look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

Printed Golf Grips Reshape the Game

Learning the correct grip for your golf swing can take years of practice. But a student engineering team from Virginia Tech may have discovered a shortcut. They have created a customized, 3-D printed grip that helps guide a golfer’s hands into the correct position.

Students made clay molds of players’ hands in the correct position and then 3-D printed them to create a grip that can be slipped on and off a club. While the grips are not allowed in regulation play, they act as a training aid to help golfers build muscle memory and get more consistent results without...

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New Midsole Puts a Spring in Runners’ Steps

When it comes to running shoes, it’s what’s in the midsole that counts. The midsole needs to provide optimal stability and cushioning to help support the punishing pounding of mile after mile. Many traditional midsoles are made from other lightweight materials. However, over time, the material compresses and loses its cushioning.

Enter a new midsole made of polyurethane, which naturally expands, returning energy to the runner after force is applied. In a regular shoe, most energy is converted to heat, which you can literally feel in the sole of the shoe after a tough workout. But with this new...

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How About Active Friday?

Today, millions of people will awaken in the middle of the night to wait in long lines and find the best deals. But imagine a Black Friday alternative: Heading out into the peace and beauty of the great outdoors to hike, ski, bike or run.

Thanks to polyurethane, outdoor and athletic gear helps keep us comfortable, warm and dry even in less-than-ideal outdoor conditions. Lightweight, breathable and stain resistant, these fibers are well suited for outdoor pursuits. From jackets and leggings to sneakers and boots, much of today’s active wear relies on polyurethane to perform its best.

So go...

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Making Surfboards from Recycled Plastic

Polyurethane foam is often used by car manufacturers during the early design phase. The foam is used as an armature on which clay models can be shaped and reshaped. But what happens when the design phase is through? One car company has a solution: recycling the material for use in professional-grade surfboards.

The polyurethane skeletons are recovered after the design process is finished and reformed into blocks that can then be shaped to precise dimensions for use in products like surfboards. The boards are being tested by English women’s open surfing champion surfer Lucy Campbell.  By recycling the polyurethane, the...

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Guardian Innovations Brings Polyurethane Advances to the Playing Field

Athletes — from students to professionals — always want their equipment to perform at its best. At Atlanta-based Guardian Innovations, owners Erin and Lee Hanson are helping lacrosse balls to maintain their peak condition. The ball in a lacrosse game can be hurled at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. Commonly used rubber balls were known to harden and grow slick over time which hinders performance.

Guardian created a ball made entirely of polyurethane, which resists grease and hardening. Certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE), it has since been made the official...

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Polyurethane Celebrates National Golf Month

The game of golf dates back to 15th-century Scotland, with even more ancient origins around the world debated among scholars. However, new advancements in club and ball technology mean the game is always evolving.

Did you know some of the highest quality golf balls are coated with polyurethane for better durability and performance? Polyurethane coatings on the exterior surface of golf balls allow them to maintain their shape when you hit them, due to polyurethane’s protective and durable characteristics. The polyurethane coating also makes the ball water-resistant and enables it to better withstand potential abrasion from surfaces on the golf...

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Outdoor Fitness with Polyurethane

Summer is a great season for trying out a new outdoor fitness activity. Not only is avoiding the gym often a more budget-friendly way to exercise, but you also get to enjoy all the beautiful scenes nature has to offer. There are so many outdoor activities to help you stay in shape during the summer months, including jogging, biking, hiking, swimming or kayaking. Whatever sport you choose, polyurethane will keep you looking sleek and stylish.

Advances in polyurethane fiber and coating technology allow athletic apparel designers to utilize a wide range of textures, colors and performance options for their garments, footwear...

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Dow to Supply Polyurethane for Improved Bicycle Tires

Dow Chemical (China) and Beijing Mobike Technology have agreed to develop a long-term partnership to develop lighter weight and eco-friendlier bicycles – all with the help of polyurethane!

Mobike introduced its latest bike model at a celebration to mark its one-year anniversary. The new bicycle uses Dow’s polyurethane materials for insert tires. Dow says, compared with the traditional solid rubber tire, the insert helps reduce weight by 20 percent while improving shock absorption and durability – so your bike ride will feel a lot smoother!

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Reebok and BASF Innovate the Shoe Production Industry

Global athletic footwear company Reebok and leading chemical company BASF have teamed up on Reebok’s latest innovation, the Liquid Factory, which could transform the footwear production process.

The Liquid Factory uses modern software and robotics to draw shoes in three dimensions. This new technique utilizes 3D drawing, where a proprietary liquid material – created especially for Reebok by BASF – is used to draw shoe components cleanly and in 3D layers.

Reebok approached BASF about a need to find a polyurethane (PU) system with unique properties that could not be found in the market. Instead, the liquid...

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