Toward isocyanate alternatives for polyurethanes

异氰酸酯用于油漆和涂料的生产，以产生耐候表面。它们还用于制造建筑材料（例如，聚苯乙烯泡沫塑料，软泡沫塑料，粘合剂，弹性体和粘合剂）和生产制成品（例如，床上用品，家具，服装，电器，电子产品，轮胎和包装）。这些异氰酸酯是聚氨酯聚合物生产、软质和硬质泡沫制造以及高性能涂料等广泛应用中所需的结构单元。全球异氰酸酯市场是巨大的-根据Markets and Markets的一项研究，“异氰酸酯市场预计将在未来五年内以健康的速度增长，达到387.29亿美元/年”。然而，在处理异氰酸酯方面存在着公认的健康和安全问题，这可能通过原位异氰酸酯技术得到缓解。该提案旨在将Beauchemin在（原位）氮取代异氰酸酯方面的专业知识与Chiu，Léger及其Grafoid同事的异氰酸酯工业应用知识和产品开发专业知识联合收割机相结合。这项研究将用于提高反应性并获得概念验证结果，从而解决令人兴奋的新产品机会。

Isocyanates are used in the production of paints and coatings to create weather-resistant surfaces. They are also used to make building materials (for example, Styrofoam, flexible foams, adhesives, elastomers, and binders) and in the production of manufactured goods (for example, bedding, furniture, clothing, appliances, electronics, tires, and packaging). These isocyanates are the required building blocks used in this wide range of applications including polyurethane polymer production, flexible and rigid foam manufacturing, and high performance coatings. The global market for isocyanates is enormous - according to a study by Markets and Markets, "the isocyanate market is expected to grow with a healthy pace over the next five years to reach $38,729 million/year". There are, however, well-recognized health and safety concerns with handling isocyanates which could potentially be alleviated with an in-situ isocyanate technology. This proposal aims to combine the expertise of Beauchemin on (in-situ) nitrogen-substituted isocyanates with the knowledge of isocyanate industrial appications and product development expertise of Chiu, Léger and colleagues at Grafoid. This research will be used to improve reactivity and acquire proof of concept results thus addressing an exciting new product opportunity.