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What is Polyurethane Resin?

Felicia Dye
Felicia Dye

Polyurethanes are a highly variable family of polymers, materials that result from the linking of a chain of simple, repetitive molecules. These materials can be seen in many forms and can be put to numerous uses, depending upon how their properties are manipulated. Polyurethane resin, which is a synthetically produced sticky substance, is one of those forms.

Polyurethane resin is an industrial product that is used in the production of many other products, such as rubbers and medicines. To understand this material, it is best to have a basic understanding of how polyurethanes are made.

Direct sunlight may damage items made from polyurethane resin.
Direct sunlight may damage items made from polyurethane resin.

An isocyanate is a compound composed of nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen. When it's exposured to a hydroxyl, a compound that contains hydrogen, it will form a urethane linkage. A diisocyanate is a compound that contains two isocyanates, so these are, therefore, also reactive to hydrogen. They are mostly produced for the role they play in making polyurethane, which is a reaction that involves more than one urethane linkage.

Liquid polyurethane resin can be shaped into items by pouring it into a mold.
Liquid polyurethane resin can be shaped into items by pouring it into a mold.

Polyols are basically alcohols that contain more than one hydrogen atom. Producing polyurethane resin generally involves allowing a reaction between a polyol, such as polyether polyol, and a diisocyanate, such as toluene diisocyanate. Heat or catalysts are also necessary to complete the process, and when they are added, the resin will generally take a final and irreversible form. This means it may be impossible to reform them even if heat is added again.

A yellow mat made of polyurethane.
A yellow mat made of polyurethane.

Polyurethane resin is considered versatile because it can be used to produce an array of items, from inks to plastics. This is possible because the material can be manipulated to great extremes, which can change properties such as the hardness and elasticity. In many cases, it's produced in a liquid form and can be poured into molds. When used for this purpose, the material is highly impressionable, which means that the slightest detail, such as a small crack, can be seen in the finished product.

Polyurethane foam insulation.
Polyurethane foam insulation.

There are many advantages to these resins. They are commonly noted for their chemical, oil, and grease resistance, and they are typically very good at resisting abrasion and, as such, are not easily torn. This can explain why they are often used to produce synthetic rubbers. Additionally, they can be used to create strong adhesives.

There are also some disadvantages to using polyurethane materials. Such items can be adversely affected by direct sunlight, for example, and they also generally do not hold up well when exposed to organic solvents.

Discussion Comments

restauro

What dissolves this material?

jholcomb

@ EdRick - Yes, what you want is polyurethane resin. I hear that these can go yellow, so choose a finish carefully. The clear polyurethane resin will protect the floors from water damage.

I remember reading a few years ago about people using a finish on their home floors that was designed for basketball courts. I think it was also a polyurethane, but I'm not sure. Anyway, if you've ever been on a newly refinished basketball court, you know it smells terrible - and that smell turns out to be toxic.

So the people in this community just wanted really hard, resistant floors, but they turned out to be poisoning themselves! The regular residential grade stuff is much safer, of course.

EdRick

I just moved into a new house that has very old oak floors. I'm sure they were once lovely and hope that they will be again. I know that they need to be refinished (my mother, who is all of five feet tall with her shoes on, redid her floors with a rented drum sander and she is going to help me).

I want them to have a nice hard, protective surface so that if things get spilled on, the dog throws up, whatever, I can just wip it up and the floors won't be damaged. Is a polyurethane coating what they will need?

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    • Direct sunlight may damage items made from polyurethane resin.
      By: Albo
      Direct sunlight may damage items made from polyurethane resin.
    • Liquid polyurethane resin can be shaped into items by pouring it into a mold.
      By: nito
      Liquid polyurethane resin can be shaped into items by pouring it into a mold.
    • A yellow mat made of polyurethane.
      By: Oleg Mitiukhin
      A yellow mat made of polyurethane.
    • Polyurethane foam insulation.
      By: PiLensPhoto
      Polyurethane foam insulation.