look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

Remembering a Polyurethane Industry Icon: Dr. Henry Aaron Hill

In all that has gone into shaping the modern polymers industry, it would be hard to overstate the importance of the personal and professional contributions of Dr. Henry Aaron Hill. Hill’s work gave rise to what has been dubbed the “new polymer-products industry.” 

He was a pioneer in chemistry, focusing much of his research and advocacy in his later years on polymer and fabric flammability. 

Following his appointment to the National Commission on Product Safety by President Lyndon Johnson, Hill recommended that the Commission be given the power to issue mandatory safety standards for consumer products.

As a result, the...

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A Future for Polyurethane Prosthetic Hands?

Polyurethane may hold the key to a gripping future for prosthetic hands. Researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology have been hard at work developing polyurethane aerogels – called shape memory polymers or SMPs. When bent, folded or twisted, the aerogels return to their original shape. They are even capable of bending on their own when a stimulus like heat is applied.

A Prosthetic Prototype

To demonstrate the possible application of the aerogel technology, researchers built a model of a prosthetic hand from the SMPs that was capable of mimicking coordinated muscle function. When heat was applied, the fingers...

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Polyurethane Flooring Systems Have Multi-Use Purpose

From your time in high school, you may remember your gymnasium’s wooden floor. While wood flooring was once considered the standard in athletic facilities across the country, much has changed in recent years in the world of multipurpose and athletic flooring. Today, material options run the gamut – from vinyl tiles to vulcanized rubber and even carpeting.

New Polyurethane Flooring Systems

The polyurethane flooring system — a newcomer to the space — is currently poised to challenge the status quo in the market. Composed of a base mat – usually consisting of rubber – with a polyurethane surface, these flooring...

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Spray or Slather: Polyurethane Helps Personal Care Products Perform

We often think of polyurethane applications on a large scale: making buildings stronger or helping to make cars and trucks more lightweight. But at a microscopic level, polyurethane polymers are helping make personal care products — such as hairspray and sunscreen — better, too.  

Researchers at Covestro developed an application for polyurethane polymers that promotes formation of breathable films and meets ISO standards for naturally derived ingredients. These films are odorless, clear and resist flaking, which makes them especially well-suited for hair and skin products.

Applications for Hair Care

From the runway to the everyday, people want hair care products...

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How Polyurethane Can Help You Keep Your New Year Resolution

This year, you may join the more than 45 percent of Americans making a New Year’s resolution. But did you know only 8 percent of resolutions are actually kept? 

Thankfully, polyurethane is here to play a part in helping you meet your goals – in ways you may never have even imagined: 

Have some home improvement plans?

If you are looking to update your home, consider accent and detail pieces made from polyurethane. The material is incredibly versatile. It can be made to mimic the look of wood and metal, and it can also be used to form almost everything...

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Polyurethane Means Business for the U.S. Economy

Regular readers of this blog know polyurethane makes an impact on our lives with its many unique and innovative applications. But polyurethane is also an important contributor to the U.S. economy in ways that reverberate throughout the supply chain. 

A recent report by the American Chemistry Council took a look at the business of polyurethane in the United States today. Among its findings:

Polyurethane Generates Jobs 

One of polyurethane’s most far-reaching impacts is in job creation. While the industry directly employs nearly 270,000 individuals across the country, for every one of those jobs, four other jobs are created. 

Known as...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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