Automotive PU Foams & Low Odor Silicone Surfactants

Polyurethane Additives and Release Agents for Low-Emission Automotive Interiors

Automotive foam manufacturers face increasing pressure to reduce VOC and odor emissions while maintaining productivity, part quality and process reliability.

Evonik supports automotive seating, dashboards, armrests, headrests, door panels, steering wheels and NVH foam applications with tailored polyurethane additives and GORAPUR® release agents that improve processing efficiency and help meet stringent OEM requirements.

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Discover Evonik’s full portfolio for Automotive & Transportation Solutions

Polyurethane Additives for Molded Foams

The demands of the global automotive market continue to evolve, driven by stricter emission regulations, new material requirements, and regional norms standards such as VDA 278 and VDA 276. Evonik works closely with manufacturers to stay ahead of these trends and support compliant, future‑ready solutions.

Typical molded foam applications include automotive seats, armrests, headrests, dashboards, steering wheels, door panels, sun visors, air filters and NVH components. Our additive and release agent technologies help manufacturers improve foam quality, reduce emissions and optimize production efficiency.

Our broad portfolio of catalysts, surfactants, performance additives, and release agents is engineered to ensure efficient processing, excellent foam quality, and targeted reduction of VOC and FOG emissions. By enabling stable formulations and consistent performance, we help you meet industry expectations for comfort, durability, and low emission components in modern vehicle interiors.

Innovative additive technologies for molded polyurethane foam

Our additive solutions reduce emissions in automotive interiors and enhance comfort in premium furniture. The sections below highlight how our catalysts, surfactants, and performance additives enable cleaner, more comfortable, and more reliable molded polyurethane foams.

Automotive Seating
Dashboards
NVH Foam
Molded Furniture

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Low-emission solutions for automotive foam manufacturing

Automotive manufacturers need to balance low VOC and odor emissions with high productivity, consistent foam quality and cost-efficient manufacturing. Evonik's additive portfolio helps formulators meet OEM emission requirements such as VDA standards while maintaining robust processing and excellent physical foam properties.

Beyond lowering VOC emissions, our silicone surfactants help shape the foam structure and improve comfort by reducing vibration. Our aldehyde scavengers further cut down on compounds such as acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, helping meet global industry standards.

To keep production efficient, we also offer a range of mold release agents that support clean, cost-effective manufacturing while complying with stack emission limits and OEM specifications.

Our portfolio includes DABCO® NE catalysts, TEGOSTAB® low-odor silicone surfactants, ORTEGOL® aldehyde scavengers and GORAPUR® release agents for automotive seating applications.

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Additives for high-quality automotive PU foams

We supply surfactants, catalysts, performance additives and release agents for the full range of polyurethane foams used in automotive interiors. Selecting the right additive package is essential to the performance of molded polyurethane parts such as dashboards, steering wheels and headliners, where surface appearance, durability, and emission levels are critical. Our additives help reduce defects, lower VOC and FOG emissions, and improve the strength and reliability of the final product.

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NVH foam solutions to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness in vehicles

As vehicles become lighter and shift toward electric and autonomous-driving technologies, managing interior noise and vibration remains very important. NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) foams help block out external, unwanted sound, dampen vibrations and contribute to a quieter, more comfortable driving experience. Evonik offers a broad range of surfactants and catalysts specifically developed for NVH foams. These additives optimize foam structure and vibration dampening performance, helping manufacturers reduce noise transmission and improve passenger comfort. Selected TEGOSTAB® surfactants are specifically designed for enhanced acoustic performance and improved ride comfort.

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Low-emission solutions for molded foam furniture applications

Flexible molded foam is a favorite among premium furniture makers due to its versatility, comfort, and design freedom. We offer a complete package of additives for these applications, helping manufacturers meet low-emission requirements, including CertiPUR-US™. Our DABCO® NE catalysts and TEGOSTAB® surfactants have a strong track record of supporting producers in achieving these performance and emission standards.

In addition to comfort and durability, manufacturers increasingly focus on low odor and low VOC emissions. Our DABCO® NE catalysts and TEGOSTAB® surfactants support the production of high-performance molded foams that meet demanding emission standards.

Low Odor Silicone Surfactants

Vehicle manufacturers increasingly prioritize interior air quality, driving the need for polyurethane foams with reduced emissions and noticeably lower odor levels. Low odor has become a critical performance parameter, adding a new layer of complexity to traditional VOC reduction efforts.

Evonik’s next-generation silicone surfactants are specifically engineered for automotive seating foams. They help formulators achieve excellent foam stability, improved physical properties, and significantly reduced odor. These solutions support OEMs and suppliers in meeting stringent global emission and odor specifications while delivering premium in‑cabin comfort.

Selected TEGOSTAB® grades are also available as Low Carbon Footprint solutions to support sustainability goals.

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GORAPUR® Release Agents for Automotive Molded Foam Production

Difficult demolding, mold contamination, wax build-up and increasing scrap rates can significantly reduce production efficiency in automotive foam manufacturing. GORAPUR® release agents are specifically developed to ensure reliable demolding, excellent surface quality and low mold contamination at minimal application rates.

Available as high-solid, water-based and solvent-free systems, GORAPUR® release agents can be applied manually, by air-assisted spray systems, airless spray equipment or fully automated robotic processes. Their high efficiency helps reduce release agent consumption while maintaining consistent part quality.

In addition to clean mold release, GORAPUR® technologies help reduce mold cleaning frequency, minimize wax build-up and improve productivity. Specialized solutions are available for automotive seating, dashboards, steering wheels, air filters and NVH foam applications.

Backed by global technical support, we work closely with customers from formulation and product selection through line trials and scale‑up. Our GORAPUR® release agents enhance surface finish, reduce emissions, and meet the latest regulatory and performance standards.

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Anti-Squeak Solutions for Automotive Seating

Evonik also offers water-based anti-squeak agents that reduce friction between foam and upholstery materials. These solutions help eliminate unwanted noise while improving seating comfort and long-term performance.

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Get Expert Guidance for Automotive PU Foams

Beyond product selection, Evonik supports customers with formulation reviews, analytical testing, line trials and scale-up support. Our experts help identify the most effective release agent solution for each polyurethane molding process.

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