look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

Polyurethane Stories That Made Headlines in 2019

Polyurethane Modular Homes

At the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, Astrid Diaz, a Puerto Rico-based architect, announced her plans for a new polyurethane-based modular home. Her designs consist of polyurethane foam walls and a roof, reinforced with a steel frame, then covered with mortar. The homes — which can withstand winds of up to 184 miles per hour — blend in well with the existing architecture of similar structures that populate the island where there was a need for an estimated 75,000 homes in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

In spring,...

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Looking for a Career Path with Promise? PU May Be Right for You!

If you’re one of the 80 percent of students who change their declared major or begin their college careers undeclared, listen up: a future in polyurethane may be right for you. The polyurethane industry is poised for growth over the next few decades and, as mentioned before in this blog, polyurethane is an essential contributor to the U.S. economy in ways that reverberate throughout the supply chain. 

There are several options for you to consider as you look to embark upon a viable and rewarding career:

Research & Development

Are you an idea person willing to work tirelessly to get...

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Polyurethane Helps Safeguard Food Supply

As breakthroughs in agriculture and farming help to feed a growing global population, polyurethane spray foam (SPF) insulation is doing its part to house crops and livestock and doing so in a more sustainable way.

SPF is one of the most efficient and readily available forms of insulation for agricultural and livestock buildings around the world. It helps maintain consistent temperatures in the cold of winter, stand up to excessive heat in summer and even delivers a layer of protection against moisture, pests and insects.

Here are just a few of the ways SPF insulation is helping farmers house our...

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Researchers Grow Food in Polyurethane Foam

Could plants grown in polyurethane foam be key to helping solve the world’s food crisis? Experts from the new Institute for Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield in England seem to think so. A group of researchers there has found that certain crops planted in polyurethane foam grow two to 10 times faster than plants grown in traditional soil.

How Do Plants Grow?

The polyurethane foam in which the plants are grown is treated with nutrients delivered via a network of pipes in a controlled environment. Today, researchers have successfully grown everything from salad greens to tomatoes in the polyurethane...

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World’s Biggest Polyurethane Wind Turbine Unveiled

In the world of renewable wind energy, something big is happening. Really big. Engineers in the city of Zhuzhou in the Hunan province of China have completed delivery of a 13.7 ton 59.5-meter-long wind turbine blade — reported to be the world’s longest made from polyurethane.

The Polyurethane Advantage

The company that manufactured this giant wind turbine blade says that polyurethane has several advantages over traditional materials. Researchers found polyurethane to have better mechanical performance and higher fatigue resistance. They also say it bonds more easily to carbon fiber reinforcements that help the wind turbine blade maintain its structural integrity...

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Polyurethane Footwear, A Great Fit in the Garden

April showers bring May flowers, but those blooms don’t just happen by themselves. Polyurethane footwear can lend a helping hand. Spring is the time of year when green thumb enthusiasts begin to spend more out in the garden, and since spring is a time for renewal your gardening outfit should be no exception – especially when it comes to footwear. If you are considering a new pair of gardening shoes or boots, opt for a pair made from polyurethane. Here are just some of the reasons you should choose polyurethane for traipsing around in the muck:

Keeping you light on...

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Researchers Create New Algae-Based Polyurethane Production Method

Whether finding ways to extend the life of polyurethane materials or even make the manufacturing process more efficient, scientists and researchers are continually looking for new ways to make polyurethane more sustainable.

One group of researchers at University of California San Diego may have found a way. The team has created renewable polymers that use algae – a plant-like organism that makes food from sunlight via photosynthesis – as their basis.

If successful, the algae-based polymers will be used to create polyurethane found in a number of everyday household items, like couch cushions, office chairs and more.

The Department of...

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Polyurethane Takes the Fashion World by Storm

From the New York runways to glossy magazine covers, polyurethane-based faux leather and suede are all over the fashion world. They can be found in almost everything from accessories and handbags to clothing items like shoes, jackets and pants.

Material Innovation

As polyurethane-based alternatives to products like suede and leather become ever more innovative, the fashion industry has taken notice. 

More than a Vegan Alternative

Designers are not only offering these products to consumers as a vegan alternative. Many fashionistas are finding that incorporating polyurethane into the designs provides a superior product for the consumer. These items, made from polyurethane...

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Polyurethane Helps Create Resilient, Green Building Products

During the past decade, consumers moved towards eco-friendly products. However, today, it is not enough simply to have environmentally sound offerings, a company’s products have to be resilient as well, meaning they have to be able to stand up to the elements.

Nowhere is this more important than in the construction industry, where designers, policymakers and engineers face the difficult task of rebuilding in areas prone to natural disasters like hurricanes and flooding.

With a renewed focus in the construction industry on creating energy efficient and durable products that are also resilient, there is an interest in products like closed-cell...

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