Polyurethanes today represent one of the most diverse class of polymers, finding uses in a broad range of applications across multiple industries. Numerous raw materials are being utilized today in this diverse material category to enhance and modify product performance. Innovation continues to not only target further product performance improvements but also increasingly focuses on the overall material sustainability with regard to environmental aspects driven by a circular economy framework.
In the protective coatings market, the major initiative has focused on improving the emissions by replacing organic solvents as the carrier material with water. As a result, solvent-free, water-based polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) have been developed for a broad range of applications including wood coatings, leather and textile coatings, and metal coatings. To meet the sustainability objectives, PUDs have also been synthesized from renewable-based PO3G polyether polyols. In addition, PUDs with high renewable content have been produced from polyester polyols based on succinic, azelaic, sebacic and octadecanedioic acids.