BASF Corp., Florham Park, N.J., has opened a new TPU research facility in Wyandotte, Mich., designed to develop new products for the American automotive, construction, sports, and leisure industries.

‘Zero-ODP’ is no longer enough. Now, PUR foamers are being asked to consider blowing agents with ‘low-GWP’ (global warming potential). Another environmental push is to expand use of bio-based polyols in rigid and flexible foams. Both were key topics at this year’s PUR conference.

BASF’s Elastogran subsidiary in Germany introduced Lupranol Balance 50, a polyol derived up to 31% from castor oil.

This first of two articles on directions in TPE development focuses on styrenic, copolyester, polyamide, and TP urethane elastomers. The following article covers olefinics—TPOs, TPVs, and POEs.

At this year’s K show, look for the launch of fiberglass/polyurethane pultrusion into window frames, as well as several new high-efficiency mixing heads, MDI prepolymers for cast elastomers, and an energy-absorbing PUR foam for car bumpers. PUR pultruded windowsBayer MaterialScience will showcase polyurethane pultrusion technology, which recently has penetrated new applications.

From PPs for frozen-food packaging to nylons and alloys that withstand the heat of circuit-board soldering or automotive paint ovens, NPE 2006 was rich in news of commodity and engineering resins and TPEs.

Fewer thermoplastic materials suppliers will make the trip to Chicago this year.

BASF Corp., Florham Park, N.J., has transferred responsibility for all its spray-applied polyurethane foams (SPF) in the U.S. to its Minneapolis-based subsidiary, Foam Enterprises LLC.

A new proprietary technology reportedly can produce TPU resins having a very low coefficient of friction (COF) without any lubricants, waxes, or fillers that cause blooming or reduce transparency.

High toughness, fast cure, and no styrene fumes are taking urethane composites beyond SRIM into pultrusion, filament winding, vacuum infusion, and spray-up.

A carbodiimide-modified MDI reportedly features improved low-temperature stability, clarity, and shelf-life compared with similar PUR raw materials for elastomers.

With the switch to ‘cleaner’ blowing agents nearly complete, the priority now is tweaking foam formulations for optimal performance and cost.

BASF Corp., Wyandotte, Mich., has launched a new range of thermoplastic poly urethanes that push the performance envelope in several directions.

 New equipment at the K show will include several mixing heads for flexible foams and RIM, mixing/metering machines, a gas loading device for rigid integral-skin foaming, and a low-pressure potting unit for electrical components.New PUR materials include a new insulating foams for oil and gas pipelines, thermal encapsulation of car engines, and a steel/PUR composite for maritime and civil-engineering structures. New mixheads galoreKrauss-Maffei is unveiling new mixing heads for various PUR applications.