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UV photocatalyzed polyurethane formulations for controlled foam generation
Guillaume Cotte-Carluer1, Leandro Jacomine1, Hanieh Mansouri1
1Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Charles Sadron UPR22 F-67000 Strasbourg France hourlierfargette@unistra.fr.
RSC Advances
|August 12, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to control polyurethane foam structure using UV light. This photobase generator (OXTA-DBU) allows precise tuning of foam morphology for diverse applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Polymeric foams are vital in insulation and tissue engineering.
- Controlling foam morphology for specific properties is difficult due to linked foaming and solidification processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To decouple foaming and solidification in polyurethane foam production.
- To achieve precise control over foam morphology using an external stimulus.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a photobase generator (OXTA-DBU) to initiate foam solidification via UV irradiation.
- Employed photorheology to study formulation response to UV light.
- Used a millifluidic circuit for continuous mixing and foaming.
- Analyzed foam structure using X-ray microtomography.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that UV irradiation with OXTA-DBU enables controlled solidification of polyurethane foams.
- Showed that foam morphology can be adjusted by altering irradiation conditions.
- Found that combining OXTA-DBU with classical catalysts offers a broader range of solidification kinetics and finer morphological control.
Conclusions:
- The photobase generator OXTA-DBU successfully decouples foaming and solidification in polyurethane foams.
- This method allows for tunable control over the final foam structure.
- The approach provides a pathway to engineer advanced polymeric foams with tailored properties.
