13 · Markets
Mobility
64 applications
Primary applications
Automotive seats (cushion and backrest)
Automotive seats use molded flexible PU foam as the main comfort and support component. Each seat is composed of multipl…
Molded MDI flexible foamMolded TDI foamMolded HR foamRead briefBumpers and fascias (RRIM)
Modern automotive bumpers are typically manufactured by a process called RRIM — Reinforced Reaction Injection Molding —…
RRIM (Reinforced Reaction Injection Molding) systemSRIM (Structural RIM) systemPU elastomers for exterior partsRead briefAutomotive acoustic insulation
Automotive acoustic insulation is a set of PU foam components distributed throughout the vehicle to reduce noise and vib…
Absorbent flexible foam (carpet underlay, firewall)Molded semi-rigid acoustic foamFoams in sandwich with massive barriersRead briefDashboards and instrument panels
Modern dashboards (instrument panels) are composite parts of three main layers: exterior skin (the visible and tactile s…
PU spray skin (in-mold spray application)Structural RIM for substrateIntegrated skin + foam + substrate systemsRead briefStructural automotive adhesives
Polyurethane adhesives are widely used in the modern automotive industry, mainly in three applications: structural bondi…
1K PU adhesive for windshields2K PU structural adhesiveReactive PU hot-melt adhesive (HMPU)Read briefElectric vehicle battery components
PU components in electric vehicle batteries represent a set of distinct applications integrated into the same critical s…
Structural PU foam for battery packFlame retardant PU foam (UL 94 V-0)Thermally conductive PU potting compoundRead briefBus, train and aviation seats
Mass transit seats — urban and highway buses, subways and long-distance trains, aircraft and watercraft — use a speciali…
CMHR flexible foam (Combustion Modified High Resilience)PU foam with expandable graphiteFlame retardant molded MDI flexible foamRead briefAutomotive door panels
Automotive door panels are composite parts that integrate aesthetic functions (internal door finishing), ergonomic funct…
Molded flexible PU foamSemi-rigid impact-absorbing foamIntegral skin PURead briefAutomotive headliners
The headliner (internal roof lining) is the vehicle's roof finishing part, typically a composite structure composed of r…
Laminated flexible PU foamSandwich with semi-rigid foamPU in headliner fabric backingRead briefAutomotive steering wheels in integral skin
Entry and mid-segment automotive steering wheels are frequently manufactured with an internal metal armature and polyure…
PU integral skinSelf-skinning molded PUTPU sleevesRead briefAutomotive jounce bumpers (suspension)
Jounce bumpers (also called bump stops or compression bumpers) are automotive suspension components that limit the maxim…
High-performance microcellular cast PUMolded semi-rigid PU foamCellasto (BASF) and equivalentsRead briefEngine and transmission mounts and bushings
Mounts and bushings (engine mounts, transmission mounts, subframe bushings) are elastomeric components that fix the engi…
Medium-to-high hardness cast PU elastomersPU with internal metal reinforcementPU-rubber blendsRead briefTechnical automotive hoses (fuel, brake, air)
Automotive hoses for technical applications (fuel lines, brake systems, compressed air lines, vacuum lines, secondary co…
Multilayer TPUEther TPU for low temperatureEster TPU for chemical resistanceRead briefAutomotive chassis and underbody coatings
Underbody coating (vehicle floor) and chassis points exposed to impacts and corrosion is a spray-applied protective laye…
High-thickness PU spray coating2K anti-abrasion PUPVC-PU hybrid coatings (traditional underbody)Read briefMarine interiors (recreational and commercial vessels)
Vessel interiors (yachts, recreational boats, ferries, commercial vessels, cruise ships) have specific technical require…
Marine-grade flexible foamCMHR foam for commercial applicationsMarine PU synthetic leatherRead briefRail vehicle components (damping and interiors)
In addition to seats (covered in Level A Application 37), rail vehicles use PU in dozens of specific components: vibrati…
Cast PU elastomers for dampingCMHR foams for interiors (complementary to Application 37)Anti-abrasion PU coatingsRead briefTractor and agricultural machinery seating
Upholstery for tractors, harvesters, backhoes and other agricultural and construction equipment has specific requirement…
Molded MDI HR foamFoam with extended cyclingIntegral skin for cabsRead briefEV battery pack thermal management
EV battery pack is a system with hundreds to thousands of lithium cells with integrated cooling, sensors, BMS and mechan…
Thermally conductive PU gap fillerPU pottingCompression PU foamRead briefEV battery module structural potting
EV module structural potting is application of a liquid PU system that completely fills the space around cells within th…
2K structural PU pottingCell-to-pack PUFlame-retardant PURead briefEV charging cables
EV charging cables — both those accompanying the vehicle (Mode 2) and fixed at public stations (Mode 3 AC, Mode 4 DC) —…
TPU for EV cable jacketUV-stable aliphatic TPUHigh-flexibility TPURead briefAutomotive head restraints
Head restraints are regulated automotive safety components (FMVSS 202a, ECE R17) that must absorb energy in rear impacts…
Molded MDI flexible foamRead briefArmrests and side panels
Door armrests, central consoles and internal vehicle side panels use combination of flexible foam for comfort with paint…
Flexible foam + integral skin PURead briefThermal insulation for truck cabins
Cabins of trucks and heavy commercial vehicles, especially in refrigerated transport applications or in extreme climates…
Rigid PU foam between internal layersRead briefTPU in airbags (flexible components)
Flexible components in airbag systems — internal coatings, deployment components, specific reinforcements — use speciall…
Special TPU with high flexibility and mechanical strengthRead briefAir, oil and fuel filters (seals)
Automotive filters use PU in two distinct functions: seals between filter housing and filter element (PU elastomers resi…
PU elastomers + PU filter foamRead briefWindshield encapsulation (glass encapsulation)
Polymeric molding around the windshield glass and other automotive windows can be made by RIM PU injected directly over…
RIM PU (Reaction Injection Molding)Read briefAutomotive lighting (lenses, encapsulation)
Modern automotive headlights and taillights (especially LED and matrix LED headlights) use PU in multiple functions: as…
Transparent optical PU + PU pottingRead briefAutomotive door seals
Door weatherstrips are critical elements of NVH, watertightness and vehicle refinement. In addition to traditional EPDM,…
PU elastomers + hybrid TPEsRead briefWheels for scooters, skateboards and e-bikes
Electric scooters (Lime, Bird, Yellow and local brands), last-mile e-scooters, e-bikes, hoverboards and similar equipmen…
Injected TPU + cast PURead brief
See also
Applications where this market appears as secondary.
- Building, Construction and Infrastructure
Insulated metal roofing (sandwich panels)
An insulated metal roofing panel is a sandwich panel formed by three layers: an…
PUR/PIR systemPIR system2K, 3K and 4K systems for continuous linesRead brief - Building, Construction and Infrastructure
Closed-cell spray foam insulation
Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is a rigid or semi-rigid PU foam applied in situ b…
Closed-cell spray foam 2K systemOpen-cell spray foam 2K system (water-blown)High-performance systems with HFORead brief - Consumer Goods and Appliances
Residential mattresses
Polyurethane foam mattresses are the largest single-volume segment of the global…
Conventional flexible foamHR (High Resilience) foamViscoelastic foam (memory foam)Read brief - Consumer Goods and Appliances
Residential upholstery (sofas, armchairs)
Residential upholstery — sofas, armchairs, dining chairs, headboards, poufs — us…
Conventional flexible foamHR foamLow-density molded foamRead brief - Consumer Goods and Appliances
Pillows and technical cushions
Pillows and technical cushions represent a specific segment within bedding and d…
Viscoelastic foam (memory foam)HR molded foamConventional foamRead brief - Footwear
Synthetic upper (PU synthetic leather)
Polyurethane synthetic leather (also called PU leather, synthetic leather, vegan…
Solvent-based PU coated fabricWaterborne PU coated fabric (growing)Solventless PU coated fabricRead brief - Paints, Pigments and Coatings
Industrial 2K PU coatings
2K (bicomponent) polyurethane coatings are the most robust and high-performance…
Aromatic 2K PUAliphatic 2K PUHigh-solids PURead brief - Paints, Pigments and Coatings
OEM automotive coatings (primer, basecoat, clearcoat)
The modern OEM automotive paint system consists of multiple layers applied seque…
PU primer (after e-coat)Polyester-melamine basecoat2K acrylic-PU clearcoatRead brief - Building, Construction and Infrastructure
Structural construction adhesives
Structural polyurethane adhesives are used in civil construction and modern indu…
1K PU adhesive (moisture-cure)2K structural PU adhesiveReactive PU hot-melt (HMPUR)Read brief - Electronics
PCB and electronic components potting compounds
Polyurethane potting compounds are bicomponent systems used to encapsulate elect…
2K rigid PU potting2K flexible PU pottingThermally conductive PURead brief - Electronics
TPU cable jacketing
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) jacketing is the application of thermoplastic p…
Polyester TPUPolyether TPUAliphatic TPU (for UV applications)Read brief - Films, Tapes and Release Liners
Automotive TPU PPF films
PPF (Paint Protection Film) is an aliphatic TPU film applied over automotive pai…
Aliphatic TPU for PPFTPU with self-healingMatte finish TPURead brief - Textiles, Leather and Nonwovens
Automotive synthetic leather
Synthetic leather for automotive applications is a technical and high-quality ve…
Aliphatic waterborne PUSolventless PUPU-PVC compositeRead brief - Building, Construction and Infrastructure
Structural PU adhesives for sandwich panels and lamination
Sandwich panels combine two external facings (metal, wood, composite, glass) wit…
2K PU adhesiveReactive hot-melt PU adhesiveOne-component moisture-cure PURead brief - Building, Construction and Infrastructure
Elastomeric bearings and seismic pads in bridges and buildings
Elastomeric bridge bearings are critical components of infrastructure structures…
High-hardness cast PU elastomerCast PU in blend with neopreneCast PU with internal metal reinforcementRead brief - Electronics
PU conformal coatings for electronics
Conformal coatings are thin polymeric coatings (typically 25 to 250 micrometers)…
Solvent-based thin PU coatingWaterborne PU coatingUV-cure PURead brief - Electronics
EMI/RFI shielding in electronics
EMI/RFI (Electromagnetic Interference / Radio Frequency Interference) shielding…
Reticulated PU foam with conductive metal coating (silver, nickel, copper)PU foam with dispersed conductive particlesReticulated PU foam for conductive gasketsRead brief - Electronics
Thermal interface materials (TIM) in electronics
Thermal pads are thermal interface materials (TIM — Thermal Interface Material)…
Thermally conductive PU with ceramic particlesSilicone-PU hybridReworkable PU gap fillersRead brief - Lighting, Water and Telecommunications
High-voltage and medium-voltage cables (accessories and sealants)
High-voltage cables (above 1 kV, reaching hundreds of kV in energy transmission)…
Specialty PU elastomers for high voltageTPU with specific dielectric propertiesPU encapsulation resins for terminationsRead brief - Paints, Pigments and Coatings
PU coatings for plastics (soft-touch, protection)
Coatings for plastics are paint systems specifically formulated to adhere to pol…
Flexible 2K PUSoft-touch PUPU with specific adhesion promotersRead brief - Paints, Pigments and Coatings
Marine PU coatings (hulls and decks)
Marine coatings are coatings applied to hulls and structures of vessels (commerc…
Aliphatic 2K PU topcoatHigh-build 2K PUMultilayer zinc-rich + epoxy + PU systemRead brief - Paints, Pigments and Coatings
PU automotive refinish coatings
Refinish (automotive repainting) is the aftermarket segment of vehicle painting…
2K PU refinish clearcoatBasecoat + clearcoat systems2K PU direct gloss (DG)Read brief - Industrial Manufacturing and Chemicals
Pultruded composites with PU matrix
Pultrusion is continuous manufacturing of fiber-matrix composite structural prof…
High-speed pultrusion PUPU matrix for fiberglassPU matrix for carbon fiberRead brief - Oil, Gas and Mining
Mining dump truck bed linings
Haul trucks used in open-pit mines — giants of 100 to 400 tonnes capacity manufa…
High-hardness cast PU in modular partsHigh-thickness spray PUPU combined with anti-abrasion steelRead brief - Films, Tapes and Release Liners
PU films for textile lamination
PU films for fabric lamination are applied in continuous lamination processes wh…
Breathable monolithic TPU filmMicroporous PU filmPU films with integrated heat-activated adhesiveRead brief - Films, Tapes and Release Liners
Safety glass lamination films
Laminated safety glass is a sandwich construction where two or more glass plates…
Optically transparent PU interlayerPU interlayer with UV/IR filtersArmored PU interlayerRead brief - Textiles, Leather and Nonwovens
Outdoor waterproof fabrics
Waterproof fabrics constitute a broad and volume-relevant category, used in mult…
Direct PU coating on fabricPU lamination with pre-fabricated filmWaterborne PU coatingRead brief - Textiles, Leather and Nonwovens
Textile lamination adhesives
Textile lamination is a process where two or more substrates (different fabrics,…
Reactive PU hot-melt adhesive (HMPUR)Waterborne PU adhesiveSolventless PU adhesiveRead brief - Textiles, Leather and Nonwovens
Carpet and rug PU backing
Modern carpets and rugs use PU coatings or foam backings on the bottom face to s…
Waterborne PU backingPU foam backingElastomeric PU backingRead brief - Packaging Materials
Molded transport part inserts
Molded inserts are custom-made technical packaging for transport of specific par…
Molded rigid PU foamMolded semi-rigid PU foamIntegral skin flexible foamRead brief - Packaging Materials
ESD packaging for fragile electronics
Sensitive electronic components (integrated circuits, circuit boards, sensors, p…
Reticulated PU foam with conductive additivesInherent anti-static PU foamPU foam with ESD coatingRead brief - Industrial Manufacturing and Chemicals
Technical molded parts (gears, bushings)
In addition to typical soft elastomeric parts (covered in various previous appli…
High-hardness cast PU (Shore D)Fiber-reinforced PUMachinable PURead brief - Industrial Manufacturing and Chemicals
Industrial seals, gaskets and O-rings
Seals are critical components in virtually all mechanical equipment: static gask…
Cast PU elastomer in specific configurationsThermoplastic PU (TPU) for dynamic sealsPolyether-PU for seals in humid environmentsRead brief - Industrial Manufacturing and Chemicals
Industrial springs and dampers
In addition to automotive jounce bumpers (Application B-12), cast PU elastomers…
Microcellular cast PU (similar to Cellasto)Solid PU in different hardnessesPU systems in series for progressivenessRead brief - Industrial Manufacturing and Chemicals
Press and calender roller coatings
Complements Application B-64 (Roller coatings in paper plants), focusing on othe…
Specific-hardness cast PUPolyether PU for hydrolysis resistancePolyester PU for chemical resistanceRead brief