look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

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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Earth Day

Happy Earth Day!  Polyurethane helps to keep our oceans blue and our houses green. Polyurethane foam insulation is proven to be one of the most energy efficient ways to control the temperature inside our home. For example, a popular new “tiny house” structure utilizes PU insulation and other plastics to create a very efficient living space. 

So make sure you enjoy the Earth’s treasures today, and thank polyurethane for helping to protect them!

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Honeywell Wins 2015 Polyurethane Innovation Award

Contact: Lisa DryEmail: lisa_dry@americanchemistry.com

Award Presented at Polyurethanes Technical Conference in Orlando

ORLANDO (October 7, 2015) – The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) announced that Honeywell’s Solstice® Liquid Blowing Agent (LBA) won the 2015 Polyurethane Innovation Award.

Honeywell’s winning entry, selected from among three finalists, was announced today during the Closing Session of the 2015 Polyurethanes Technical Conference in Orlando. More than 1,000 polyurethanes professionals attended the conference. “Our finalists this year brought more than technical advancements—they delivered an inspiring reminder of the virtually limitless potential polyurethane materials hold,”...

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Polyurethane is swimming with the Sharks

Starting July 5^th, you might see sharks on your television screen! Often, dive teams and film crews rely on the many talents of polyurethane to help them stay safe.  Polyurethane coatings and sealants are water-resistant and used to protect the exterior of diving equipment.  Spandex fibers in wet suits are lightweight and water-friendly providing divers a pleasant underwater experience as they film their shark friends. 

On the ocean surface, polyurethane foam used in boat insulation protects crew members from the salty sea air.  Likewise, flexible polyurethane foam used in seat cushions, allows these shark seekers to rest comfortably...

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It’s a Bird. It’s a Plane. It’s Polyurethane!

Solar Impulse 2 has a BIG goal: to be the first airplane to fly day and night around the world using only solar power.

The solar-powered airplane, officially known as Solar Impulse 2, is in the midst of its five-month around-the-world trek. (Solar Impulse 1, which flew across America in 2013, was the prototype for the project.) Swiss aviator, researcher and psychiatrist Bertrand Piccard founded the Solar Impulse project more than a decade ago with former Swiss Air Force pilot André Borschberg – and the two share piloting duties.

During the day, 17,248 solar cells, which cover much...

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