look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

3D Printed Polyurethane Soles Spell Pain Relief for Patients

In the advanced stages of diabetes, neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease are common symptoms in patients. These symptoms can wreak havoc on the body, leaving the tissue on the soles of the feet fragile and easily damaged, which can lead to severe discomfort and even the need for amputation.

To help these patients, researchers in Germany have recently developed a form of 3D-printed polyurethane insoles. To prevent pressure wounds, the insoles provide varying degrees of firmness or softness to meet the specific needs of each foot. The insoles provide better support to areas on the bottom of the patient’s foot...

Read more here.

Polyurethane Squishies Are A Top Toy of the Holiday Season

We’ve all heard of stuffed animals or stuffies — but what about squishies? These pillow-soft characters, usually in the shape of cute critters or objects, are expected to be a top toy of the holiday season. As the name implies, squishies – usually composed of polyurethane foam – are made for squishing. Once squashed, they regain their original shape usually in a matter of a few seconds.

Finding the Right Balance

For a toy manufacturer, the length of time required for a squishy to go from indiscernible mashed object back to its original shape can make all the difference between...

Read more here.

Polyurethane Sponges Cut Through the Mess

It is likely you never consider what germs may be lurking in your household sponge. After all, a sponge is a more or less permanent fixture at kitchen sinks around the country, and the design of this domestic mainstay has remained virtually unchanged for the past several decades. 

But, the seemingly innocuous sponge harbors its own share of dirty secrets and is not without critics.

Among its detractors, the chief complaint about the sponge is that it offers a breeding ground for germs that can cause serious illnesses like E. coli poisoning. Food particles get stuck in the porous surface of the...

Read more here.

The Key to Delivering Hot Foods Is in the Bag

More than 85 percent of Americans will attend a holiday get-together this year. Of these, many will be bringing a dish to share with guests, and quite a few revelers will have polyurethane to thank for keeping their party foods hot.

You may already know polyurethane is a great insulator – often refrigerators are lined with polyurethane to keep foods cold, but did you know PU can also be used as a portable way to keep foods warm as well?

For years, pizza delivery drivers have been using polyurethane-foam insulated bags to keep their Italian offerings piping hot – from...

Read more here.

Polyurethane Helps Usher in a New Era of Outdoor Art

Among high-net-worth art aficionados, a new trend is emerging that has masterpieces being created exclusively for life alfresco. Outdoor artwork often consists of grand-scale sculptures and installations that play with the landscape and elements like scenery, color and background.

In creating these commissioned pieces, artists are faced with a unique challenge. Their work must not only be creatively intriguing, it must also be able to withstand inclement weather, freezing or scorching temperatures and even pollution with little service and upkeep required.

While the construction of some pieces uses more traditional elements like steel, aluminum or brass, others are far more...

Read more here.

Polyurethane Compound Quiets Cars & Lightens the Load

In the world of automotive innovation, engineers and designers are constantly looking to make cars faster and lighter, as well as for ways to dampen cabin noise.

Today, one domestic car manufacturer is turning to graphene-enhanced polyurethane foam to create under-the-hood parts that could have far-reaching implications for the automotive world. 

Even to those unfamiliar, it is easy to see why some have dubbed graphene the “material of the future.” The substance is thin, flexible and 200x stronger than steel. It also has high noise-dampening qualities.

Now, one car maker is combining graphene with polyurethane and using the compound to...

Read more here.

2018 Polyurethane Innovation Award Honors Technical Achievement

Since its introduction to the world in the 1930s, polyurethane has continued to impact and improve daily life for much of the global population. Today, thanks to the actions of an active, imaginative and inquisitive polyurethane industry, the boundaries of scientific achievement and discovery are ever expanding. Each new year brings scientific breakthroughs; results once thought only to be the stuff of imagination a few short years ago are now commonplace.

While the introduction of a new polyurethane-based product to the marketplace can bring short-term excitement, the product itself is often the result of years of research, technical labor and...

Read more here.

Behind the World’s Most Prevalent Polymer

By now, you may think you know everything there is to know about polyurethane and the many ways this incredible polymer touches our daily lives. But are you familiar with how it originated?

It all started in 1937 with Dr. Otto Bayer. The German-born chemist came across the polymer when he was looking for a compound that could be used as a substitute for rubber, which at the time was expensive and hard to obtain.

The versatility of polyurethane and its ability to substitute for scarce materials spurred numerous applications. In the years following its initial discovery, the polymer started...

Read more here.

Researchers Look to Polyurethane to Heal Bone Fractures

According to a recent study, hip fractures are on the rise in much of Asia. While on the surface this may seem like a gloomy statistic, it is actually indicative of a positive trend. Life expectancy around the world is increasing, thanks in large part to breakthroughs in health science and technology. The global standard of living is also improving with more people than ever before having access to nutritious foods, clean drinking water and medical care.

However, as life expectancy around the world increases, science must seek out new and innovative solutions to the health-related issues that come along...

Read more here.