We’re often asked what polyurethane is, how it was developed and how you can use it in so many different ways… watch our latest film to find out more.
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Transcript:
Polyurethane is a type of plastic first developed by Otto Bayer in 1937, before becoming commercially available in 1952.
This material was initially developed to create a hard-wearing synthetic dry foam, but was quickly developed to create solid parts and components as well as coatings and paints owing to its incredible resilience and strength.
Today polyurethane exists in many forms and is one of the most versatile types of plastic with an ever growing list of applications. The nature of its chemistry allows for this material to be adapted to solve challenging problems, to be moulded into unusual shapes and to enhance industrial, engineering and consumer products by adding comfort, wear resistance, insulation, strength and protection.
Castable solid polyurethanes can be hard and rigid or flexible and soft. Typically, hardness can be anywhere between 35 Shore A and 60 Shore D. To put that into perspective that’s from as soft as a rubber band to as hard as a golf ball.