Introduction to the performance and use of polyurethane foam (rigid foam/soft foam).

01 Overview of polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam is a porous polyurethane material composed of a large number of micropores and polyurethane resin porous wall meridians, also known as "PU foam", which is the largest variety of polyurethane products, accounting for more than 50% of the total amount of polyurethane products.

PU foam accounts for about 55% of the total polyurethane products in Europe, about 65% in Asia and about 70% in the United States.

In the market share of various types of foam plastics, PU foam accounts for more than 50%. Compared with other foam materials, polyurethane foam has many characteristics in performance, due to the different production processes and adjustable formulation components, polyurethane can be made into many different varieties of foam.

The rapid development of domestic refrigeration and insulation, building energy saving, solar energy industry, automobiles, furniture and other industries has greatly driven the demand for polyurethane foam.

In the field of insulation materials, polyurethane foam has occupied a solid market position.

Polyurethane foam is divided into soft and rigid types, and with the changing market situation, the demand for polyurethane foam is also increasing, which brings good opportunities.

02 Rigid polyurethane foam

Polyurethane rigid foam is mostly closed-cell structure, which has excellent characteristics such as good thermal insulation effect, light weight and convenient construction.

At the same time, it also has the characteristics of sound insulation, shockproof, electrical insulation, heat resistance, cold resistance, solvent resistance, etc., and is widely used in refrigerators, freezer box insulation layer, cold storage, refrigerated trucks and other thermal insulation materials, buildings, storage tanks and pipeline insulation materials, and a small amount of non-thermal insulation occasions, such as imitation wood, packaging materials, etc.

Rigid polyurethane foam can also be used in roof/wall insulation, door and window insulation and bubble shielding sealing, as well as spraying, solar energy and other industries.

03 Flexible polyurethane foam

Polyurethane flexible foam refers to a type of flexible polyurethane foam with certain elasticity, which is one of the largest polyurethane products. The cell structure of polyurethane flexible foam is mostly open-celled, generally with low density, sound absorption, breathability, heat preservation and other properties. Soft foam is mainly used in automobile cushions, automobile carpets, engine covers, automobile cushions, automobile roofs, steering wheels, PHC boards, household products and other industries.
Industrial and civil soft foam is also used as filter materials, sound insulation materials, shockproof materials, decorative materials, packaging materials and thermal insulation materials.

The main products are high resilience foam (HRF), block sponge, slow resilience foam, integral skin foam (ISF), and semi-rigid energy-absorbing foam.

Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) is a type of polymer resin that is known for its flexibility, durability, and versatility. It is a thermoplastic material, which means it can be melted and reprocessed multiple times without losing its original properties.

TPU is commonly used in various industries, including automotive, electronics, footwear, and sportswear. It is often used to make products such as phone cases, cables, hoses, seals, gaskets, and inflatable structures.