Company News

July 14, 2022

Foamed Hytrel

Dupont Rolls Out Recyclable Hytrel Foam for Footwear, Furniture

By Arthur Friedman

DuPont Mobility & Materials launched the commercial availability of new closed-cell Hytrel foam created via supercritical fluid foaming.
The Newton Gravity 11 running shoe features a full-foot Hytrel foam insole for cushioning and responsiveness. CREDIT: Courtesy

DuPont Mobility & Materials announced the commercial availability of new closed-cell Hytrel foam created via a supercritical fluid (SCF) foaming process.

While a wide range of applications can benefit from the greater shock absorption and durability of new Hytrel foam, manufacturers of footwear, sporting goods, consumer goods, furniture, and wire and cable jacketing are expected to be early adopters of the new solution.

This fully recyclable material is the first foamed product in the Hytrel product family. It not only reduces environmental impact, but customers have also confirmed that it delivers up to 15 percent greater resilience and 20 percent less weight than thermoplastic urethane (TPU, E-TPU), polyurethane (PU) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foams, the company said.

“It’s no secret that brand owners such as Newton Running Company are looking for more sustainable materials and production methods to counter climate change,” said Hilary Wang, marketing manager at DuPont Mobility & Materials.DuPont Mobility and Materials launched the commercial availability of new closed-cell Hytrel foam created via supercritical fluid foaming.

A close-up of Hytrel foam shows its closed cell structure.

These companies are also actively seeking a more sustainable process than chemical foaming, which is being restricted or even phased out in some countries, Wang noted. Unlike foamed materials that rely on chemical foaming agents, new Hytrel foam is produced using CO2 and N2 gases, which are found in the time-tested, proven SCF process, according to DuPont Mobility & Materials.

This process offers three benefits–no residues from chemical foaming agents in the final products, no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted so global warming potential is reduced, there are no odors or allergens present and the resulting foam is skin-contact compatible.

DuPont Mobility & Materials will showcase new Hytrel foam and other cutting-edge solutions and technology innovations at the upcoming K 2022 trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry. This international event, held once every three years, takes place Oct. 19-26 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

DuPont Mobility & Materials delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to the automotive, electronics, industrial, consumer, medical, photovoltaic and telecom markets.

https://sourcingjournal.com/footwear/footwear-innovations/dupont-mobility-materials-recyclable-hytrel-foam-footwear-furniture-351069/

July 13, 2022

Huntsman Completes Splitter

Huntsman Corporation

50m

Today, #Huntsman #Polyurethanes associates and customers gathered in Geismar, Louisiana, to celebrate the safe completion of our new MDI splitter. Chairman, President and CEO Peter Huntsman was onsite to cut the ribbon, officially opening the new plant. #EnablingPossibilities

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/huntsman_huntsman-polyurethanes-enablingpossibilities-activity-6953047987740692480-VOro?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web

July 13, 2022

Huntsman Completes Splitter

Huntsman Corporation

50m

Today, #Huntsman #Polyurethanes associates and customers gathered in Geismar, Louisiana, to celebrate the safe completion of our new MDI splitter. Chairman, President and CEO Peter Huntsman was onsite to cut the ribbon, officially opening the new plant. #EnablingPossibilities

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/huntsman_huntsman-polyurethanes-enablingpossibilities-activity-6953047987740692480-VOro?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web

July 13, 2022

Covestro PUD Expansion in Shanghai

Covestro breaks ground for Shanghai polyurethanes plant

By Mary Page Bailey | July 8, 2022

Covestro AG (Leverkusen, Germany) broke ground on two new plants in Shanghai to meet the rising demand for polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) and elastomers. These new facilities, which represent a combined investment of a mid double-digit million euro amount, will be located within the Covestro Integrated Site Shanghai.

“These projects will contribute to the high-quality and sustainable development in China and beyond,” said Holly Lei, President of Covestro China. “They will also add to the scale and strength of our Shanghai site, which will be playing a key role in the quest of Covestro to becoming operational climate neutral by 2035.”

The new plant for PUDs, as well as a further line for polyester resins, from which PUDs are produced, are due to be completed in 2024. PUDs are used in more environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives for a wide range of applications, including automotive, construction, furniture, footwear and packaging. Independent of Covestro’s investment  in Shanghai, its large portfolio of waterborne polyurethane coating raw materials based on PUDs for various applications also includes products of the Baybond, Impranil, NeoPac and NeoRez series. 

“With the new investment, we will be even better positioned to address the rising demand for more environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives across the globe,” said Zhong Xiaobin, Senior Vice President of the Coatings and Adhesives segment of Covestro in the Asia Pacific region. “As one of the global leaders in this segment, we will continue to tap the trend where our customers turn to more sustainable waterborne systems with equally good properties to replace solvent-based products.”

The new facility for polyurethane elastomers, which are widely used in industries ranging from offshore wind to solar energy as well as material handling, is expected to become operational already in 2023. The market for these flexible and durable materials in China and the Asia-Pacific region is growing faster than both gross domestic product and downstream industries.

“The new facility for polyurethane elastomers will ensure that we have a strong capacity to meet the needs of our customers,” said Simon Chen, Head of Covestro’s Elastomers segment in Asia Pacific. “Our Desmodur based polyurethane elastomers will serve a wider range of applications as they boast excellent performance, particularly in the field of sustainable energy.”

July 13, 2022

Covestro PUD Expansion in Shanghai

Covestro breaks ground for Shanghai polyurethanes plant

By Mary Page Bailey | July 8, 2022

Covestro AG (Leverkusen, Germany) broke ground on two new plants in Shanghai to meet the rising demand for polyurethane dispersions (PUDs) and elastomers. These new facilities, which represent a combined investment of a mid double-digit million euro amount, will be located within the Covestro Integrated Site Shanghai.

“These projects will contribute to the high-quality and sustainable development in China and beyond,” said Holly Lei, President of Covestro China. “They will also add to the scale and strength of our Shanghai site, which will be playing a key role in the quest of Covestro to becoming operational climate neutral by 2035.”

The new plant for PUDs, as well as a further line for polyester resins, from which PUDs are produced, are due to be completed in 2024. PUDs are used in more environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives for a wide range of applications, including automotive, construction, furniture, footwear and packaging. Independent of Covestro’s investment  in Shanghai, its large portfolio of waterborne polyurethane coating raw materials based on PUDs for various applications also includes products of the Baybond, Impranil, NeoPac and NeoRez series. 

“With the new investment, we will be even better positioned to address the rising demand for more environmentally compatible coatings and adhesives across the globe,” said Zhong Xiaobin, Senior Vice President of the Coatings and Adhesives segment of Covestro in the Asia Pacific region. “As one of the global leaders in this segment, we will continue to tap the trend where our customers turn to more sustainable waterborne systems with equally good properties to replace solvent-based products.”

The new facility for polyurethane elastomers, which are widely used in industries ranging from offshore wind to solar energy as well as material handling, is expected to become operational already in 2023. The market for these flexible and durable materials in China and the Asia-Pacific region is growing faster than both gross domestic product and downstream industries.

“The new facility for polyurethane elastomers will ensure that we have a strong capacity to meet the needs of our customers,” said Simon Chen, Head of Covestro’s Elastomers segment in Asia Pacific. “Our Desmodur based polyurethane elastomers will serve a wider range of applications as they boast excellent performance, particularly in the field of sustainable energy.”