Polyurethane is a polymer consisting of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. They are used to make flexible and rigid foams, durable elastomers and high-performance adhesives, synthetic fibers, gaskets, underside of carpets and rigid plastics.
Flexible polyurethane foams are also known as polyurethane foams and are indispensable as a comfort material in beds and furniture. Non-stretching foams, on the other hand, are mostly used for heat and sound insulation. Polyurethane products are often also called urethanes. However, it should not be confused with the special urethane substance, also known as ethyl carbamate. Polyurethanes are not made of ethyl carbamate and do not contain it.
Polyurethane Material in History
It was first synthesized by the German scientist Otto Bayer in 1937 and was obtained by the reaction of diisocyanate with diol.
If there is also water in the environment, some of the diisocyanate polymerizes with diol, while a small part of it reacts with water to form a porous polyurethane structure (foam or sponge structure) by reacting with gas (carbon dioxide). At the end of the maturation period (24-72 hours), a very solid polymer structure is obtained. Later, diols were replaced by polyether or polyester polyols with larger molecular weights. The polyurethane formed in this way forms a stronger and more flexible elastomer.