Effects of different catalysts on the structure and properties of polyurethane/water glass grouting materials

ABSTRACT Polyurethane/water glass (PU/WG) grouting materials were prepared in presence of different proportions of catalyst. The effects of catalyst on the mechanical properties, thermal properties, and chemical cross‐sectional morphologies of the grouting materials were also investigated. Catalyst addition can significantly increase the chemical reaction rate, reduce the gel time and curing time, and improve the thermal stability of PU/WG grouting materials. It was found that the grouting material containing 0.1 wt % BDMA + 0.1 wt % DBTDL demonstrated high fluidity, short curing time, and high early‐stage and late‐stage (up to 66.1 MPa) compression strengths. However, when the content of the added catalyst was equal to 0.5 wt %, fine cracks were formed in the material structure accompanied by the detachment of spherical particles from the PU matrix, which significantly deteriorated its mechanical properties. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135 , 46460.