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Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers
American Institute of Architecture’s 2018 Conference
This year’s AIA Conference on Architecture’s theme is “A Blueprint for Better Cities.” With resilience and environmental impact remaining key issues in the creation of our living and working spaces, polyurethane continues to be an important part of the solution for architects.
The polyurethane industry — and the manufacturers who use polyurethane in their products — have long been sensitive to the various needs of architects and consumers when it comes to material selection. Polyurethane’s attributes of durability, insulation, performance and lightweight properties have made it a natural choice as architects seek to design energy-efficient buildings that can better withstand...
How Polyurethane Wheels Revolutionized Skateboarding
Skateboarding is a fun form of transportation, a good source of exercise, a highly competitive sport and the genesis of an entire cultural movement. And the amazing stunts and high speeds of today’s best skateboarders were made possible with polyurethane.
Prior to the 1970s, skateboards relied on steel wheels, which provided a rough ride, or clay composite wheels, which wore out quickly. Enter Frank Nasworthy, an avid surfer and skateboarder who had visited the factory of a family friend and learned about a polyurethane wheel that was softer, but more durable than steel.
To make polyurethane skateboard wheels, polyurethane is...
Ten Fascinating Facts About Wind Energy
Get Ready to Celebrate Dad
All dads are different. And this Father’s Day, no matter what kind of dad you have, polyurethane will likely be part of your celebration. Check out all the ways polyurethanes factor into popular dad gifts and activities!
Driving Dads
Dads and cars are a natural combination. Polyurethane adds a lot to the comfort and style of his favorite vehicle. From seat cushions to shiny coatings, polyurethane components help make cars more comfortable, quiet and durable. Plus, polyurethane is light weight, which helps Dad save gas or drive longer on a charge (for all those hybrid- and electric-car-loving dads out...
Polyurethane Helps Hot-Air Balloons Soar
Originally invented in France in the late 1700s, hot-air balloons use air displacement to rise gracefully into the sky. Air displacement is caused by heating a lifting gas such as helium, hydrogen or oxygen underneath a thin material called an envelope. When the balloon is connected to a basket or other container, air displacement allows the basket to carry passengers up to 32 miles into the atmosphere.
Balloons have been used in wars and raced in competitions. Hot-air balloons have helped conduct weather and other experiments, and they routinely provide a beautiful venue for aerial photography and wedding proposals.
In...
Advances in Rain Gear
Breathable waterproof fabrics have been around since the 1970s. These technologies, whether using polyurethanes or other substances, work in a similar way, repelling moisture on the outside, while actually attracting moisture (from sweat) on the inside. The inside moisture seeks to find equilibrium from the warm, humid interior to the cooler area outside, where it can evaporate.
Unfortunately, when your body is under greater exertion, you can create more sweat than the material can successfully remove. This causes moisture to build up inside the clothing and can lead to either overheating as your activity continues or chilling once you stop....
Protect Your Hearing with Polyurethane
Exposure to noise can cause permanent hearing loss that cannot be remedied with surgery or hearing aids. Certain occupations are a greater risk of noise-induced hearing loss, but even recreational activities such as shooting, snowmobile riding or attending loud concerts can be enough to cause damage. Machinery such as lawnmowers and leaf blowers can also have an impact.
Repeated, near-range exposure to sounds over 85 decibels is capable of causing hearing loss. Extremely loud noises — such as explosions — can cause damage from a single exposure. While those working in heavy manufacturing, construction or aeronautical industries are supplied protective...
Photo credit: Covestro
Covestro Makes Greenhouse Gas a Raw Material for Polyurethane
Polyols are a key component in the creation of the high-grade polyurethane foams that are used in everything from mattresses to running shoes. And fossil fuels are required to make polyols. But polyurethane manufacturer Covestro has uncovered a way to replace one-fifth of this raw material with carbon dioxide (CO2) — a waste gas that has been linked to global warming. By both reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and recycling this waste gas, Covestro is helping to create a more sustainable manufacturing process.
Covestro converts CO2 using a special catalyst that reacts with propylene oxide without the need for...
Biocompatibility Makes Polyurethane Work in Medical Devices
It may surprise you to learn that polyurethanes are commonly used in short-term implants and other medical devices that need to be compatible with the human body.
The reason is that TPUs — also known as polyurethane elastomers — have a molecular structure that’s very similar to that of human proteins. As a result, they can be used to mimic certain bodily functions without causing the same level of blood coagulation that is caused by other materials. That helps in preventing dangerous blood clots from forming. They are also often softer than other materials, which can make them more comfortable...
How Polyurethane Foam Made the Space Shuttle Possible
One of many daunting challenges facing the NASA engineers who built the Space Shuttle was the task of keeping its massive supply of rocket fuel insulated from heat without adding significant weight. The fuel tank (the large, central cylinder on the spacecraft pre-launch) was made of aluminum that was a mere 1/8” thick. When filled with the fuel for a journey to space, it weighed almost 1.7 million pounds.
The miracle material that engineers turned to was polyurethane foam. This special blend of polyols had all the strength, insulation, durability and lightweight properties that polyurethane foam is known for, with...