Synonyms
Carbamate(s); Isocyanate- or polyisocyanate-based polymers; Polycarbamate(s); Urethane(s)
Definition
Polyurethanes are a versatile class of polymeric materials containing multiple carbamate functional groups in the polymer chain.
Introduction
Polyurethanes (PU) were first prepared in 1937 by Otto Bayer and include a wide range of modular-like structures with an extremely diverse range of properties. Polyurethanes are a unique class of thermoset and thermoplastic polymers that can display rigid or elastomeric behavior depending on their chemical and morphological structure. Detailed overviews of PU chemistry, properties, and applications have been described in several excellent monographs [1–5] and review articles [6].
Both cellular (foamed) and noncellular (solid) polyurethanes are commonly prepared, and these products can function in a broad array of industrial and consumer applications. The relevance of PU is evidenced by the 11.7 million tons of polyurethane raw materials...
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References
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Barksby, N., Dormish, J.F., Haider, K.W. (2015). Polyurethane Synthesis. In: Kobayashi, S., Müllen, K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Polymeric Nanomaterials. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29648-2_374
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