Embedding Digitalization into Polyurethane Applications
To reduce the development time of its formulations, this major chemical company has worked to embed digitalization into each aspect of product development.
In today's global market, conditions are constantly changing due to technological advances, demands for differentiated performance, and changing societal needs. Companies must innovate at an unprecedented speed by utilizing existing data and developing a new generation of mathematical models and machine learning techniques. While digitalization is an increasing factor and a key innovation driver in many industries, its use in the polyurethane industry (PU) is challenging due to the wide range of polyurethane chemistries, processing conditions, and applications.
A typical PU formulation may contain 10 or more ingredients. A complex series of chemical reactions occurs when these components are mixed; as the reactions proceed, the viscosity increases due to increased molecular weight and urethane/urea linkages formation.