 300 curative is compatible with
ETHACURE 100 curative, a similar aromatic diamine
with shorter reaction times. This offers yet another way to
control processing. Just blend the two curatives to fit
reaction times to your requirements.
EXCELLENT
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
You’ll appreciate the balance of physical properties
in polymers cured with ETHACURE 300 curative.
Moisture pickup is reduced. Abrasion resistance, tensile
strength, elongation, tear strength and compression set
are all excellent.
Best of all is the control you’ll gain over your processing
operation. You can fine-tune physical properties by
blending prepolymers. You can adjust reaction time and
demold times, too. And you can do it all with confidence
that you can still meet customer specifications.
A WHOLE NEW RANGE
OF PROCESSING OPTIONS
In contrast to some other amine curatives, ETHACURE
300 curative can be used with virtually all commercially
available cast elastomer prepolymers. This includes both
polyether and polyester systems.
ETHACURE 300 curative may be used advantageously
with both 2,4 and 80/20 (2,4/2,6) TDI prepolymers.
It also can be formulated in a wide variety of coatings,
adhesives and RIM systems.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE INCREASES ABRASION RESISTANCE IMPROVES SOLVENT RESISTANCE
IN CAST ELASTOMERS OF CAST ELASTOMERS OF CAST ELASTOMERS

ETHACURE 300 curative performs well in many types of Unlike other curatives on the market, Albemarle research shows that ETHACURE 300 curative ETHACURE 300 curative also offers advantages in solvent
polyurethane systems. In cast elastomers, it provides a good ETHACURE 300 curative provides an added benefit provides excellent abrasion resistance, a critical property in resistance, an important consideration with some cast
balance of properties comparable to those obtained with the when curing cast elastomer polymers produced from many polyurethane applications. elastomer polyurethanes. Solvent resistance tests on
old solid curatives you have been using. TDI/PTMEG prepolymers. polymers produced with Adiprene L-100 and cured with
A study was conducted on an ETHACURE 300
ETHACURE 300 curative show that polymers cured with
Recommended post-cure conditions of 16 hours at 212 °F curative/Adiprene L-100 polymer system to determine the
Cast Elastomers* ETHACURE 300 curative perform similarly to MOCA-
should provide very good results, but you can improve effects of various post-cure conditions and stoichiometric
cured elastomers in various solvents, but demonstrate a
Components
properties further by lengthening post-cure times and indices on polymer abrasion. Polymers cured with MOCA
significant advantage in 10% NaOH.
Prepolymer Adiprene** L-100 Adiprene** LF950A using slightly higher temperatures. were included in the study for comparison purposes.
Curative E300 MOCA E300 MOCA
The following example polymers were molded using Effect of Index on Abrasion Resistance of Cast Elastomers
Solvent Resistance
% Theory 95 95 95 95
ETHACURE 300 curative and Adiprene L-100: Stoichiometric Index ETHACURE 300 curative MOCA 7
(18 hr/100 ˚C) Weight Loss (mg/rev) Weight Loss (mg/rev)

PERCENT VOLUME SWELL

Processing 6
Post Cure: hr / ˚C [˚F] 2 / 100 [212] 18 / 100 [212] 18 / 130 [266]
Curative Temp, ˚C [˚F] 24 [75] 116 [240] 24 [75] 116 [240] 0.85 0.050 0.043
5
PP Temp, ˚C [˚F] 94 [200] 100 [212] 66 [150] 66 [150] 0.95 0.045 0.044
Hardness, Shore A 88 88 88 4
Mold Temp, ˚C [˚F] 100 [212] 100 [212] 100 [212] 100 [212]
Tensile Str, psi [MPa] 4890 [33.7] 7140 [49.2] 8710 [60.1] 1.05 0.052 0.026
Pot Life, min. 8 10 5.2 5.5 3
Elongation, % 500 410 515 Source: Albemarle study conducted on ETHACURE 300 curative / Adiprene® L-100 polymer system.
Demold Time, min. 60 60 30 30 2
Post Cure, 18 hr, ˚C [˚F] 100 [212] 100 [212] 100 [212] 100 [212] 100% Modulus, psi [MPa] 1030 [7.1] 1140 [7.9] 1080 [7.9] 1
300% Modulus, psi [MPa] 1790 [12.3] 1990 [13.7] 1800 [12.4] Both curatives produced material with excellent abrasion 0
Polymer Properties ASTM Oil #1 ASTM Oil #3 10% NaOH EG
Hardness, Shore A 89 90 96 96 Tear Strength resistance. In fact, the normal Tabor Abrasion Test SOLVENT
Die ‘C’, pli [kN/m] 340 [59.5] 370 [64.8] 515 [90.2] method had to be lengthened from 1,000 revolutions to
Tensile St, Slpit, pli [kN/m] 81 [14.2] 88 [15.4] 120 [21.0] ETHACURE 300 CURATIVE MOCA
psi [MPa] 4840 [33.4] 4500 [33.1] 4850 [33.1] 5500 [37.9] 5,000 revolutions to obtain any measurable weight loss
Elongation, % 400 450 500 350 Compresion Set, % 34 33 27
on the samples.
100% Modulus, Resilience, % 47 45 44
psi [MPa] 1110 [7.7] 1100 [7.6] 2000 [13.8] 2200 [15.1] Abrasion resistance of samples made with ETHACURE 300
300% Modulus, curative proved to be relatively insensitive to post-cure
psi [MPa] 2255 [15.6] 2100 [14.5] 2520 [17.4] 4100 [28.3]
conditions and stoichiometric indices, demonstrating that
Tear Str, Die ‘C’,
pli [KN/m] 510 [89.3] 400 [70] 600 [105.1] 500 [87.6] ETHACURE 300 curative offers a wide range of processing
Tear Str, D-470, conditions for applications in which abrasion resistance is
pli [KN/m] 65 [11.4] 75 [13.1] 140 [24.5] 125 [21.9]
an important consideration.
Rebound, % 45 45 44 42
Compression Set, %
22hr @ 158 ˚F 35 27 34 27
* Data furnished by Uniroyal Chemical Company
** Adiprene is a registered trademark of Uniroyal Chemical Company
COATINGS CUSTOMIZE YOUR
SYSTEMS REACTION INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEM

ETHACURE 300 curative also provides benefits to coatings
formulators. Unlike old-fashioned solids, ETHACURE 300
curative doesn't require liquefication with solvents when
Polyurethane; Flexible Crack-Bridging Coating*
making liquid coatings formulations. You can produce ETHACURE 300 curative reacts more slowly with As the following table shows, you can customize
100% solids formulations without added effort, and without isocyanurates than MOCA. This gives you more time to processing time to fit your requirements by blending with
hazardous solvent fumes. fill molds, provides more time for fibers to wet in structural ETHACURE 100 curative.
RIM preforms, and allows you to mold larger RIM parts.
Sprayable Polyurea Coatings* Polyurea RIM Systems

Side A pbw 1 (% by Wt.) 2 (% by Wt.) Side A

Desmodur E 15 (1) 74.5 Mondur PF (1)
Methyl hexahydrophthalic anhydride (2) 0.5 Side A
Rubinate** 9009 (MDI) 100 100 phpB
Side B Side B 1 2 3
ETHACURE 300 curative 6.0 Side B Jeffamine T-5000 (2) 75 65 79.1
Mesamoll (3) 2.0 Jeffamine** T-5000 37.5 39 ETHACURE 300 curative 25 17.5 –
Bevaloid 6420 (4) 0.7 Jeffamine** D-2000 25 26 ETHACURE 100 curative – 17.5 20.5
Pigment (5) 3.0 ETHACURE*** 300 curative 37.5 17.5 (DETDA)
Cab-o-Sil TS 720 (6) 0.2 ETHACURE*** 100 curative – 17.5
Barytes (7) 13.1 Processing
A:B Mix Ratio (by volume) 1.0:1.0 1.0:1.0 Isocyanate Index 1.05 1.05 1.05
Mix Ratio; A:B, pbw 3:1 Temperature, Side A, ˚C [˚F] 60 [140] 49 [120] 60 [140]
Polymer Properties
Pot Life, hr 1.5 Temperature, Side B, C [˚F] 54 [130] 49 [120] 54 [130]
Gel-time, sec. 23 3.5
Mold Temperature, ˚C [˚F] 76 [170] 57 [135] 76 [170]
Properties Tack-free-time, sec. 130 4
Gel Time, sec. 21.4 3.6 0.92
Hardness, Shore A; after 1 day 73 Demold Time, sec. 190 60 30
Hardness, Shore A; final 80 Hardness, Shore D 63 57
Post Cure, hr / ˚C [˚F] 1 / 121 [250] 1 / 121 [250] 1 / 121 [250]
Film Surface after 1 day tack-free Tensile Str, psi 2020 2100
Tensile Str @ 25 ˚C, N/mm2 18.0 Elongation, % 105 120 Polymer Properties
Elongation @ 25 ˚C, % 540 M-100%, psi 2021 1975 Spec. Gravity, gm/cc 1.12 1.11 1.11
Tear Str @ 25 ˚C, N/mm 40.0 Die ‘C’ Tear, pli 480 456 Hardness, Shore D 64 72 64
Tensile Str @ -20 ˚C, N/mm2 19.1 Flex. Modulus, Mpsi 51.9 49.1 Flexural Mod, M psi [MPa] 54 [373] 89.8 [620] 54 [373]
Elongation @ -20 ˚C, % 67.0 * All data furnished by Huntsman Chemical Tensile Str, psi [MPa] 3512 [24.2 ] 4445 [30.7] 4553 [31.4]
Tear Str @ -20 ˚C, N/mm 33.1 ** Rubinate and Jeffamine are registered trademarks of Huntsman Chemical Elongation, % 223 120 253
*** ETHACURE is a registered trademark of Albemarle Corporation
* Data furnished by Bayer AG, coatings and special raw materials business group. (1) MDI q-prepolymer from Bayer
(2) Polypropylene oxide triamine from Huntsman Chemical
Component /Suppliers
(1) Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany
(2) Huls AG, Marl, Germany
(3) Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany
(4) C. H. Erbsloh, Krefeld, Germany
(5) E. G. Bayferrox from Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany
(6) Cabot GmBH, Hanau, Germany
(7) EWO or Fleur from Deutche Baryl Industrie, Bad Lauterberg, Germany
 ® ®
ALBEMARLE ETHACURE Curatives
C O R P O R A T I O N

Superior Toxicological Properties

ETHACURE 300 curative is a liquid.

So it’s much more convenient than hard-to-handle solid urethane curatives. ETHACURE 300 is a liquid with
relatively low vapor pressure, so
JUST You can use it with virtually any commercially available prepolymer,
there is no dust exposure and no
detectable fumes.
POUR often at much lower temperatures than you’re using now.
Albemarle's toxicity testing for
ETHACURE 300 includes LD50
handling practices will prevent skin
and eye effects.
Negative results from the 2-year
rodent cancer study indicate that
ETHACURE 300 curative is not
likely to exhibit a mutagenic or
Our Industrial Hygiene monitoring
at our labs and at customer plants
has been unable to detect any
ETHACURE 300 curative in the
air during processing at usual process
temperatures.

IN And that gives you a whole new range of processing options.

studies by the skin and oral route, skin
and eye irritation tests, mutagenicity
tests, subchronic studies (14, 28 and
ETHACURE Polymers cured with ETHACURE 300 curative show an excellent balance
90 day repeated oral dose) and
carcinogenicity studies.
300 of physical properties, too. Abrasion resistance is less sensitive to Acute toxicity testing shows a low
degree of acute toxicity, indicating
CURATIVE post-cure conditions and stoichiometric indices. And ETHACURE curative blends that protective equipment and good
carcinogenic risk when handled using
our recommended industrial hygiene
Although industrial hygiene
monitoring has been unable to detect
practices. (Details of toxicity testing any ETHACURE 300 down to an
results are available upon request). extremely low limit of detection
(50 ppb), Albemarle recommends
Potential exposure data indicates
that ETHACURE 300 curative is less
that this product and all chemicals be
handled with care while wearing
likely to cause an exposure than
MBOCA, MDA or TDA.
proper protective equipment.

may let you decrease demold time and increase your productivity.
Condition Sample Application
Type

Once you pour in ETHACURE 300 curative, you’ll never Concentration Not Detectable Under All Conditions Studied (<50 ppb)

During casting and trimming operations Area Casting area

go back to “the hard stuff.”
Pouring resin in cast molding operation PersonalMix &
pour polymer resin containing 35% E-300
at ambient temperature
Take your
of n. Pouring resin in cast molding operation Area
o ntrol peratio Area sample 3 ft. from resin pouring operation
c go
ss in at ambient temperature
o ce r i n ve .
pr Pou ti
0 0 cura everArea Pouring resin incast molding operation Area
n sample in room of pouring
CU RE 3 You’ll a c k at ambient temperature
ETH
A go b
Pouring resin incast molding operation Area
5 ft. from oven where polymers were cured
Take your at ambient temperature
f
n t r ol o ration. Transferring a formulation containing
co e
g op
Personal Transfer formulation containing
s in E-300 and
es r in .
proc Pou u rative E-300 and cleansed RIM
c
300 ack to
cleaning RIM machine
R E
ACU go b Spraying urethane coatings Personal
ETH l never tuff.” Spraying E-300, spray gun temp 170 - 175 ˚F
’l s
You e hard in a paint spray booth
“t h
Spraying urethane coatings Area
Outside of spray booth
in a paint spray booth
Spraying urethane coatings Area Downstream of exhaust fan
in a paint spray booth
During casting and trimming of operation Area Top of polyoil storage bin containing E-300
of bed liners under nitrogen purge
During casting and trimming of operation Area Operator’s control panel