look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

Polyurethane Helps Clean our Waters

Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have invented a sponge adapted from common polyurethane foam that reportedly absorbs up to 90 times its weight in oil! This invention promises to help make offshore oil clean ups a lot faster and easier.

The Oleo Sponge may be a game changer in the absorbent technology industry. They say it can be rung out and reused, and can also absorb oil regardless of whether it is on or below the water surface. Scientists even believe that the oil collected from the sponge can be used again. The Olio Sponge inventors anticipate the innovation...

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Happy Earth Day

First organized in 1970, Earth Day is a day to remember and appreciate the Earth’s environment, and our roles within it. Did you know the use of polyurethane contributes in ways that help us preserve certain natural resources?

Today, rigid foams used for thermal insulation are significantly enhancing the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings. Because these polyurethane applications dramatically reduce buildings’ energy needs, we end up conserving natural resources that would otherwise be required for heating and cooling.

In addition, polyurethanes also help make structures more durable, minimizing the need for additional maintenance or building upgrades. Certain...

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Polyurethane Goes Gardening!

Break out your gloves for National Gardening Month!

Of all the tools you need for gardening, your gloves have to be one of the most important. Apart from keeping your hands clean, gardening gloves also help keep your hands dry and better protected from harsh and scratchy substances. Polyurethane gloves are also durable enough to help you pull out those stubborn weeds for many seasons!

Polyurethane garden hoses are another essential gardening tool due to their flexible material. After being stretched to capacity, polyurethane hoses typically spring back into shape. How great is that?  Polyurethane helps reduce hoses’ weight, taking away a...

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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

Discovery Uses Polyurethane to Recycle Coal Waste

Researchers at North Carolina A&T State University made an incredible breakthrough that could reduce one of the largest types of waste generated in America: coal ash, which is the collective residue that remains after burning coal to create energy.

To address this waste management issue, the scientists discovered a way to encapsulate coal ash in polyurethane, which can then be recycled and used in other applications!  By combining the waste with polyurethane, the resulting product can then be made into building materials such as interior molding or stored as large, above-ground blocks for future use. In this recycled...

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Polyurethane Insulates at the Greenbuild International Conference

The green building movement is thriving and the Greenbuild International Conference is the annual culmination of it all. This week in Los Angeles, from October 5^th to the 7^th, some of the most forward-thinking individuals and corporations in the green building community will come together at Greenbuild . With help from incredible polyurethane, this community is moving our world towards a more sustainable, energy efficient and overall healthier future.

A big polyurethane player in the green building game is spray polyurethane foam, championed by the Spray Foam Coalition. Spray polyurethane foam provides an effective solution to an...

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Happy Aviation Day!

Leading polymer company Covestro partnered with Swiss aviation pioneers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg to create a revolutionary aircraft that would complete the first solar-powered, around-the-world flight. The plane, Solar Impulse, has become a technology driver for countless, everyday products through the use of innovative, efficient polyurethane products.

The plane’s solar cells generated electricity which was stored in heavy batteries, and to compensate for the added weight, the Solar Impulse needed lightweight and sustainable materials.  Polyurethane was the solution for such a lightweight demand. Polyurethane foam can be found in the Solar Impulse’s cockpit door and insulation.

Covestro CEO...

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Polyurethane Catches the Breeze

The winds of change are blowing through the wind turbines in Asia! Covestro, a supplier of polymers, has introduced yet another impactful polyurethane product. Their new design of rotor blades for wind turbines will soon contribute significantly to energy efficiency in Asia.  

What makes these blades so incredible? Polyurethane, of course! Covestro teamed up with Chongqing Polycomp International (CPIC) to fuse polyurethane resin with CPIC’s glass fiber mats. This combination of materials went through a vacuum pressure infusion system to create the rotor blade.

Rotor blades in the past had been produced with an epoxy resin. However,...

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Dow’s Impact This Summer

“Da uma mãozinha”, the phrase for “to lend a helping hand” in Portuguese.

That is exactly what The Dow Chemical Company is doing this summer. Dow has been involved in nearly 20 projects revolving around venue construction, transportation, field-of-play technologies, and extended infrastructure including Deodoro Park. With the help of Dow’s polyurethane technology, Deodoro Park will be the home field to both the rugby and modern pentathlon competitions using a synthetic turf system.

Dow also implemented five strategic projects in various areas including infrastructure and agriculture. One project includes the adoption of polyurethane-based insulation panels...

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