Where is it found?

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.

Durability of shoes

People often stop wearing shoes merely because they have gone out of fashion, but the durability of polyurethanes ensures that shoes containing this material have considerable second-hand value.

Applications and uses of polyurethanes

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.

Building insulation

Refrigerators and freezers

Furniture and bedding

Footwear

Automotive

Coatings and adhesives

Other applications