Polyurethane Foams: Current Advances and Future Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

Polyurethanes present a broad spectrum of materials that are produced to meet the needs for various applications, from automotive industry, building and construction, appliances, furnishing, marine and medicine. Foams are among the most important commercial polyurethane products that can be classified as rigid, semi-rigid and flexible. Applications of porous polyurethane materials are highly dependent on their polymer matrix and cellular structure.

In the 21st century, when it comes to the bioeconomy, a great deal of effort, research and investment will be made for the transition from a fossil-fuelled to renewables-driven economy. The polyurethane industry is not excluded from this trend; this industry has been under pressure to be more sustainable and find innovative solutions from an environmental and sustainability perspective. However, polyurethanes obtained via the conventional route are widely used—a major drawback of them is related to isocyanates toxicity. To solve these problems, a new range of nonisocyanate polyurethanes has been investigated and developed during the last few years. There are various synthetic pathways for nonisocyanate polyurethane foam production.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to bring together polymer scientists working with polyurethane foam materials, to reflect the current situation, not only in scientific laboratories, but also to update the requirements and settings of the industry. Authors are welcome to submit their latest results in the form of original full articles, communications, or reviews on this broad topic.

Dr. Uģis Cābulis
Guest Editor