Polyurethane Applications

The nature of polyurethanes allows them to be adapted to solve challenging problems, to be molded into unusual shapes and to enhance industrial and consumer products.

Flexible Polyurethane Foam

Flexible polyurethane foam is used as cushioning for a variety of consumer and commercial products, including bedding, furniture, automotive interiors, carpet underlay and packaging. Flexible foam can be created in almost any variety of shapes and firmness. It is light, durable, supportive and comfortable.

Flexible polyurethane foam accounts for about 30 percent of the entire North American polyurethane market, and is used largely for bedding, furniture and in the automotive industry.

Rigid Polyurethane Foam

Rigid polyurethane and polyisocyanurate (polyiso) foams create one of the world's most popular, energy-efficient and versatile insulations. These foams can significantly cut energy costs while making commercial and residential properties more efficient and comfortable.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for about 56 percent of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for most homes. To maintain uniform temperature and lower noise levels in homes and commercial properties, builders turn to rigid polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foam. These foams are effective insulation materials that can be used in roof and wall insulation, insulated windows, doors and air barrier sealants.

Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants and Elastomers (CASE)

The uses of polyurethanes in the coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers (CASE) market offer a broad and growing spectrum of applications and benefits. Polyurethane coatings can enhance a product’s appearance and lengthen its lifespan. Polyurethane adhesives can provide strong bonding advantages, while polyurethane sealants provide tighter seals. Polyurethane elastomers can be molded into almost any shape, are lighter than metal, offer superior stress recovery and can be resistant to many environmental factors.

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) offers a myriad of physical property combinations and processing applications. It is highly elastic, flexible and resistant to abrasion, impact and weather. TPUs can be colored or fabricated in a wide variety of methods and their use can increase a product's overall durability.

TPU is an elastomer that is fully thermoplastic. Like all thermoplastic elastomers, TPU is elastic and melt-processable. In addition, it can be processed on extrusion, injection, blow and compression molding equipment. It can be vacuum-formed or solution-coated and is well suited for a wide variety of fabrication methodologies. TPU can provide a considerable number of physical property combinations, making it an extremely flexible material adaptable to dozens of uses such as construction, automotive and footwear.

Reaction Injection Molding (RIM)

Car bumpers, electrical housing panels and computer and telecommunication equipment enclosures are some of the parts produced with polyurethanes using reaction injection molding (RIM). Adding design flexibility, the polyurethane RIM process produces parts that are usually not achievable using typical injection molding processes, such as thick- and thin-walled parts, encapsulated inners and foamed cores. In addition to high strength and low weight, polyurethane RIM parts can exhibit heat resistance, thermal insulation, dimensional stability and a high level of dynamic properties. Automotive, construction, appliance, furniture and recreation and sporting goods are a few of the markets and applications using RIM technology.

Binders

Polyurethane binders are used to adhere numerous types of particles and fibers to each other. Their primary areas of use are in the manufacturing of wood panels, rubber or elastomeric flooring surfaces and sand casting for the foundry industry. The highest volume application for polyurethane binders is in the manufacture of Oriented Strand Board (OSB). These wood panels are used in structural sheathing and flooring, manufactured housing, joists and beams and shop panels. Rebond carpet underlay uses polyurethane binders to adhere scrap pieces of foam, which are often flexible polyurethane foam, together in its production.

Waterborne Polyurethane Dispersions (PUDs)

Waterborne polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) are coatings and adhesives that use water as the primary solvent. With increasing federal regulation on the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) that can be emitted into the atmosphere, PUDs are being used in more industrial and commercial applications.

Apparel

When scientists discovered that polyurethanes could be made into fine threads, they were combined with nylon to make more lightweight, stretchable garments. Over the years, polyurethanes have been improved and developed into spandex fibers, polyurethane coatings and thermoplastic elastomers.

 Because of today’s advances in polyurethane techniques, manufacturers can make a broad range of polyurethane apparel from man-made skins and leathers used for garments, sports clothes and a variety of accessories.

Appliances

Polyurethanes are an important component in major appliances that consumers use every day. The most common use for polyurethanes in major appliances is rigid foams for refrigerator and freezer thermal insulation systems. Rigid polyurethane foam is an essential and cost-effective material that can be used for meeting required energy ratings in consumer refrigerators and freezers. The good thermal insulating properties of rigid polyurethane foams result from the combination of a fine, closed-cell foam structure and cell gases that resist heat transfer.

Automotive

Polyurethanes are used throughout cars. In addition to the foam that makes car seats comfortable, bumpers, interior “headline” ceiling sections, the car body, spoilers, doors and windows all use polyurethanes. Polyurethane also enables manufacturers to provide drivers and passengers significantly more automobile “mileage” by reducing weight and increasing fuel economy, comfort, corrosion resistance, insulation and sound absorption.

Building and Construction

Today's homes demand high-performance materials that are strong, yet lightweight; perform well, yet are easily installed; and are durable, but also versatile. Polyurethane helps conserve natural resources and helps preserve the environment by reducing energy usage. With its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, insulation properties, durability and versatility, polyurethane is frequently used in building and construction applications. Both the affordability of these versatile materials and the comfort they provide homeowners have made polyurethane components part of homes everywhere.

Polyurethane is used all over the house. In floors, flexible foam padding cushions your carpet. In the roof, reflective plastic coverings over polyurethane foam can bounce sunlight and heat away, helping the house stay cool while helping reduce energy consumption. Polyurethane building materials add design flexibility to new homes and remodeling projects. Foam-core panels offer a wide variety of colors and profiles for walls and roofs, while foam-cored entry doors and garage doors are available in different finishes and styles.

Composite Wood

Polyurethanes play a major role in modern materials, such as composite wood. Polyurethane-based binders are used in composite wood products to permanently glue organic materials into oriented strand board, medium-density fiberboard, long-strand lumber, laminated-veneer lumber and even strawboard and particleboard.

Electronics

Often referred to as “potting compounds,” non-foam polyurethanes are frequently used in the electrical and electronics industries to encapsulate, seal and insulate fragile, pressure-sensitive, microelectronic components, underwater cables and printed circuit boards.

Polyurethane potting compounds are specially formulated by developers to meet a diverse range of physical, thermal and electrical properties. They can protect electronics by providing excellent dielectric and adhesive properties, as well as exceptional solvent, water and extreme temperature resistance.

Flooring

Either as a foam underlay or on top as a coating, polyurethanes can make the floors we walk on every day more durable, easier to maintain and more aesthetically pleasing. Using flexible polyurethane foam as a carpet underlay in residential or commercial applications can significantly increase the lifespan of the carpet, protect its appearance, provide added comfort and support and can reduce ambient noise.

Polyurethanes are also used to coat floors, from wood and parquet to cement. This protective finish is resistant to abrasion and solvents, and is easy to clean and maintain. With a polyurethane finish, a new wood, parquet or cement floor wears better and longer, while an old floor can be refinished to look new again.

Furnishings

Polyurethane, mostly in the form of flexible foam, is one of the most popular materials used in home furnishings such as furniture, bedding and carpet underlay. As a cushioning material for upholstered furniture, flexible polyurethane foam works to make furniture more durable, comfortable and supportive.

Marine

Millions of Americans enjoy boating each year. Part of boating’s ongoing popularity is thanks to improvements in boating technology, to which polyurethane materials make an important contribution.

Polyurethane epoxy resins seal boat hulls from water, weather, corrosion and elements that increase drag, affect hydrodynamics and reduce durability. Boaters today can have the comforts of home on the water, thanks in part to flexible polyurethane foam. In addition, rigid polyurethane foam insulates boats from noise and temperature extremes, provides abrasion and tear resistance, and increases load-bearing capacity all while adding minimal weight. Thermoplastic polyurethane is also great for use in the maritime industry. It is elastic, durable and an easily processed substance, well suited for wire and cable coatings, engine tubing, drive belts, hydraulic hoses and seals and even ship molding.

Medical

Polyurethanes are commonly used in a number of medical applications, including catheter and general purpose tubing, hospital bedding, surgical drapes, wound dressings and a variety of injection-molded devices. Their most common use is in short-term implants. Polyurethane use in medical applications can be more cost-effective and provide for more longevity and toughness.

Packaging

Polyurethane packaging foam (PPF) can provide more cost-effective, form-fitting cushioning that uniquely and securely protecting items that need to stay safely in place during transit. PPF is widely used to safely protect and transport many items, such as electronic and medical diagnostic equipment, delicate glassware and large industrial parts. A versatile on-site solution for many packaging challenges, PPF can save time and be more cost-effective by providing a custom-fit container with each shipment.