BASF Launches Low-VOC Polyurethane Catalyst Lupragen® N 208

December 8, 2025 - BASF has announced the addition of a new amine catalyst, Lupragen® N 208, to its Lupragen range of amine catalysts for producing polyurethane (PU) foam. Lupragen® N 208 (chemical name: N,N,N'-Trimethyl-N'-hydroxyethyl-bis(aminoethyl) ether, HE-TMAEE, CAS 83016-70-0) will be produced at BASF's Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and marketed globally under the Lupragen trademark.

As a reactive catalyst, Lupragen® N 208 becomes firmly anchored within the polyurethane polymer network during foam production and therefore does not subsequently escape from the finished foam. This prevents emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can cause unwanted effects such as odors. Overall, this characteristic makes Lupragen® N 208 particularly suitable for manufacturing polyurethane products that must meet stringent low-VOC standards. Its applications range from flexible PU foam for mattresses and furniture upholstery to semi-rigid PU foam used in automotive interiors (e.g., dashboards, armrests).

"Lupragen® N 208 is a welcome addition to our Lupragen portfolio, complementing our existing blowing catalyst Lupragen® N 205 (Bis(2-dimethylaminoethyl) ether, BDMAEE). This development aims to meet our customers' growing demand for low-VOC solutions," said Gereon Altenhoff, Product Manager for Polyurethane Catalysts, Intermediates Europe at BASF.

BASF is a leading global producer of amines. Its portfolio includes a wide range of amine catalysts for polyurethane (PU), marketed under the Lupragen brand. Polyurethane catalysts are typically tertiary amines used to promote the reaction between the main components, isocyanate and polyol. Depending on the catalyst chosen, the PU formation process can be tailored to favor either the gelling or blowing reaction. BASF's amine catalyst portfolio contains a variety of products, such as Lupragen® N 208, designed to help customers in the polyurethane industry minimize foam emissions.