In-Situ Monitoring Of Polyurethane Synthesis Using FT-IR

Polyurethanes are one of the most widely used polymers for their resistance to high and low temperatures, chemicals, sunlight degradation or mechanical stress and for their excellent insulation properties regarding electricity, temperature and noise. They replace rubber plastics and metals in numerous applications.

Polyurethane precursors (polyols and c) can be highly toxic and reactive. Several additives, catalysts and surfactants are also used in the manufacturing process. It is therefore important to minimize all human manipulations during the synthesis to reduce risks of exposure to those compounds.

Polyurethane synthesis can be tweaked in many ways to obtain the properties that will perfectly match the targeted applications. It then becomes crucial to control every step of the process to prevent and detect any undesirable alteration of the final product.