look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

Polyurethane Takes to the Gridiron

With fall in full swing, football season is here. As your favorite teams take to the field this autumn, you may be surprised at all the places you’ll find polyurethane on the gridiron — helping to improve gameplay.

Polyurethane Helmet Caps

It may be a strange sight to see, but many teams are employing polyurethane fiber caps on top of regular football helmets to add a layer of padding to the outside surfaces. A helmet coated in soft polyurethane may help dissipate force across the entire region of the helmet rather than concentrating it in a single area. 

A well-known...

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Scientists Develop Sweat-Powered Polyurethane Battery

You’ve heard of renewable energy sources like the wind and the sun, but what about a stretchy battery powered by human sweat? It’s happening, and polyurethane helps make it all possible.

Who developed it?

Recently, a team of scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), developed the technology, which could have applications in the future for athletes interested in powering smart devices to measure performance. The new battery technology has the potential to limit bulky battery packs necessary to power electronic devices.

How does it work?

The wearable battery is powered by silver flakes that are contained in ink along...

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Polyurethane Helps Athletes Achieve Dreams of Summer Sporting Success

This summer, we will come together in celebration and competition to crown top athletes from around the world. As these athletes compete in Japan, polyurethane will be there, helping to make some of your favorite sports happen. Here’s a roundup of ways polyurethane contributes to making the world’s best athletes achieve their dreams of sporting success.

Track Surface

Track surfaces, in years past, came in many forms — gravel, dirt and even asphalt. Today, most track surfaces used by serious athletes are made of rubber crumbs held together with a polyurethane binding agent. While providing relative springiness for a faster...

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TPU Hydration Packs Help Hikers Stay Hydrated This Season

This season, as the air gets warmer, you may find yourself reaching for a hike-friendly hydration pack made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). As temperatures start to rise, these containers offer a hassle-free way for parched hikers to stay hydrated as they slide into a custom-made backpack.

The Merits of a TPU Hydration Pack

TPU is a lightweight, stretchy and durable material favored by many hikers. It stands up to the rigors of life on the trail. Yet, a hydration pack made out of TPU softly conforms to the contours of the wearer’s back, providing a seamless custom fit.

Great for...

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Introducing the World’s First Thermoplastic Polyurethane Made from Consumer Plastic Waste

Creativity is a hallmark of the plastics industry. As consumers become increasingly aware of the possibilities of making familiar products better, more durable and sustainable, innovators are hard at work extending the useful life of materials.

Today, Novoloop, a California-based company, is helping bring us one step closer to closing the loop on the “circular economy” with the creation of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) made from plastic waste. The circular economy is a concept that drives the creation of new materials from old materials—sometimes more than once.

Making TPU from Old Plastic Packaging

Novoloop takes old plastic packaging, like grocery bags,...

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Recyclable Polyurethane Sportswear Helps Close the Loop on the Circular Economy

From ski poles to ski jackets and pants and even to the skis and snow boards themselves, frequent readers of this blog know that polyurethane plays a big role in helping athletes maneuver slopes during winter months. With consumer demand growing for products that help close the loop on the circular economy, companies that make goods using polyurethane are now creating new products from the polyurethane found in old sportswear.

Creating Recycled TPU Filament for 3D Printing

One company tackling the problem of what to do with old ski boots is CREAMELT®, a Switzerland-based developer and 3D printing filament manufacturer. The company...

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Polyurethane Helps Shoe Manufacturers Reach their Sustainability Goals

Many footwear companies have pledged to reduce waste and their carbon footprint over the coming years. Several have turned to polyurethane to achieve innovative solutions that can help them reach their sustainability goals to accomplish this task.

Shoes Made Solely from Polyurethane

Several footwear brands are now in the business of creating shoes made entirely from polyurethane. Balenciaga, for example, has introduced a shoe called the Zen sneaker. Touted as a leather alternative, the shoe is constructed entirely from polyurethane. 

Simplifying the Supply Chain

On average, most athletic shoes are made using a dozen or more materials. This production process...

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What is “workleisure” — and is it here to stay?

Polyurethane has long been a key component in exercise clothing. The features polyurethane brings to this apparel —stretch, water resistance, durability and light weight — have made it indispensable in fabrics that need to perform in the gym or out in the elements while allowing the wearer freedom of movement. 

Those same characteristics have had an unexpected side benefit: exercise clothing is extremely comfortable to wear. The athleisure trend — essentially, wearing clothing that is designed for or styled like exercise clothing even when not exercising — was already in full swing prior to the pandemic. 

Then, suddenly we were...

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Take a hike with polyurethane

Hiking is a great exercise that allows you to soak in the fresh air. Having the right gear for your hike can make it so much more enjoyable. Polyurethane is a key component in many of the items you’ll need to make your hike successful. 

Water coolers

Making a plan to stay hydrated is one of the most important aspects of your pre-hike preparation. It’s possible that you won’t be near a source of drinkable water, and while any water is better than none, it’s nice to be able to keep your drinking water at a refreshing temperature. 

Many water...

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