The brothers MDI and TDI. Did you know? Both of them are also the main raw materials for the important chemical polyurethane (TPU).
As one of the widely used synthetic materials in this century, polyurethane is closely related to your life, and today we present you basic and work-related knowledge of polyurethane in a novel way.
Ubiquitous polyurethane
Polyurethane is widely used in the apparel industry. Its representative products are highly elastic fibers and leather products that are comfortable to wear, soft, stretchable and free from elastic design.
For example: ski shirts, swimming suits, skis, soles of sports shoes, etc.
In the home, polyurethane coatings coat the surfaces of furniture, pianos and other musical instruments with a beautiful shine and provide sturdy protection. Soft foam is widely used in products such as seat cushion materials, insulation materials for refrigerators, etc., adhesives for food packaging, sealing materials for water purifiers, and paper diapers. Polyurethane artificial leather, synthetic leather, and foam are used in bags and footwear, winning praise for their natural feel and durability.
Figure 1 Several important applications of polyurethane: top left: mattresses; top right: shoe soles; bottom left: coatings; bottom right: elastomers
In the electronics industry, they are used as magnetic binders for various recording media, such as audio tapes, video tapes, computer disks, recharge cards and electronic tickets, to improve recording density. In recent years, polyurethane adhesives have been used in printed circuits for cell phones.
In addition to roofing materials for heat and sound insulation, seat cushions for comfortable driving, underbody materials and sealing materials for noise and vibration insulation and quiet space, polyurethanes are also used in instrument panels, door interiors, front panels, seat backs, fenders, impact absorbers, oil seals, non-exploding tires, and paints.
In the residential sector, rigid foam is used as a good insulation material for walls, floors and roofs, and is also used in the construction of all-weather runways and golf courses.
Applications in industrial materials are also an important aspect of polyurethane. For example, elastomers are used in office machines such as copiers and printers, rollers for paper making, iron making, electroplating, etc., and are made into various conveyor belts, hoses, films, and film materials by molecular design to achieve good wear resistance.
It is an indisputable fact that various synthetic polymer materials such as plastic and rubber are ubiquitous in our lives. But among the many polymer materials, I am afraid that no one can penetrate into every corner of our life as deeply as polyurethane.
