look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

There’s a New Star in Town—SealStar

A new all-purpose sealing system for polyurethane back-foaming is introduced to the world! SealStar —designed by KraussMaffei’s Reaction Process Machinery— helps provide a more secure seal in the molding process of incredible polyurethane. The SealStar makes the sealing process of polyurethane back-foaming molds more secure and efficient than ever before.

It is important for polyurethane back-foaming molds to be sealed tightly. Typically special inflatable standard sealing hoses made from silicone rubber or latex and available with or without a sealing cord, are inserted into the polyurethane back-foaming mold. This process helps ensure polyurethane does not leave the space...

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Buckle Up the Kids, and Polyurethane, for a Trip to the Beach

A family vacation to the beach is incomplete without polyurethane. Here’s how polyurethane can improve your trip to the beach this summer:

You put down a beach towel or mat to avoid getting sandy. Thanks to specially woven polyurethane, a sandless beach mat will save you from being covered in sand. If any sand falls on the mat, it simply filters through. That’s pretty incredible!

Originally made from plywood, skim boards are now lightweight and more durable because of polyurethane foam cores. Weighing in at around 3 lbs. —compared to 20 lbs....

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But What’s a Prepreg?

Have you, or perhaps your kids, ever “accidentally” made a hole in the wall? Maybe someone threw a football in the house or a corner of some furniture knocked a dent into the wall during a move. To spot-treat this problem, you probably went to your local hardware store and picked up a home repair kit that included a mesh reinforcing fabric. Little-known fact: this reinforcing fabric is called a prepreg.

Prepegs have become popular over the last few years because of their advantageous handling properties. However, there have been some downsides to prepreg technology when it comes to using...

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Polyurethane Embarks on the High Seas

High-tech sailing takes on new waters! Evonik, a specialty chemical company, has joined forces with German-Danish sailing duo Team Gaebler to build the first SpeedFoiler catamaran. This state-of-the-art catamaran will almost fly over the water thanks to a revolutionary design and lightweight materials.   Their partnership with Evonik resulted in an exceptional catamaran, the SpeedFoiler, which is ultra-lightweight with the help of polyurethane materials.

Polyurethane properties are so flexible and versatile, they allow for quicker production times in the stages of applying binders and laminates. So not only are the boats speedy to drive – they’re...

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Polyurethane is Proud to Be American

According to the American Chemistry Council, “The [polyurethanes] industry directly employs more than 235,200 Americans… [and] each job in the polyurethanes industry yields four more jobs indirectly.” However, you don’t have to work in the polyurethanes industry to see the benefits of polyurethane!

Entrepreneurs Mike Robb and Tom Osborne of Cincinnati, Ohio, made polyurethane work for them. In 2014 they came up with the concept of the “beer blizzard.” While on a weekend camping trip, Mike and Tom realized the indented bottom of all beer cans had the same dome shape. As beer enthusiasts who hate hot beer,...

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We’re Going to Need a Versatile, Durable, Incredible Boat

In the sprit of Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, we wanted to take a look at all of the ways polyurethane makes our time on the water safer and more enjoyable. Polyurethane can be found in surfboards, athletic clothing, and floatation devices. Like in cars, polyurethane also plays many roles on boats.

Comfortable Ride

Boaters today can have the comforts of home inside nearly any seaworthy vessel, thanks in part to flexible polyurethane foam (FPF). It makes seat cushions and carpet pads firm but soft, and keeps bedding materials supportive and comfortable—and...

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Novomer’s Innovative Technology

Innovative. That’s the best word that describes Novomer and the Ford Motor Company. Ford teamed up with many companies, including Novomer, to find new applications for captured carbon dioxide (CO2) to reduce carbon emissions. Ford aims to help reduce global warming by using this greenhouse gas in innovative ways. Ford expects to be the first automaker to use foams and plastics containing captured CO2in seating and hood applications.  The new materials are expected to be in Ford vehicles by 2018.  

For foams formulated with up to 50 percent CO2 based polyols, Ford is utilizing Novomer’s Converge®-CO2 based polyols....

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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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National Bike to Work Week

This week we’re encouraged to channel our inner hipster or triathlon athlete, and enjoy the long- awaited spring weather while biking to work! Happy National Bike to Work week!

As you gear-up for a slightly different commute, don’t forget polyurethane. Bike manufacturers look to polyurethane technologies to create more comfortable seats which we can all agree is very important!

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