Polyurethanes are found just about everywhere in modern life; the chair you are sitting on, the bed you sleep in, the house you live in, the car you drive – all these, plus innumerable other items you use contain polyurethanes. This section explores some of the more common applications of polyurethanes and provides an insight into their use.

1. Where is it found?

Furniture

Modern homes and offices would be far less comfortable without polyurethanes. Flexible polyurethane foams are soft, yet provide good support, durable, and maintain their shape. They are an excellent and safe filling material for seating cushions and mattresses and can be produced to the density required by the manufacturer. Their versatility allows designers to use the full scope of their imagination when creating new products.

Polyurethane foams adapt to and support the body’s contours. Memory foam is a popular form of polyurethane, which adapts to the shape of a person’s body, ensuring restful sleep. It is widely used in hospitals, where it helps to prevent pressure sores in people who are bed-bound over long periods of time

Footwear

Good footwear should be comfortable, long-lasting and fit for purpose – not to mention affordable. Polyurethanes allow designers to meet all of these objectives.

Light but highly abrasion-resistant polyurethanes are perfect for hardwearing shoe soles, with excellent long-term mechanical properties. Polyurethane soles are practical and keep water out, while in no way limiting design potential.

Within the shoe sector, polyurethanes are found in a wide range of footwear types. Although best known for sports and trekking shoes and boots, they are also extensively used for business and fashion shoe soles, as well as high-quality safety shoes. Low-density to compact polyurethane systems are utilised for mid-soles and outer soles.