Polyurethanes – From versatile building blocks to energy savers

Invented in the 1930s, polyurethanes (PUs) have found their way into nearly every aspect of our modern lives and are certainly one of the most, if not the most versatile category of polymers. To name just a few applications, PUs are in the shoes we walk in, the cushions we sit on, the mattresses we sleep on and the textiles we wear, and can be found in paints, coatings, adhesives and insulations for walls and roofs. 
How can such a complex range of plastics all be in the one category, as one commodity? Let’s start with a closer look at the polymeric building blocks…