About Polyurethane - MARFOM SÜNGER

What is Polyurethane?

Polyurethane (PU) stands for an important group of products within the big family of polymers. The first polyurethane was synthesized with the reaction of diisocyanate and diol by German scientist Otto Bayer in 1937. In the presence of water, while some of the diisocyanate polymerizes with the diol, some of the diisocyanate reacts with water by releasing carbon dioxide. This generates the cellular structure of polyurethane foam. At the end of the curing time (about 24-72 hours), a quite durable polymer structure is obtained. Later on, polyol which have high molecular weight take the place of diol. Polyurethane which is produced by this way is more durable and more elastic.

Two important measurements about foam are density and hardness. Quality is directly related with density. High density means high quality. There is not any effect of hardness to the foam quality. As a high quality foam can be soft, a low quality foam can be hard.

All types of foam loses their hardness with use. High quality foams lose their hardness more slowly. There isn’t any effect of color to the foam quality and performance. Natural color of foam is white. Color is only use for the different quality foams to seperate from each other.

Application Areas

After polyurethane is started to use in all areas of life, Polyurethane Industry which is one of the sub-branches of Plastic (Polymer) Industry is started to mention as one of the industries of the future.

Polyurethane foam occupies an important place in many areas of daily life although it doesn’t seem in the final products.

From now on, it will continue to be located in our lives with an ever increasing rate due to its convenience, comfort, and economic benefits.