STANNOUS OCTOATE

This is an organo-metallic catalyst. It is the catalyst that promotes the polymer forming (or gelatin) reaction. It is a viscous liquid, light yellow to brown in color, with an unpleasant smell. The chemical needs special handling because it is easily hydrolyzed and oxidized in the presence of water and amines. It is for this reason that the chemical must be tightly covered until it is required for immediate use. When exposed to air, the water vapor in the surrounding air is enough to react with and render it impotent. Generally, foamers refer to stannous octoate as a cross-linking agent because the chemical strongly influences the cohesion and hardening of foam.