look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

Spray or Slather: Polyurethane Helps Personal Care Products Perform

We often think of polyurethane applications on a large scale: making buildings stronger or helping to make cars and trucks more lightweight. But at a microscopic level, polyurethane polymers are helping make personal care products — such as hairspray and sunscreen — better, too.  

Researchers at Covestro developed an application for polyurethane polymers that promotes formation of breathable films and meets ISO standards for naturally derived ingredients. These films are odorless, clear and resist flaking, which makes them especially well-suited for hair and skin products.

Applications for Hair Care

From the runway to the everyday, people want hair care products...

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How Polyurethane Can Help You Keep Your New Year Resolution

This year, you may join the more than 45 percent of Americans making a New Year’s resolution. But did you know only 8 percent of resolutions are actually kept? 

Thankfully, polyurethane is here to play a part in helping you meet your goals – in ways you may never have even imagined: 

Have some home improvement plans?

If you are looking to update your home, consider accent and detail pieces made from polyurethane. The material is incredibly versatile. It can be made to mimic the look of wood and metal, and it can also be used to form almost everything...

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3D Printed Polyurethane Soles Spell Pain Relief for Patients

In the advanced stages of diabetes, neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease are common symptoms in patients. These symptoms can wreak havoc on the body, leaving the tissue on the soles of the feet fragile and easily damaged, which can lead to severe discomfort and even the need for amputation.

To help these patients, researchers in Germany have recently developed a form of 3D-printed polyurethane insoles. To prevent pressure wounds, the insoles provide varying degrees of firmness or softness to meet the specific needs of each foot. The insoles provide better support to areas on the bottom of the patient’s foot...

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Polyurethane Makes Wearable Technology a Reality

Imagine a world in which you could control the television simply by tapping on your shirtsleeve. While it may seem like the stuff of science fiction, thanks to polyurethane, the seamless integration of wearable technology into our daily lives is a greater possibility than ever before.

What the industry has taken to calling “e-textiles” are nothing new; however, significant barriers to scaling the technology for broad consumption have remained in place. Until now, e-textiles have been too expensive, too cumbersome and too difficult to maintain, but all of that could soon be changing.

A group of researchers in Beijing are...

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The Next Generation of Smart Clothing

Innovations in wearable technology have already brought us self-warming jackets and self-tying shoes. Now, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is being used in a stretchable electronic ink that can be embedded directly in clothing to track athletic performance.

The form-fitting circuit can be seamlessly integrated with fabric, bringing comfort, washability and freedom of design to athletic gear. The electronics can be used to monitor pulse and breathing rate, provide feedback on form, and even track muscle tension and other biometrics. 

TPU is a great choice for smart clothing because it is elastic, can be used with a wide variety of fabrics and can be...

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The Right Shoes for Your Run

Whether you’re training for a marathon or just adding running to your regular fitness routine, shoes are the most important piece of equipment for both the casual and competitive runner. The right shoes can help cushion and support your feet — and even maximize the energy returned to you with every step — while the wrong shoes can lead to blisters, foot pain and worse.

Polyurethane is used throughout running shoes in a variety of ways to improve their durability and performance: Polyurethane adhesives are used to attach the sole to the shoe. They may be molded to the outer...

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National Park Rangers Rely on Polyurethane

Yellowstone National Park was established on March 1, 1872 — the first park of its kind in the United States and possibly the world. Today, Yellowstone’s park rangers are responsible for protecting and preserving the park’s lands, and they perform a number of duties in the rugged terrain, which spans Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

From maintaining trails to rescuing wayward travelers, park rangers rely on a variety of versatile equipment made with polyurethane in order to make their jobs easier. Spending most of their time outdoors, park rangers need gear and clothing that is tough, protective and lightweight. Polyurethane...

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Polyurethane’s Valentine’s Day Gift List

If you’re still looking for a present for that special someone, allow polyurethane to provide a few options.

Electronics — Give your Valentine a gift that keeps him or her connected. From the latest smartphone or watch to personal fitness trackers, polyurethane compounds help protect high-tech devices from moisture, thermal shock and vibrations.

Active Wear — If your Valentine is the sporty type, go for a new long-sleeved top, hoodie or jacket made from polyurethane fibers. You’ll keep your honey warm and comfortable on cold workout days.

Pillows — What’s better than the gift of a good night’s sleep? Memory...

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Hot Halloween Costumes, Courtesy of Polyurethane

Did you know some of this year’s most popular Halloween costumes rely on polyurethane technology? Take, for example, superhero characters: prop versions of shields, swords and other superhero gear are often made out of polyurethane. Because polyurethane is lightweight and easy to form into different shapes, it’s well suited for all kinds of props.

For those indulging in a little 1980s nostalgia, female wrestlers will be another hot Halloween costume for 2017. Their shiny, stretchy bodysuits usually rely on spandex fiber fabric made from polyurethane fibers. 

Or maybe you’re going for a more traditional costume — a cowboy or a...

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