look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

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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Polyurethane Compound Quiets Cars & Lightens the Load

In the world of automotive innovation, engineers and designers are constantly looking to make cars faster and lighter, as well as for ways to dampen cabin noise.

Today, one domestic car manufacturer is turning to graphene-enhanced polyurethane foam to create under-the-hood parts that could have far-reaching implications for the automotive world. 

Even to those unfamiliar, it is easy to see why some have dubbed graphene the “material of the future.” The substance is thin, flexible and 200x stronger than steel. It also has high noise-dampening qualities.

Now, one car maker is combining graphene with polyurethane and using the compound to...

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Synthetic Suede’s Rise to Luxury Auto Interiors

From kangaroo to ostrich to calfskin, animal products have long been hyped as the most popular and, therefore, greatest options for interior automotive design. Today, thanks to polyurethane, a new – though perhaps unexpected – high-water mark for luxury upholstery has been established with the introduction of synthetic suede.

A vegan product made from two-thirds polyester and one-third polyurethane, synthetic suede is a great modern-day fabric option.

Thanks to the rise in car-sharing and high-end driving services, today’s luxury interiors must be prepared to withstand tremendous amounts of passenger wear and tear – and synthetic suede can take a beating....

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Get Ready to Celebrate Dad

All dads are different. And this Father’s Day, no matter what kind of dad you have, polyurethane will likely be part of your celebration. Check out all the ways polyurethanes factor into popular dad gifts and activities!

Driving Dads

Dads and cars are a natural combination. Polyurethane adds a lot to the comfort and style of his favorite vehicle. From seat cushions to shiny coatings, polyurethane components help make cars more comfortable, quiet and durable. Plus, polyurethane is light weight, which helps Dad save gas or drive longer on a charge (for all those hybrid- and electric-car-loving dads out...

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Polyurethane Lightens the Load for Electric Vehicles

Auto manufacturers have long sought to make vehicles more lightweight in order to increase fuel efficiency. But light weighting is just as important to hybrid and electric vehicles. The lighter the vehicle, the longer its range. Here are two different ways that car companies are incorporating innovative polyurethane solutions to make their electric vehicles lighter and better.

In some electric vehicles, engineers use thermoset polyurethane adhesives to bond dissimilar materials to the car’s frame. The adhesives are extremely strong, and they reduce the need for heavy, bulky rivets and bolts. They also keep the overall vehicle curb weight down, making...

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Resin Technology Reduces Car Weight and Cost

In the world of exotic sports cars, the quest to make vehicles weigh less and perform better is never-ending. A new polyurethane resin technology is providing a novel way to construct these vehicles’ chassis that is also providing cost-savings and marked improvements in sustainability.

Using thin layers of both recycled and new carbon fiber, composite skins — formed out of polyurethane resin — are molded onto a central core, where they bond with the core’s recycled polycarbonate structure.

The result is a chassis that meets or exceeds compression, stiffness and torsional rigidity requirements while reducing the car’s weight 15 to 20 percent...

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Polyurethane Takes on the World Solar Challenge

Imagine racing across a dusty desert terrain for more than 1,800 miles, facing temperatures of up to 113°F. Now imagine doing it without a drop of fuel. That’s the task that faced a team of Austrian students when they entered the 2017 World Solar Challenge.

Called the toughest solar car race in the world, the World Solar Challenge has been testing the limits of what solar-powered vehicles can do for 30 years. Teams from around the globe converge on the Australian outback for a weeklong test of their vehicle’s abilities.

This year, the Austrian team had additional help in the...

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Head South for the Winter with Polyurethane

If chilly weather has you dreaming of the sunshine, there’s no better way to escape than to head south on the water. Today’s high-performance boats rely on polyurethane in a number of ways. First, polyurethane coatings and sealants help seal hulls and resist water, weather and other maritime damages. Maintaining a smooth and well-sealed exterior helps keep boats more hydrodynamic, allowing them to move through the water faster.

On board, polyurethane can make a boat as comfortable as home with flexible polyurethane foams used in components ranging from seat cushions and carpet padding to bedding materials. Best of all,...

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“Self-Healing” Films Keep Your Car Looking Like New

That first scratch or chip on your new car’s paint job can be heartbreaking. But with new paint protection films, much of that heartbreak might become a thing of the past.

The latest films are made of three layers: an adhesive that allows the film to stick to the car; a thick polyurethane that helps protect the paint from damage; and a clear coat that protects the polyurethane from discoloring. They can be applied aftermarket to most any vehicle.

When the clear coat and polyurethane levels are scratched, they can be made to re-form by heating them up with...

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