Polymer company Covestro has developed a series of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) containing polyether carbonate polyols based on CO2 technology that can help reduce carbon footprint.
Under the name Cardyon, using Desmopan 37385A technology, the new polyether carbonate polyols leave a lower carbon footprint compared to conventional TPU materials and help close the carbon cycle. They also conserve fossil resources and, unlike many bio-based materials, do not compete with food production, the company says.
Go deeper with GlobalData
“With the new TPU, our customers can reduce the carbon footprint of their products and as a result play a pioneering role in sustainability vis-à-vis their competitors,” explains Georg Fuchte, TPU expert at Covestro. “This is especially true for companies in the consumer goods industry, which often manufacture products with a short lifespan.”
TPUs are typically used in the production of footwear. Covestro plans to expand the new series with variants of different hardness. A product with a hardness of 95 Shore A, for example, whose melt cures rapidly during processing, is well advanced in development. “We are thus targeting applications in which economic production in short cycle times is particularly important,” explains Fuchte.
Desmopan 37385A has a hardness of 85 Shore A. Its mechanical properties are at least at the level of conventional TPU grades of similar hardness, and even exceed some of them. For example, it has a tensile strength of 36 megapascals. The plastic is designed for extrusion, but is also suitable for injection moulding.
“The application spectrum covers typical applications of conventional TPU grades with comparable hardness and ranges from soles and upper shoe components to sportswear, handles and knobs to packaging for sensitive electronics,” says Fuchte.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataCovestro says it is also showing innovative TPU developments on a petrochemical basis. These include uniform and glossy TPU and polyamide fibres for knitted fabrics. These have a unique feel and are mainly used in sports shoes, where the use of knitted uppers is very fashionable. The fabrics can be produced economically in a single knitting process, including automated production.
