When talking about polyurethane formulation, much of the attention is usually concentrated on polyol, isocyanate and catalysts. But there is a component that frequently defines the structural behavior of the foam, and that, many times, is underestimated in the process: silicone.
In practice, silicone is not just an “auxiliary additive”. It acts directly in the formation of the cellular structure of the foam, influencing stability, cell opening, surface finish, processing and even industrial repeatability.
For this reason, at Amino, we treat silicones as a strategic part of formulation engineering.
Silicone is responsible for the control and stabilization of the cellular structure during the reaction
Throughout the expansion, thousands of cells are formed simultaneously. Without adequate surface control, these cells may present coalescence, collapse, irregular rupture or structural instability of the foam.
That is exactly where silicone acts.
Silicones work as cellular stabilizers, controlling:
• cell growth;
• structural uniformity;
• stability during expansion;
• cell opening or closing.
In practice, this means that silicone directly influences the physical quality of the final foam.
Cellular structure: what really changes in the foam
The cellular structure plays a fundamental role in the physical properties and performance of polyurethane systems.
Depending on the silicone used, the foam may present:
More open cells
Favor:
• softness;
• breathability;
• comfort;
• air passage
Widely used in:
• comfort foams;
• mattresses;
• seats;
• upholstery.
More closed cells
Favor:
• thermal insulation;
• mechanical resistance;
• dimensional stability;
• lower moisture absorption.
Common in:
• rigid systems;
• thermal insulation;
• spray applications;
• panels
Silicone and stability: the direct impact on the process
In industrial production, stability is productivity.
Inadequate silicones can generate:
• foam collapse;
• structural variation;
• surface defects;
• irregularity between batches;
• processing difficulty.
And this impact does not remain only in the laboratory — it appears directly:
• in the scrap rate;
• in productivity;
• in the final finish;
• in the customer’s perception of quality.
For this reason, choosing the correct silicone is a technical and economic decision.
Each process requires a different silicone
One of the biggest mistakes in the market is treating silicone as a commodity.
In reality, each process has specific needs.
Slabstock foam — continuous
Requires:
• high thermal stability;
• collapse control;
• good cell opening;
• stability in large volumes.
Molded foam
Requires:
• balance between expansion and stabilization;
• homogeneous mold filling;
• controlled surface finish.
Rigid and spray systems
Demand:
• structural control of the cell;
• dimensional stability;
• mechanical resistance;
• thermal uniformity.
Amino solutions: silicones developed for different densities and processes
At Amino, the development of silicones follows the real requirements of process, density and structural behavior of the foam. For this reason, our portfolio includes specific solutions for different applications in flexible foams.
AMISIL AMS 4960
Silicone developed for conventional flexible foams in all densities.
Promotes:
• fine cells;
• wide processing latitude;
• excellent density distribution along the block.
Indicated for:
• rectangular processes;
• cylindrical processes;
• continuous processes.
AMISIL AMS 4230
Developed for conventional flexible foams in all densities.
Its differential lies in performance in regions of low atmospheric pressure, providing:
• excellent block finish;
• structural stability;
• good cellular regularity;
• better density distribution along the block;
• reduction of skin size, increasing foam utilization.
Applicable in:
• rectangular processes;
• cylindrical processes;
• continuous processes.
AMISIL AMS 4950
Silicone intended for conventional flexible foams of medium and high density.
Promotes:
• fine cells;
• excellent density distribution;
• process stability.
Indicated for:
• continuous lines;
• cylindrical processes;
• rectangular production.
AMISIL AMS 4800
High-performance silicone for:
• conventional flexible foam;
• viscoelastic systems — TDI-based.
It has high cell-opening potential, being especially indicated for:
• formulations with high POP concentration;
• systems with high load;
• open-cell chemical viscoelastic foams.
Compatible with:
• rectangular processes;
• cylindrical processes;
• continuous processes.
Result of the Amino approach
More than stabilizing cells, Amino silicones are developed to deliver:
- process stability
- structural regularity
- better finish
- cell-opening control
- greater industrial predictability
This allows engineering, production and R&D to work with more safety and repeatability.
Amino’s differential: silicone as formulation engineering
At Amino, silicones are not treated only as a formulation input.
Our additives division works by developing solutions adjusted for:
- different densities
- different processes
- cell opening or closing
- structural stability
- consistent industrial performance
This allows delivering much more predictability to the customer.
Silicone is not a formulation detail.
It is a fundamental part of the structural construction of the foam and directly influences stability, productivity and final PU performance.
At Amino, we develop additive solutions focused on real process behavior, helping customers achieve more predictability, quality and industrial efficiency.
Talk to our technical team and discover how to optimize the structure and stability of your foam with the right silicones for each application.