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Glite Dictionary
polyurethane

polyurethane

12 7.0
A man-made material used to make foams, glues, paints, and plastics
  • noun
  • /ˌpɒlɪˈjʊərəˌθeɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : poliuretano
  • Argonne sent samples of clean, fist-size pieces of flexible polyurethane foam to Woodbridge for evaluation.
  • polyurethane foam
  • polyurethane elastomer
  • polyurethane gel

So for the longest time it's been polyurethane cores.

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Examples

  • I opted for polyurethane foam and let it dry overnight.

  • Well, it's a plastic bladder made from polyurethane, but it contains no Bisphenol A or no phthalates.

  • Got me an idea about us going into the polyurethane business.

    The Whole Shootin' Match (1979)

  • But I love the spray polyurethane top coat.

  • Most car manufacturers have gone to a clear base coat, which is a polyurethane enamel.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • No-slip positioning belts, made of polyurethane, provide users with many options for motion control and light power transmission.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Now some of the more popular materials include polyurethane, poron, that's this one right here, neoprene, sorbothane and Eva.

  • Overnight, someone has erected a maze of scaffolding with flapping layers of polyurethane sheeting.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Hydro-Active Multigel NF is a non-flammable, moisture-cured polyurethane grout designed to stop leaks in manhole joints, cracks, and penetrations.

    Academic text (2000)

  • The carpenter recommended using polyurethane foam for better insulation in the house.

Synonyms

PU
vspolyurethane
  • Specialized
2 7.2

A man-made plastic called PU used to make foams, paints, and fake leather

is a general synthetic material listing common uses but omitting rubber-like items

Compounds

polyurethane foam
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A light, spongy material used for cushions, insulation and packaging

How Effective

to epoxy
6.6
sealant
  • Specialized
11 4.2
polyurethane
  • Specialized
12 7.0
coating
35 3.4

Surface Forms

polyurethane singular
polyurethanes plural

Morphology

polyurethane = urethane (opaque) = poly + urethane

Although the word is built from 'poly-' plus 'urethane', the specialized chemical meaning of the polymer is not readily inferable for an average learner from the parts.

Etymology

The word polyurethane begins with poly- ('many') and ends with urethane, a name for a material used to make foams and plastics. So polyurethane is a material made of many joined parts, which is why we use it for things like foam, glue, paint, and varnish.