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Panel: Sahar Osman-Sypher
Media: Brian Grossman

Learn More About Uses of Polyurethane Made With Diisocyanates

Every day, we rely on products made possible from diisocyanates (DII) chemistry such as footwear and clothing to insulation and furniture to the cars we drive, to name a few.

Diisocyanates are a family of chemical building blocks mainly used to make a wide range of polyurethane (PU) products.

This Website focuses on the two primary diisocyanates used in PU production: toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI).

TDI is mainly used to make flexible polyurethane foam that can be found in a wide range of everyday products including furniture, bedding, carpet underlay and packaging.

TDI is also used in the manufacture of coatings, sealants, adhesives and elastomers. TDI helps produce lighter automobile parts, saving weight and making vehicles more energy efficient.

MDI is used primarily to make rigid polyurethane foams such as insulation for your home or refrigerator, and many other uses. Insulation made with MDI can help save heating and cooling costs and conserve energy.

MDI is also used in the production of various coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers used in items such as paints, glues, and weather resistant materials. It is used to make many types of footwear, sports and leisure products and to a lesser extent, to produce some specialty flexible foams.

MDI is also used as a binder for wood products, such as particle board, fiberboard and oriented strand board (OSB), among many other uses.

Visit Fast Facts and Figures to learn more about the benefits of DII chemistry.

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