look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

An Incredible Athletic Innovation

Global chemical company, Huntsman, announced the launch of smartLite® PF 1560 TPU, a super lightweight, high energy return, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) that helps provide comfort and performance for sports footwear.

SmartLite ® PF 1560 TPU is well suited for athletic shoes due to its durability and resiliency. It’s incredibly strong, yet also flexible and able to spring back to its original shape after being stretched or compressed. These characteristics are especially important in running shoes.

For athletes, smartLite® PF 1560 TPU provides comfort, which can help the individual run faster and longer.  Grab a pair of these...

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5 Incredible Facts about Polyurethane

Today is National Trivia Day! Here are 5 fun facts about polyurethane.

• You’re probably sitting or standing on polyurethane right now. In our houses, the workplace and even our cars, polyurethane foam supports, protects and cushions us.
• Polyurethanes are frequently used in the electrical and electronics industries to seal and insulate fragile components. It also protects the exterior of our electronic devices as it is frequently used as a stylish, but durable material for tablet covers and cases.
• Polyurethane coatings play an essential role in maintaining your vehicle’s glossy appearance by helping protect it from harsh weather conditions. Who doesn’t love...

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  Category: Athletics, Automotive, Electronics, Environment

Achieve Your 2017 Fitness Goals with Polyurethane

It’s that time of the year again. We’re starting to think about New Year’s resolutions. Health and fitness goals always seem to make the top of that list, yet they’re the hardest to follow through.

Luckily, polyurethane athletic apparel can help you reach your performance goals so you can feel good while looking incredible.

Polyurethane coated fabrics are abrasion-resistant, yet soft. These fabrics are also light and breathable, which make them ideal for comfortable, weatherproof clothing such as sports anoraks. So you’ll have no excuse to skip that run even when it’s raining!

Polyurethane is also versatile and...

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CO2 Emissions Turned into Footwear

Science is about solving problems. Scientists at Novomer “hit the ground running” when they developed a catalyst that recycles greenhouse gasses and turns them into a flexible, durable polyurethane material that can be used to cushion the base of a great athletic shoe! Using recycled materials containing captured CO2 emissions to create a comfortable, high performance shoe is quite an achievement.

In our new shoes, we’re taking big steps in the right direction with the help of polyurethane.

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How Polyurethane Changed the Game

This summer featured an excellent and entertaining display of our best athletes and proud patriotism around the world. While you were cheering for your favorite teams and athletes, you may have missed one of this year’s most impressive stars on the field: the field itself.

DOW Chemical teamed up with Polytan STI to produce a new type of synthetic grass used for the field hockey matches this summer. What was the key element to this incredible chemical innovation? Polyurethane, of course. The polyurethane and polyethylene in the “grass” gave athletes a water-resistant surface with more consistency, which allowed...

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Polyurethane Shimmers, Shines, and Stands Out from the Crowd

Why wear just any dress when you can wear one that illuminates? Covestro’s latest invention will shimmer and sparkle at the K2016 Plastics Trade Fair – quite literally. A new, flexible and formable thermoplastic polyurethane is bringing together innovation and fashion to create cutting-edge, smart clothing.

Typically, LED-emitting electronic systems were positioned on panels or strips instead of directly on fabrics. However, Covestro discovered a way for copper to be laminated onto polyurethane films which – because of the incredible properties of polyurethane, could then be laminated directly onto fabrics! This technology offers greater design flexibility and...

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Polyurethane Heads Back to School and On to the Track

School officials in Challis, Idaho, are getting a head start in their district this year by installing a new, all-weather track that includes polyurethane. The students of Challis High School will soon experience a rubberized and durable track this upcoming school year thanks to polyurethane!

When school officials decided to change the existing outdoor track since it did not meet state standards, they chose one with polyurethane as the right and best investment. Looking for a durable track that would require little maintenance, school officials began phase one of constructing the polyurethane surface.

An additional polyurethane structural spray...

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The Spandex Factor

Once scientists realized polyurethane could be spun into fine threads, it wasn’t long before continued innovations led to the creation of spandex fibers. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, spandex is a long chain synthetic polymer comprised of at least 85% of segmented polyurethane.

Polyurethane fibers are often characterized by their durability and flexibility. With exceptional stretch and recovery properties, polyurethane fibers can be found in a variety of textile applications ranging from apparel to healthcare.

Whether you’re suiting up for a run— or bandaging a scraped knee from that run —polyurethane will continue to be there for...

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Buckle Up the Kids, and Polyurethane, for a Trip to the Beach

A family vacation to the beach is incomplete without polyurethane. Here’s how polyurethane can improve your trip to the beach this summer:

You put down a beach towel or mat to avoid getting sandy. Thanks to specially woven polyurethane, a sandless beach mat will save you from being covered in sand. If any sand falls on the mat, it simply filters through. That’s pretty incredible!

Originally made from plywood, skim boards are now lightweight and more durable because of polyurethane foam cores. Weighing in at around 3 lbs. —compared to 20 lbs....

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