Delay action catalyst for improving the stability of polyurethane systems having halogen containing blowing agents

Abstract

Catalyst compositions useful in the production of insulating polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam are disclosed. The catalyst compositions impart increased stability of a mixture of the catalyst, a halogen-containing blowing agent, and a polyol. These catalyst compositions include amine/acid salts with a pH of <7.0 which can be used in combined with tertiary amine catalysts and metal-based or ammonium-based trimerization catalyst and at least one metal-based gel catalyst and optionally one or more of an additional catalyst described in (1) or (2). These improved catalysts can be used with any halogenated blowing agent, and provide substantial stability benefits with the use of hydrofluoroolefins and hydrofluorochloroolefins. In an exemplary embodiment, a process includes providing a pre-mix comprising an organic carboxylic di-acid, tri-acid or poly-acid component and contacting a tetraalkylguanidine and/or a tertiary amine containing an isocyanate reactive group with the acid component in the pre-mix to form a mixture of tetraalkylguanidine salt or tertiary amine salt or their combination.