Hydrosilylation Catalysts for Reliable Curing and Superior Silicone Performance

The right catalyst technology for every application

Every silicone formulation comes with unique challenges.

From standard Karstedt catalysts to customized catalyst systems. Umicore helps silicone manufacturers worldwide achieve controlled curing and improved process control to produce silicones for the industrial applications, elastomers, dental applications, release liner coatings, electronics and many more.

At Umicore, we work collaboratively with customers to select customized catalyst systems aligned with your specific process requirements and business objectives. This includes the adjustment of the activity of your Karstedt catalyst formulation for your process in terms of:

• Speed of reaction and stability
• Suitable solvents for the customers processes

Umicore Karstedt Catalysts

The industry benchmark for hydrosilylation

Karstedt catalysts are the preferred choice for silicone curing and modification applications due to their outstanding activity, selectivity and process reliability.

Designed for efficient hydrosilylation reactions, Umicore's Karstedt catalysts provide curing rates as required for your process while maintaining excellent control over crosslinking performance.

Benefits of Umicore Karstedt Catalysts

Excellent process control
Maintain precise control over curing profiles and crosslink density to ensure consistent product properties.

High product quality
Minimize unwanted side reactions and achieve reliable performance across a wide range of silicone systems.

Consistent batch-to-batch performance
Strict quality control ensures stable catalyst activity and reproducible manufacturing results.

Advanced Platinum N-Heterorcyclic Catalysts

For applications requiring even greater selectivity and process robustness, Umicore offers advanced platinum N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysts. These innovative catalyst systems deliver high hydrosilylation activity while minimizing unwanted side reactions such as isomerization and hydrogenation. Their exceptional stability prevents platinum colloid formation, enabling reliable performance, easier handling and consistent product quality.

Benefits of Umicore NHC Catalysts

• High activity and selectivity, often at lower catalyst loadings
• Suppressed side reactions for improved product purity
• No formation of platinum colloids for enhanced process reliability
• Air and moisture stable for easy handling and storage
• Consistent performance across demanding production environments

Suitable for advanced silicone formulations, functionalized silicones, specialty chemicals and other hydrosilylation processes where maximum efficiency, selectivity and product consistency are critical.

Umicore UV acivated Catalysts

Precise curing without thermal stress

For applications where heat exposure must be minimized, Umicore's UV activated hydrosilylation catalysts provide an efficient alternative to conventional thermal curing. Activated by UV light, these catalyst systems enable rapid crosslinking without the need for elevated temperatures, making them ideal for temperature-sensitive substrates and demanding manufacturing processes.

Benefits of Umicore UV Activated Catalysts

• Fast and controlled curing on demand
• No thermal stress on sensitive materials and components
• Reduced energy consumption by eliminating heating steps
• Improved process efficiency and productivity
• Uniform curing performance for high-quality silicone products
• Greater formulation flexibility for advanced applications

UV activated catalysts are particularly suited for the production of high-performance silicones used in electronics, optical materials, specialty coatings and other applications where precision, product quality and process control are critical.

Thermal vs UV activated

Umicore offers both thermal and UV activated hydrosilylation catalysts to support a wide range of silicone processing technologies.