---
title: "List of polyurethane applications"
chunk: 1/4
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_polyurethane_applications"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T03:29:47.586575+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

Polyurethane products have many uses. Over three quarters of the global consumption of polyurethane products is in the form of foams, with flexible and rigid types being roughly equal in market size. In both cases, the foam is usually behind other materials: flexible foams are behind upholstery fabrics in commercial and domestic furniture; rigid foams are between metal, or plastic walls/sheets of most refrigerators and freezers, or other surface materials in the case of thermal insulation panels in the construction sector.  Its use in garments is growing:  for example, in lining the cups of brassieres. Polyurethane is also used for moldings which include door frames, columns, balusters, window headers, pediments, medallions and rosettes.
Polyurethane formulations cover an extremely wide range of stiffness, hardness, and densities. These materials include:

Low-density flexible foam used in upholstery, bedding, automotive and truck seating, and novel inorganic plant substrates for roof or wall gardens
Low density elastomers used in footwear
Hard solid plastics used as electronic instrument bezels and structural parts
Flexible plastics used as straps and bands
Cast and injection molded components for various markets – i.e., agriculture, military, automotive, industrial, etc.
Polyurethane foam is widely used in high resiliency flexible foam seating, rigid foam insulation panels, microcellular foam seals and gaskets, durable elastomeric wheels and tires, automotive suspension bushings, electrical potting compounds, seals, gaskets, carpet underlay, and hard plastic parts (such as for electronic instruments).

== Usage per application ==
The following table shows an example how polyurethanes were used in one country over a dozen years ago (US data from 2004):

== Cleaning products ==

Open-cell flexible polyurethane foam is used to make many kitchen and bathroom sponges. The combination of low cost, high flexibility and high abrasion and tear resistance make polyurethanes excellent materials for scrubbing applications. 
Polyurethane sponges have been shown to reduce the risk of spreading certain bacteria.  

== Industrial Insulation ==

Rigid polyurethane foam is used in various industries to provide thermal insulation to installations and pipes. In particular, the piping for district heating systems in Europe is primarily insulated using a pre-insulated pipes sandwich assembly composed of a steel heat service pipe, an insulating layer (polyurethane foam) and a polyethylene (PE) casing, which are bonded by the insulating material. One of the main advantages of rigid polyurethane foam is that it offers a very low thermal conductivity (with values as low as 23mW/m⋅K) while offering enough structural strength to withstand the loads that buried pipe systems are subjected to.
Due to the closed-cell nature of rigid polyurethane foams, PUR insulation has minimal water absorption, which coupled with an appropriate cover, makes it a  particularly suitable in applications where bacterial growth is a concern. Polyurethane insulation is suitable for insulating pipes with surface temperatures ranging from -196°C to 148°C.

== Furniture ==

Open cell flexible polyurethane foam (FPF) is made by mixing polyols, diisocyanates, catalysts, auxiliary blowing agents and other additives and allowing the resulting foam to rise freely. Most FPF is manufactured using continuous processing technology and also can be produced in batches where relatively small blocks of foam are made in open-topped molds, boxes, or other suitable enclosurers. The foam is then cut to the desired shape and size for use in a variety of furniture and furnishings applications.
Applications for flexible polyurethane foam include upholstered furniture cushions, automotive seat cushions and interior trim, carpet cushion, and mattress padding and solid-core mattress cores.
Flexible polyurethane foam is a recyclable product.

== Automobile seats ==
Flexible and semi-flexible polyurethane foams are used extensively for interior components of automobiles, in seats, headrests, armrests, roof liners, dashboards and instrument panels.

Polyurethanes are also used to make automobile seats. The seat manufacturer has a mold for each seat model. The mold is a closeable "clamshell" sort of structure that will allow quick casting of the seat cushion, so-called molded flexible foam, which is then upholstered after removal from the mold.
It is possible to combine these two steps, so-called in-situ, foam-in-fabric or direct moulding. A complete, fully assembled seat cover is placed in the mold and held in place by vacuum drawn through small holes in the mold. Sometimes a thin pliable plastic film backing on the fabric is used to help the vacuum work more effectively. The metal seat frame is placed into the mold and the mold closed. At this point the mold contains what could be visualized as a "hollow seat", a seat fabric held in the correct position by the vacuum and containing a space with the metal frame in place.
Polyurethane chemicals are injected by a mixing head into the mold cavity. Then the mold is held at a preset reaction temperature until the chemical mixture has foamed, filled the mold, and formed a stable soft foam. The time required is two to three minutes, depending on the size of the seat and the precise formulation and operating conditions. Then the mold is usually opened slightly for a minute or two for an additional cure time, before the fully upholstered seat is removed.

== Houses, sculptures, and decorations ==
The walls and ceiling (not just the insulation) of the futuristic Xanadu House in Florida, USA, were built out of polyurethane foam. Domed ceilings and other odd shapes are easier to make with foam than with wood. Foam was used to build oddly shaped buildings, statues, and decorations in the Seuss Landing section of the Islands of Adventure (USA) theme park. Rigid foam manufacturers sell foam that replace wood in carved sign and 3D-topography industries. PU foam is also used as a thermal insulator in many houses.
Polyurethane resin is used as an aesthetic flooring material. Being seamless and water resistant, it is gaining interest for use in (modern) interiors, especially in Western Europe. Polyurethane is also used in some domestic and commercial capacities to waterproof areas that have leaks, such as shower leaks and balcony leaks.