Page "Polyurethane" Paragraph 8

The first commercially available polyether polyol, poly ( tetramethylene ether ) glycol, was introduced by DuPont in 1956 by polymerizing tetrahydrofuran.

Less expensive polyalkylene glycols were introduced by BASF and Dow Chemical in 1957.

Polyether polyols offered technical and commercial advantages such as low cost, ease of handling, and better hydrolytic stability over polyester polyols and quickly replaced them in the manufacture of polyurethane goods.

Other PU pioneers were Union Carbide and Mobay, a U. S. Monsanto / Bayer joint venture.

In 1960 more than 45, 000 metric tons of flexible polyurethane foams were produced.

As the decade progressed, the availability of chlorofluoroalkane blowing agents, inexpensive polyether polyols, and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate ( MDI ) heralded the development and use of polyurethane rigid foams as high performance insulation materials.

Rigid foams based on polymeric MDI ( PMDI ) offered better thermal stability and combustion characteristics than those based on TDI.

In 1967, urethane modified polyisocyanurate rigid foams were introduced, offering even better thermal stability and flammability resistance compared to low-density insulation products.

During the 1960s, automotive interior safety components such as instrument and door panels were produced by back-filling thermoplastic skins with semi-rigid foam.