Appliances

How well a refrigerator or freezer performs depends on what is inside the cabinet walls. Rigid polyurethane foam is the insulation used in household and commercial refrigerators and freezers, and its performance is governed by a precisely engineered cellular structure that minimizes heat transfer. Evonik's polyurethane additives give manufacturers control over thermal conductivity, foam flow and dimensional stability, so the foam fills increasingly complex cabinet designs with fewer defects.

Why Choose Evonik for Appliance Applications?

• Proven Performance you Can Rely on: Trusted brands like DABCO®, POLYCAT®, TEGOSTAB®, and VESTAKEEP® deliver exceptional quality for structural components and polyurethane systems. 

• Grade Selection Matched to Your Blowing Agent: Appliance foam performance depends on the blowing agent. We match the surfactant to your system chemistry.

• Tailored Solutions: From rigid insulation polyurethane foams to high-performance polymers, our advanced solutions adapt to your unique design and manufacturing needs.

How do polyurethane additives improve appliance insulation?

Rigid polyurethane foam insulates because its closed cellular structure restricts heat transfer. Silicone surfactants control how that structure forms: they set cell size and uniformity, stabilize the rising foam and determine how well the system flows into the cabinet cavity. Amine catalysts balance the blow and gel reactions that govern rise profile, surface cure and demold time. Because blowing agents differ in solubility and volatility, the additive package has to be selected for the specific system — this is where grade choice decides the lambda value you achieve.

Solutions by Application

Structural Components & High-Performance Plastics

• VESTAKEEP® – PEEK-based solutions for lightweight, dielectric and heat-resistant components. VESTAKEEP® PEEK combines metal-like strength with high heat resistance, low water absorption and therefore high dimensional stability, excellent chemical resistance and excellent sliding friction behavior with minimal abrasion. Base grades have a melt viscosity of 100–5,000 Pa·s measured at 400 °C at a shear rate of 1 s⁻¹, and parts are processed at temperatures up to 450 °C. PEEK is the official abbreviation for polyether ether ketone according to ISO 1043.

Foam Systems for Appliance Insulation 

• DABCO® – Amine catalysts for rigid appliance foam. DABCO® 2040 is a low-odor amine catalyst that enhances surface cure and adhesion; DABCO® TMR 2 is an amine-based delayed-action trimerization catalyst.

• POLYCAT® – Amine catalysts that balance blow and gel reactions. POLYCAT® 15 is a reactive, low-emission tertiary amine blow catalyst that promotes surface cure, reduces skinning and can be used in rigid polyurethane systems where a smooth reaction profile is required. POLYCAT® SA grades are heat-activated and delayed-action: at room temperature activity is low, but on application of heat it approaches that of metallic salts, giving long pot life with fast cure.

• TEGOSTAB® – Non-hydrolysable polyether polydimethylsiloxane copolymer surfactants that control cell structure, emulsification and foam flow in rigid appliance foam. TEGOSTAB® B 8460 supports flow in slow-reacting systems and is suited to appliance and discontinuously produced sandwich insulation panels. TEGOSTAB® B 8481 produces the lowest lambda values in HFC/HFO-blown systems; TEGOSTAB® B 84201 produces low lambda values in HC-blown formulations; TEGOSTAB® B 84216 provides flow and surface quality in rigid molded foam; TEGOSTAB® B 8491 improves surface finish and flow around obstructions in HC-blown systems.

Grade selection depends on your blowing agent, system solubility and cabinet geometry; our technical team defines the package with you.

Your Evonik Advantage

• Insulation Performance: Surfactant selection is scored for nucleation potency and system solubility, so you can target the lambda value your cabinet design requires.

• Low-Emission Catalyst Technology: Reactive catalysts such as POLYCAT® 15 and the DABCO® NE range react into the polyurethane matrix rather than remaining free in the foam, which contributes to negligible amine emissions. 

• Expert Partnership: Our specialists collaborate with you to optimize your appliance systems for compliance and cost-effectiveness.

Ready to Elevate Appliance Performance?

Discover how TEGOSTAB® surfactants, DABCO® and POLYCAT® catalysts and VESTAKEEP® PEEK can help you control lambda, foam flow and cabinet fill.
Contact us today or explore our solutions.