look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

BASF’s polyurethane chemistry gives runners and Adidas help with their ‘Boost’

How can polyurethane chemistry give runners the bounce they need to power through a 10k? BASF research scientist Dr. Frank Prissok has been developing the answer to that question. As a result, BASF’s new thermoplastic polyurethane, Infinergy^TM, has become an energy store for a runner or athlete, giving them a little extra spring in their step. Find out more about this incredible polyurethane science in our interview with Dr. Prissok below.

Q. What is Infinergy^TM and how did the idea for it happen?

A. Infinergy^TM is the first expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU). It is a closed-cell elastic particle foam consisting of individual...

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Leaves Change, Polyurethane Stays Constant

With back to school season upon us, so are Fall sports.  As athletes hit the fields for football, soccer, and cross country they have an extra teammate in polyurethane.

Across all sports, polyurethane is an essential element in clothing and sneakers. It provides stretch and water resistance in clothing. It is the foam that cushions feet in sneakers. It even is the glue that holds the soles of shoes and cleats in place.

Many youth football teams are adding polyurethane fiber caps on top of helmets for practice and even games. When players wearing polyurethane fiber caps hit...

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Softening the Blow

Polyurethane helmet caps help protect athletes

With football season about to kick off, the safety of the players is a key concern. Like the vast majority of competitive sports, football does have risks – notably that of concussion.

The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 3.8 million sport-related concussions occur in the U.S. each year. Retired NFL players in their 50s are five times more likely to suffer from dementia-related symptoms than others in their age range.

When two athletes collide, the potential for harm is great. The impact of...

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Polyurethane: Climbing to New Heights

Surpass your limits with polyurethane

When you’re suspended 30ft above the ground, you must have confidence in the material beneath you. Luckily, polyurethane has been the industry standard for climbing holds (the shaped grips on climbing walls) for the last decade.

Polyurethane has enabled rock wall climbing holds to become lighter and longer lasting. Today, climbing holds are stronger than ever before and – thanks to polyurethane’s flexibility – can be molded to many sizes, shapes and colors to better meet the needs of 7.8 million active climbers in the U.S.

Rock wall climbing holds can even be...

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Balancing High Performance and Daily Training

Balancing High Performance and Daily Training

Polyurethane allows track surfaces to meet the specific needs of any facility

Next time you hit the track, look down and thank polyurethane for the comfortable run. Not only is polyurethane used as cushioning and adhesives in running shoes, it makes up nearly 70% of the track market. For competition a hard track is traditionally thought to be ideal for speed, but for facilities used for training on a daily basis, a more forgiving surface is often preferred. Polyurethane is a great solution as the chemistry can be adjusted to achieve the desired consistency...

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Riding the Waves with Polyurethane: How Polyurethane is Revolutionizing Surfing

Catching some waves? Wave goodbye to splinters with polyurethane surfboards. Since surfing exploded into popular culture during the 1960s, polyurethane boards have been replacing their wooden counterparts at an accelerating rate.

First conceptualized in the Polynesia in the 1800s, the design of the surfboards has undergone a marked evolution over the past couple of centuries. Carving up the seas would have been an altogether more challenging task 200 years ago: the first surfboards were clunky, heavy, and difficult to ride, made from huge planks cut from trees (usually redwood). All that changed in the wake of World War II, when...

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Polyurethane Doesn’t Take the Summer Off

Summer is here.

The sun is out, and the weather is warm.

And, believe it or not… Polyurethanes can add to the summer fun.

Polyurethane products can make beach and lake trips, picnics and little league games safer and more comfortable. Surfboards, floatation devices, boating equipment, sporting goods and outdoor furniture are all likely to be made from one of the many forms of polyurethane. Polyurethane is used to make products that range from grips on tennis racquets to the wheels of skateboards to inflatable rafts and slides to sports helmets and life jackets.

Impressed by the versatility of how...

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