Polyurethane is a synthetic resin produced by condensing polyesters . The term comes from the English word polyurethane .
It should be remembered that a resin is a pasty or solid substance that is soluble in alcohol and insoluble in water. The classification of synthetic , meanwhile, alludes to the fact that its obtaining is achieved through an industrial process that imitates a natural procedure.
In the specific case of polyurethane, it comes from polyesters, which are resins made through the polymerization of styrene (an unsaturated hydrocarbon). It is a plastic material that is distributed in various presentations, since it can be constituted as a flexible or rigid element depending on its production .
The German chemist Otto Bayer is noted as the inventor of polyurethanes in the 1930s . The manufacture and use of these polymers expanded in World War II , when obtaining rubber became very difficult and expensive.
Today there are polyurethanes that are foams, sealants, adhesives or elastomers, for example. Beyond their different characteristics, there are no major chemical differences between polyurethanes, since they always arise from a reaction of diisocyanates with polyols .
Its rigidity or flexibility, in this framework, is given according to the type of diisocyanates and polyols used. Density , for its part, depends on the expansion agent used in the production process.
Polyurethanes are used to create mattresses , clothing, footwear and seats, to name just a few possibilities. It should be noted that most refrigerators (also called refrigerators, refrigerators or refrigerators) use polyurethane as an insulating material .
Especially sports footwear, such as sneakers for different disciplines, are those that use polyurethane and do so because this material provides important advantages. Among the most significant advantages we can establish that it provides durability as well as resistance, that it provides great comfort and even enjoys waterproofness.
Of course, we must not overlook the fact that polyurethane is also used to manufacture building roofs. Specifically, covers of the so-called sandwich panels with polyurethane foam.
In this case, using the material in question allows the resulting elements to be rigid, weigh little, have excellent thermal insulation and are also very safe against fire. Not to mention that they are also sustainable, that they turn out to be waterproof and that they can be recycled when the time comes.
In the same way, we cannot ignore that polyurethane is very frequently used in the manufacture of cars, vans and vehicles with similar characteristics. Thus, specifically, it is used to shape both the seats and the headrests, certain parts of the body, the doors, the steering wheel and even the floor mats, among other elements.
Specifically, if it is so widely used in that sector, it is because it allows you to enjoy advantages such as being very resistant, helping to improve passive safety, offering comfort and even being very profitable.