Technical Center

Guide to urethane calculations

Equivalent weight

The equivalent weight (eq. wt.) tells you how many grams of a product you need to
have for one equivalent of reactive groups. For an isocyanate, the reactive group is
-N=C=O (NCO), and its concentration is measured by weight percent NCO.

4,200
Isocyanate equivalent weight = g/eq
NCO

Example:
4,200
Isocyanate eq. wt. of Suprasec 5025 = = 136 g/eq
31.0

For a polyol, the reactive group is -O-H (OH). OH concentration is measured by the OH
value (mg KOH/g sample):

56,100
Equivalent weight of a polyol = g/eq
OH Value

Example:
56,100
Eq. wt. of ethylene glycol = = 31.0 g/eq
1,810

While the information and recommendations in this publication are to the best of our knowledge,
information and belief accurate at the time of the publication. NOTHING HEREIN IS TO BE CONSTRUED
AS A WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR OTHERWISE. In all cases, it is the responsibility of users to determine Visit our website at www.huntsman.com/pu/ace
the applicability of such information or the suitability of any product for their own particular purpose. Contact us at ACE@huntsman.com
The sale of any products referred to in this publication is subject to the general terms and conditions
of Huntsman International LLC or its affiliated companies.

‘Suprasec’ is a registered trademark of Huntsman International LLC. The mark is registered in

one or more countries, but may not be registered in all countries.

Copyright © Huntsman International LLC 2001. All rights reserved.

07/2001
 Technical Center
Guide to urethane calculations

Molecular weight of a polyol

The molecular weight (mol. wt.) of a polyol is approximated by the polyol equivalent
weight (eq. wt.) multiplied by the nominal functionality (fn).

56,100
Polyol mol. wt. = (eq.wt.)(fn) = (fn) g/mole
OH value

56,100
Mol. wt. of any diol = (2) g/mole
OH value

56,100
Mol. wt. of any triol = (3) g/mole
OH value

Example:
56,100
Mol. wt. of ethylene glycol = (2) = 62.0 g/mole
1,810

While the information and recommendations in this publication are to the best of our knowledge,
information and belief accurate at the time of the publication. NOTHING HEREIN IS TO BE CONSTRUED
AS A WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR OTHERWISE. In all cases, it is the responsibility of users to determine Visit our website at www.huntsman.com/pu/ace
the applicability of such information or the suitability of any product for their own particular purpose. Contact us at ACE@huntsman.com
The sale of any products referred to in this publication is subject to the general terms and conditions
of Huntsman International LLC or its affiliated companies.

‘Suprasec’ is a registered trademark of Huntsman International LLC. The mark is registered in

one or more countries, but may not be registered in all countries.

Copyright © Huntsman International LLC 2001. All rights reserved.

07/2001
 Technical Center
Guide to urethane calculations

Total weight of MDI required for reaction

MDI = Diphenylmethane Diisocyanate

When reacting an isocyanate with one or more polyols to form a polyurethane, one NCO
group reacts with one OH group. When the number of NCO groups equals the number
of OH groups, you have a stoichiometric NCO : OH ratio of 1.0. This ratio is commonly
referred to as the index. To determine the amount of MDI required to react with a given
polyol blend, you must know the desired index (often 1.0), the MDI equivalent weight
(MDI eq. wt.), and the weight fractions (pbw) and equivalent weights of the polyols and
any water present in the blend.

Total weight of MDI required =

pbw polyol A pbw polyol B pbw polyol N pbw H O
(index)(MDI eq. wt.) + +………+ + 2
eq. wt. polyol A eq. wt. polyol B eq. wt. polyol N eq. wt. H2O

Example formulation:
Say you have the following polyol blend and would like to determine the amount of
Suprasec 5025 to add to achieve a fully reacted polyurethane with a slight excess of
isocyanate (target index = 1.05)

Polyol A (OH value = 490) 100.00

Butane diol (BDO); (eq. wt. = 45) 20.00
Water 0.15
Suprasec 5025 (% NCO = 31.0%) X

100 20 0.15
X = pbw MDI = (index)(MDI eq. wt.) + +
eq. wt. polyol A eq. wt. BDO eq. wt. H2O

4,200 100 20 0.15

X = (1.05) + + = 190 pbw MDI
31.0 56,100 45 9
490

While the information and recommendations in this publication are to the best of our knowledge,
information and belief accurate at the time of the publication. NOTHING HEREIN IS TO BE CONSTRUED
AS A WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR OTHERWISE. In all cases, it is the responsibility of users to determine Visit our website at www.huntsman.com/pu/ace
the applicability of such information or the suitability of any product for their own particular purpose. Contact us at ACE@huntsman.com
The sale of any products referred to in this publication is subject to the general terms and conditions
of Huntsman International LLC or its affiliated companies.

‘Suprasec’ is a registered trademark of Huntsman International LLC. The mark is registered in

one or more countries, but may not be registered in all countries.

Copyright © Huntsman International LLC 2001. All rights reserved.

07/2001
 Technical Center
Guide to urethane calculations

Calculation for formulating a prepolymer

to a specific percent NCO (or equivalent weight)

To calculate an MDI prepolymer,

Let N = desired NCO of the prepolymer (expressed as a fraction)

Let X = equivalent weight of the diisocyanate
Let Y = equivalent weight of the polyol (or average equivalent weight of the polyol blend)

N (X+Y)
Total amount of MDI needed = X +
42 - N
X
Example:
Say we want a 10.0% NCO prepolymer of Suprasec 1306 (%NCO = 33.5%) with a
polyol blend consisting of 95% polyol B (OH value 28) and 5% ethylene glycol
(OH value 1,810) by equivalent weight:

N = 0.10
4,200
X= = 125 g/eq
33.5
56,100 56,100
Y= (0.95) + (0.05) = 1,905 g/eq
28 1,810
0.10 (125+1,905)
Total amount of MDI needed = 125 + = 985 pbw Suprasec 1306
42 - 0.10
125
So 1,903 pbw polyol B, 1.55 pbw ethylene glycol, and 985 pbw Suprasec 1306 would
be used to produce this prepolymer at 10.0% NCO. Converting to weight percents,

Amount of Suprasec 1306 = 34.09%

Amount of polyol B = 65.86%
Amount of ethylene glycol = 0.05%
While the information and recommendations in this publication are to the best of our knowledge,
information and belief accurate at the time of the publication. NOTHING HEREIN IS TO BE CONSTRUED
AS A WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR OTHERWISE. In all cases, it is the responsibility of users to determine Visit our website at www.huntsman.com/pu/ace
the applicability of such information or the suitability of any product for their own particular purpose. Contact us at ACE@huntsman.com
The sale of any products referred to in this publication is subject to the general terms and conditions
of Huntsman International LLC or its affiliated companies.

‘Suprasec’ is a registered trademark of Huntsman International LLC. The mark is registered in

one or more countries, but may not be registered in all countries.

Copyright © Huntsman International LLC 2001. All rights reserved.

07/2001