What material is polyurethane?
Polyurethane (PU for short) is a polymer material synthesized by the reaction of isocyanate and polyol. Because of its excellent physical properties and chemical stability, it is widely used in construction, automobiles, furniture, shoe materials and other fields. This article will combine the hot topics on the Internet in the past 10 days to provide a structured analysis of the characteristics, applications and market dynamics of polyurethane.
1. Basic characteristics of polyurethane

Polyurethane materials have the following core properties:
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Elasticity and wear resistance | Suitable for making shoe soles, tires and other parts that require repeated friction |
| Wide temperature range | Stable performance from -40℃ to 120℃ |
| chemical stability | Oil and solvent resistant, some models are biodegradable |
| Adjustable performance | Flexible foam or rigid plastic can be obtained by adjusting the recipe |
2. Analysis of popular application areas in the past 10 days
According to data monitoring across the entire network, polyurethane is the most discussed in the following areas:
| field | Hot search index | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|
| New energy vehicles | ★★★★★ | Battery pack sealing, interior shock-absorbing materials |
| Building energy saving | ★★★★☆ | Exterior wall insulation panels, waterproof coatings |
| smart home | ★★★☆☆ | Memory foam mattress, sound insulation material |
3. Environmental protection issues and technological innovation
In recent environmental topics, the sustainable development of polyurethane has become the focus:
| Technical direction | breakthrough progress | Corporate news |
|---|---|---|
| Bio-based PU | Vegetable oils replace 30% of petroleum raw materials | BASF's new production line goes into operation |
| chemical recycling | Depolymerization regeneration rate reaches 85% | Covestro’s pilot test successful |
4. Hot products in the consumer market
E-commerce platform data shows that the sales of the following polyurethane products have increased significantly:
| product type | monthly growth rate | price range |
|---|---|---|
| antibacterial sofa cushion | +78% | 50-200 yuan |
| sneaker midsole | +65% | 300-800 yuan |
| DIY sealant | +120% | 20-50 yuan/piece |
5. Precautions for use
Consumers should note:
1. Avoid long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays, as some models are prone to yellowing.
2. Maintain ventilation during construction. Trace amounts of volatile substances may be released before curing.
3. Medical grade and industrial grade products cannot be mixed.
6. Future development trends
Industry research forecasts:
| direction | Market size in 2025 | compound annual growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| Green PU | $28 billion | 8.2% |
| Smart responsive materials | $4.5 billion | 12.5% |
The evolution of polyurethane as a "universal material" continues, and its performance designability is driving all-round application innovation from traditional manufacturing to cutting-edge technology.
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