look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

New Midsole Puts a Spring in Runners’ Steps

When it comes to running shoes, it’s what’s in the midsole that counts. The midsole needs to provide optimal stability and cushioning to help support the punishing pounding of mile after mile. Many traditional midsoles are made from other lightweight materials. However, over time, the material compresses and loses its cushioning.

Enter a new midsole made of polyurethane, which naturally expands, returning energy to the runner after force is applied. In a regular shoe, most energy is converted to heat, which you can literally feel in the sole of the shoe after a tough workout. But with this new...

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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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Secrets of the Perfect Piecrust

It’s National Pastry Day, and incredible polyurethane holds the key to making your next pastry crust the envy of any baker. The secret is in your refrigerator. In fact, it IS your refrigerator! Cold ingredients are key to great pie crusts. And of course, polyurethane is great for keeping your refrigerator and freezer sealed and insulated so ingredients stay their coldest.

After you’ve rolled out your crust and placed it in a pie dish, place it in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes which allows the gluten in the flour to relax (settle?).  This will help keep your...

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Put Polyurethane on the List This Year

Chances are someone in your family is dreaming of a new gadget or device for the holidays. Electronics have become ubiquitous in our lives, and technology continues to move forward at a blistering pace. But did you know many of this year’s hottest holiday gifts wouldn’t be possible without polyurethane?

From wearable fitness trackers to voice-activated personal assistants to virtual reality headsets, many of today’s electronic devices rely on non-foam polyurethanes called potting compounds or conformal coatings in order to perform their amazing tasks. These polyurethane substances help protect sensitive electronic components from a variety of potentially damaging stressors,...

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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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How About Active Friday?

Today, millions of people will awaken in the middle of the night to wait in long lines and find the best deals. But imagine a Black Friday alternative: Heading out into the peace and beauty of the great outdoors to hike, ski, bike or run.

Thanks to polyurethane, outdoor and athletic gear helps keep us comfortable, warm and dry even in less-than-ideal outdoor conditions. Lightweight, breathable and stain resistant, these fibers are well suited for outdoor pursuits. From jackets and leggings to sneakers and boots, much of today’s active wear relies on polyurethane to perform its best.

So go...

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Polycarbonate Diols Help Make Leather Tough and Soft

Leather jackets, shoes and furniture are often coated with a layer of polyurethane in order to protect the fabric from stains and give it a glossy shine. However, manufacturers often struggle to find a balance between providing stain resistance to things like creams and beverages and creating the supple feel and fabric flexibility that consumers want. Polycarbonate diol technology helps producers perform this balancing act.

Polycarbonate diols supply flexibility and softness to polyurethane leather finishes and artificial leather coatings. In addition, these polycarbonate diols make polyurethane coatings highly resistant to heat, UV rays, water, chemicals, stains, abrasions and solvents, and...

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New Polyurethane Material Revolutionizes 3D Printing

During the past decade, 3D printing has evolved from a novelty to an integral part of many manufacturing processes. Now, a German company has developed a revolutionary polyurethane-based material that can be used in its Liquid Additive Manufacturing (LAM) process to print complex parts.

The material can be processed in its liquid state, which eliminates the need for melting and helps speed production times. Processing at room temperature also helps to avoid shrinkage, warping and detachment from the print bed. The end result can also be calibrated to a range of hardness, broadening the scope of use for the innovative...

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