Polyurethanes: Versatile Materials and Sustainable Problem Solvers for Today’s Challenges
Hans‐Wilhelm Engels, Hans‐Georg Pirkl, Reinhard Albers, Rolf Albach, Jens Krause, Andreas Hoffmann, Holger Casselmann, Jeff Dormish
Abstract
Polyurethanes are the only class of polymers that display thermoplastic, elastomeric, and thermoset behavior depending on their chemical and morphological makeup. In addition to compact polyurethanes, foamed variations in particular are very widespread, and they achieve their targeted properties at very low weights. The simple production of sandwich structures and material composites in a single processing step is a key advantage of polyurethane technology. The requirement of energy and resource efficiency increasingly demands lightweight structures. Polyurethanes can serve this requirement by acting as matrix materials or as flexible adhesives for composites. Polyurethanes are indispensable when it comes to high-quality decorative coatings or maintaining the value of numerous objects. They are extremely adaptable and sustainable problem solvers for today's challenges facing our society, all of which impose special demands on materials.