look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

An Uplifting Idea for Fixing Sunken Concrete

If you’ve ever stumbled on an uneven sidewalk, you know the perils of sunken concrete. As the ground shifts and walkways receive regular use, concrete slabs can sink and crack, creating dangerous conditions on sidewalks, patios and runways.

High-density polyurethane foam is being used to level these surfaces without the cost of breaking up, removing and resetting the concrete. The process, called slabjacking, consists of drilling a hole in the surface and pumping polyurethane foam underneath.

The polyurethane moves easily into any existing air pockets, lifting an impressive 14,500 pounds per square foot. That’s strong enough to life the concrete...

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The Next Generation of Smart Clothing

Innovations in wearable technology have already brought us self-warming jackets and self-tying shoes. Now, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is being used in a stretchable electronic ink that can be embedded directly in clothing to track athletic performance.

The form-fitting circuit can be seamlessly integrated with fabric, bringing comfort, washability and freedom of design to athletic gear. The electronics can be used to monitor pulse and breathing rate, provide feedback on form, and even track muscle tension and other biometrics. 

TPU is a great choice for smart clothing because it is elastic, can be used with a wide variety of fabrics and can be...

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Polyurethane Helps Climbers Rise Above

When you’re suspended 30 feet above the ground by nothing but your fingertips, you need to have confidence in the material you’re holding on to. Luckily, polyurethane has been the industry standard for climbing holds (the shaped grips on climbing walls) for the past decade.

Polyurethane has enabled rock wall climbing holds to become lighter and longer lasting. Today, climbing holds are stronger than ever before and – thanks to polyurethane’s flexibility – can be molded to many sizes, shapes and colors. Size and shape differences are used to help simulate real-world rocks and boulders, while color is important because...

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The Right Shoes for Your Run

Whether you’re training for a marathon or just adding running to your regular fitness routine, shoes are the most important piece of equipment for both the casual and competitive runner. The right shoes can help cushion and support your feet — and even maximize the energy returned to you with every step — while the wrong shoes can lead to blisters, foot pain and worse.

Polyurethane is used throughout running shoes in a variety of ways to improve their durability and performance: Polyurethane adhesives are used to attach the sole to the shoe. They may be molded to the outer...

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Warm Beer? Thermoplastic Polyurethane to the Rescue!

Polyurethane is great at keeping your summer beverages cold when they’re in the refrigerator or cooler, but what about once you’re drinking them? Beer Blizzard™ is a freezable disk made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) that’s designed to fit into the indentation on the bottom of a soda or beer can. Tucked inside a koozie, it continues to cool your drink from the bottom up.

TPU is an excellent choice for this application because it can be frozen and defrosted thousands of times without cracking, and can be created in any color. Created by Mike Robb and Tom Osbourne, Beer Blizzard™...

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Six Summer Favorites Made with Polyurethane

Whether you choose to drift lazily down a river in a tube or rule the pool atop a giant swan, your conveyance is probably made with polyurethane. Polyurethane is great for floats because it’s lightweight and flexible enough to form almost any shape, but durable enough to last all summer long.

Before they were made with lightweight polyurethane foam cores, surfboards were manufactured with heavy plywood, weighing up to 10 lbs.

Polyurethane coatings help protect your favorite lawn chair or beach recliner from the wear and tear of summer weather. Just don’t...

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Spray Polyurethane Foam Keeps It Cool

We often think of insulation helping to keep our houses warm in the winter. But it also plays a key role in maximizing cooling efficiency in warm climates or during the hottest months of the year. Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) in particular is an excellent insulator that can help keep the cool air in and the hot, humid air out.

The secret is SPF’s ability to expand into the smallest of spaces. Unlike other forms of insulation that may leave gaps, when properly applied SPF can seal off walls, ceilings, floors and roofs. Installing SPF in a new home or...

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Body by Polyurethane

Looking to show off a toned physique on the beach this summer? Polyurethane has your back — and your biceps and abs, too.

Not only is polyurethane found in exercise apparel and footwear, but it’s also found in many kinds of exercise equipment. For example, exercise mats made with a thin layer of polyurethane foam are great for supporting your knees and back when doing floor exercises, stretching or yoga.

Exercising is easier when you have a friend to motivate and work out with you. Tossing a medicine ball — filled with solid polyurethane — to a partner helps strengthen multiple...

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Soccer Scores with Polyurethane

Soccer (or football, as it’s known outside the U.S.) is the world’s most popular sport — with an estimated 4 billion fans worldwide. Although the game has been played the same way for more than 100 years now, the more recent addition of polyurethane coating to the ball has had an important impact on performance for the sport.

Soccer balls were once typically made from genuine leather. But leather can take on water, making the ball soggy and heavy in rainy conditions. Starting in the 1970s, manufacturers began adding a coat of polyurethane to help make the ball waterproof. Polyurethane...

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