look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

Covestro’s Chemolysis Pilot Plant Improves Polyurethane Reusability

From the cars we drive to the mattresses we sleep on, polyurethane touches upon multiple aspects of day-to-day living — helping make the products we regularly use more comfortable, durable, efficient and safe. As the role of polyurethane in daily life becomes more ubiquitous, polyurethane suppliers are working on different ways of creating a circular polyurethane supply chain — one in which the need for new fossil-based raw materials becomes less and less. In a circular supply chain, existing materials are recycled at the end of a product’s life so that they can be used in new products.

One manufacturer...

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Polyurethane Foam Insulated Tires Contribute to a Quieter Ride

If you think about it, your car tire acts as a drum for road noises. The rubber absorbs a bump in the road, the same way the head of a drum absorbs a tap from a drumstick. The hollowness of the tire acts just like the cavity of a drum — allowing the noise to amplify and reverberate.

Polyurethane Foam Noise Canceling Insulation

Tire manufacturers have long been working to reduce road noise. One area where they’ve been successful is with the inclusion of noise-reducing polyurethane foam inside a tire liner on the opposite side of the tire’s tread. The...

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Specialized Polyurethane Coolers Aid in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

The rollout of several new vaccines in the fight against the coronavirus gives hope that an end to the pandemic may be in sight. However, distribution of some these new vaccines presents a challenge for manufacturers and medical personnel, as some doses must be stored at frigid temperatures to preserve their efficacy. To help the vaccines stay cool as they reach patients, polyurethane is playing an important role in assisting medical personnel in maintaining the viability of these life-saving inoculations.

Polyurethane as an Insulator

Frequent readers of this blog know that polyurethane is an effective and customizable insulator. The ease...

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Polyurethane Helps Shoe Manufacturers Reach their Sustainability Goals

Many footwear companies have pledged to reduce waste and their carbon footprint over the coming years. Several have turned to polyurethane to achieve innovative solutions that can help them reach their sustainability goals to accomplish this task.

Shoes Made Solely from Polyurethane

Several footwear brands are now in the business of creating shoes made entirely from polyurethane. Balenciaga, for example, has introduced a shoe called the Zen sneaker. Touted as a leather alternative, the shoe is constructed entirely from polyurethane. 

Simplifying the Supply Chain

On average, most athletic shoes are made using a dozen or more materials. This production process...

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Polyurethane brings ancient architectural details into the 21st century

Architectural details from the distant past are getting an update with molded polyurethane components that make them easier to install and maintain.

Crown molding — the decorative strip around the top of a wall — and columns are two architectural details that trace their lineage back to ancient Egypt. Over the millennia, these details evolved from being made of stone to plaster to wood. Even today, many people like the “finished” look of crown molding or chair railings (molding that goes around the room’s wall at chair height) while columns are used in the exteriors of several American home styles,...

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Polyurethane hits the road in a concept camper

It may just be the perfect time for a concept camper that showcases dozens of innovative technologies — many of them made possible with polyurethane. After all, 2020 has been “The Year of the Road Trip.” While air travel and large hotel chains have suffered during the pandemic, recreational vehicles and camp sites have seen a resurgence in popularity. Interest in outdoor adventures has peaked at a time when families are desperate for time away from home but also cognizant of the need for social distancing. 

The VisionVenture concept camper includes improvements that feature a number of high-performance materials in everything...

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Polyurethane Advances Helicopter Technology

You may already know polyurethane is a smart choice for use in airplane parts. After all, polyurethane is durable and lightweight. But, did you know polyurethane-based parts and components play a key role in helping helicopters take off, fly and land safely? It’s true. The next time you see a helicopter hovering high above, consider just a few of the polyurethane parts on board.

The Seat

What’s that the pilot is sitting on? More than likely, that seat is made out of polyurethane foam. Polyurethane can mold to the body and keep it cushioned and safe at high speeds. A...

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Polyurethane’s Gone Fishin’

Advances in fishing technology are making it easier for avid anglers to reel in those really big catches, and polyurethane often plays a vital role. From rods and reels to fishing line and tackle, you may be surprised to learn how many different products for fishermen frequently contain polyurethane. 

Tackle — Polyurethane is versatile. It can be created to mimic almost any shape. It also can be made in a variety of colors and patterns and to varying degrees of hardness. Thanks to this versatility, polyurethane is a choice material for use in fishing tackle. For example, a brightly-colored polyurethane lure may...

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Polyurethane Fuels Shipping Container Home Craze

Today, retired shipping containers — like the ones found on huge container ships and freight trains used to move cargo around the world—are getting a second life, being used by enterprising builders, architects and would-be homeowners to create stunning one-of-a-kind custom homes. Though at first glance, they may seem quite modular, the design of a modern shipping container home is only limited by the imagination. Under the auspices of trained, professionals, these dwellings can be made habitable and safe with proper ventilation, fire safety and appropriate exits. To help these steel containers make the transition from featureless, industrial vessels into places of cozy respite...

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