PolyCast by UT

Urethanes Technology International
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PolyCast by UT is Urethanes Technology’s podcast exploring the innovations, opportunities and challenges shaping the global polyurethanes market. Each episode features candid conversations with producers, formulators, equipment suppliers, analysts and industry experts, and end users across foams, coatings, elastomers and adhesives. You can expect clear, trade-focused discussion on what’s changing now, from raw materials to sustainability, regulation, recycling and new process technology. Plus, practical takeaways you can use in the plant, lab or boardroom. PolyCast by UT delivers sharp analysis, real-world case studies and informed perspectives from across the supply chain.

  1. Oct 28

    Jayant Khadilkar - Jay Elastomers (S01 E14)

    S01 E14: Can polyurethane survive the world's most extreme environments? In this episode, Jayant Khadilkar, founder and managing director of Jay Elastomers, explores some of polyurethane's most extraordinary applications – from nuclear facilities and underwater drones to defence equipment and space technology. Drawing on decades of experience developing specialist cast elastomers, Jayant explains how polyurethane can be engineered to withstand extreme conditions where material failure could have serious consequences. He recalls developing a radiation-resistant polyurethane wheel for a robotic vehicle handling nuclear fuel, with a 36T payload, and reveals what happened when the material was examined again 26 years later. Jayant also discusses the challenges of developing polyurethane for underwater vehicles, where seawater, hydrolysis and prolonged immersion demand exceptional durability. Recorded at UTECH India, the conversation explores opportunities for polyurethane in defence and aerospace, the potential of self-healing and bio-based materials, and why rigorous testing, technical expertise and long-term thinking are essential to innovation. “This time your tyre should not get punctured. You are calling it an international disaster.” “Trial and error is an old proverb… there is no chance of error if you do good homework. Homework is important.” Key topics: Developing radiation-resistant polyurethane for nuclear applicationsWhat 26 years of service reveals about material durabilityEngineering polyurethane for underwater drones and prolonged seawater exposureThe growing role of cast elastomers in defence and aerospaceWhy material selection, testing and validation are critical in extreme environmentsOpportunities for self-healing polyurethane in military equipmentThe potential of bio-based raw materials in high-performance elastomersThe challenges of commercialising specialist polyurethane technologiesWhy Jayant believes the next generation of engineers is vital to India's innovation ambitionsThe importance of waste management and sustainability in polyurethane's future#Polyurethane #Polyurethanes #CastElastomers #Defence #Aerospace #NuclearEngineering #MarineEngineering #MaterialsScience #Innovation #BioBasedPolyurethane #India #PolyCast #UTECH

  2. Oct 21

    Frank Liu - Hongbaoli Group (S01 E13)

    S01 E13: How much more can we ask of refrigerator foam? In this episode, Frank Liu, technical support leader for Asia Pacific at Hongbaoli Group, takes us inside one of polyurethane’s most important – but least visible – applications: refrigerator insulation. Modern refrigerators are getting bigger and offering consumers more internal space, while manufacturers simultaneously want thinner walls, lower foam densities, better energy efficiency and faster production. Frank explains why achieving all of those things at once is far from straightforward – and why rigid PU foam formulation is ultimately a balancing act between thermal conductivity, density, strength, flow, demoulding time and cost. He also discusses how changing blowing agent regulations are reshaping formulations, why new refrigerator systems require extensive validation before commercial adoption, and how the technical requirements of markets such as China and India can differ significantly. “You cannot get all this advantage without disadvantage. Formulation also is a balance” “The cabinets become bigger and bigger and the foam becomes thinner and thinner” “We made a lot of research jobs in our lab and also carried out a lot of trials in our factories” “We believe polyurethane is still a very important insulation material” Key topics: Why refrigerator walls are becoming thinner as internal space increasesThe trade-offs involved in reducing rigid PU foam densityHow manufacturers are pushing for faster demoulding and greater productivityWhat changing blowing agent technology means for PU formulationsWhy regulatory changes can drive both technical challenges and innovationHow refrigerator foam requirements differ between China and IndiaThe role of bio-polyols and lower-carbon raw materialsWhy Frank expects rigid polyurethane foam to remain central to refrigerator insulation over the next decade#Polyurethane #Polyurethanes #RigidFoam #Refrigeration #Insulation #EnergyEfficiency #Appliances #BlowingAgents #Sustainability #China #India #PolyCast #UTECH

  3. Oct 14

    Mark Allen & Kelly Kiszka - Dow (S01 E12)

    S01 E12: Will the car of the future still have that ‘new-car smell’? In this episode, Kelly Kiszka and Mark Allen of Dow join Urethanes Technology International editor Steven Pacitti at the CPI Polyurethanes Technical Conference in Orlando, Florida, to explore two increasingly connected challenges for the automotive industry: reducing emissions from vehicle interiors and developing more circular, lower-carbon materials. Kelly explains why the familiar new-car smell is viewed differently around the world, and how more than 150 different testing methods have created challenges for measuring volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from automotive polyurethane foam. He discusses the industry's efforts to harmonise testing through new SAE recommended practices, why laboratory results can vary significantly, and how more consistent testing could help accelerate innovation. Mark examines the opportunities and challenges of recycling end-of-life polyurethane foam into new materials, including the difficulties of collecting clean feedstock, the role of chemical recycling and the potential trade-offs between recycled content, carbon reduction and low emissions. The conversation also explores why Europe is moving faster than North America on automotive circularity, the opportunities emerging from electric vehicles, and why achieving genuinely circular, low-carbon automotive interiors could take far longer than many expect. “Variations in any of the steps along the way is going to create variability in the final results” — Kelly Kiszka “Let's get rid of the ambiguity across these methods” — Kelly Kiszka “You have to collaborate across the value chain” — Mark Allen “This is gonna be a 50, maybe even a 100-year journey” — Mark Allen Key topics: What creates the new-car smell, and why perceptions differ between Asia, Europe and North AmericaWhy more than 150 VOC testing methods have complicated automotive emissions testingHow new SAE recommended practices aim to harmonise testing of polyurethane foamWhy laboratory emissions results can vary by more than 50%The challenges of chemically recycling end-of-life automotive PU foam into new materialsWhether recycled polyurethane can meet increasingly demanding low-VOC and low-odour requirementsThe trade-offs between recycled content, carbon footprint, material performance and costWhy Europe is moving faster than North America on automotive circularity and decarbonisationThe opportunities for polyurethane in electric and increasingly autonomous vehiclesDow's approach to recycling, lower-carbon raw materials and the future of automotive interiors#PolyCast #Polyurethanes #Polyurethane #Dow #Automotive #AutomotiveInteriors #VOCEmissions #PolyurethaneRecycling #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #Decarbonisation #CPI2026 #UTECH

  4. Oct 7

    Snigdha Agrawal - Growkix (S01 E11)

    S01 E11: Are we putting children in the wrong shoes? In this episode, footwear designer, product developer and entrepreneur Snigdha Agrawal asks whether children’s shoes are really being designed around the needs of growing feet – and how better materials, fit and product development could change the way the industry approaches kids’ footwear. After struggling to find shoes that properly fitted her daughter, Snigdha began researching what growing feet actually need and ultimately founded GrowKix, a new children’s footwear brand. She also discusses the role of polyurethane in footwear and why material selection and hydrolysis resistance are important when designing shoes that need to cope with active children and demanding conditions. “I started questioning my own assumptions of 15 years” “Footwear should support the kids’ development. They should not restrict it” “Footwear is a functional element. It’s not a fashion element anymore” “Technology is also the way a shoe is made, the way you have combined the materials” Key topics: Why growing feet need more than simply the correct shoe lengthWhy more cushioning does not necessarily mean a more comfortable children’s shoeHow GrowKix has been developed and tested around the needs of growing feetWhere polyurethane fits into children’s footwearWhy India’s children’s footwear market remains heavily unorganisedWhether Indian parents are becoming more willing to pay for value and performanceThe speed gap between Indian, Chinese and Vietnamese footwear manufacturingThe potential for 3D scanning and data-driven footwear design#Polyurethane #Footwear #ChildrensFootwear #FootwearDesign #India #IndianFootwear #MaterialsScience #ProductDevelopment #PolyCast #PU #FootwearInnovation #Manufacturing #GrowKix #MadeInIndia

  5. Sep 30

    Mehul Parikh - EnvaDure (S01 E10)

    S01 E10: Why do buildings still leak – and can polyurethane fix the problem? In this episode, waterproofing and building envelope specialist Mehul Parikh asks why, despite better materials and decades of construction experience, water ingress remains a problem – and whether polyurethane can help create buildings that are more resilient, durable and sustainable. The conversation explores why PU is increasingly attractive for demanding waterproofing applications, particularly in India, where monsoons, humidity, extreme heat, large roof areas and tight construction schedules place very different demands on materials. Parikh explains why waterproofing, insulation and the wider roof assembly need to be considered together from the design stage – particularly as India raises building energy-performance requirements and green roofs, reflective coatings, solar installations and over-deck insulation make roofs increasingly complex. “Waterproofing is a science. It’s not just a trade” “You are now looking at chemistry to solve a geometry or a planning problem. That’s not going to work” “The beauty with polyurethane… is because it’s versatile” “Durability and sustainability go hand-in-hand” Parikh also challenges polyurethane producers and formulators to go further. Could waterproofing systems become genuinely “smart”, with sensors or conductive reinforcement capable of identifying a breach before water appears inside a building? Key topics: Why buildings still leak despite advances in waterproofing materialsThe five major causes of waterproofing failureWhy products themselves may be responsible for surprisingly few failuresWhy waterproofing needs to begin at the design stageWhere polyurethane outperforms traditional waterproofing technologiesHow PU membranes cope with movement, cracking, water and demanding climatesWhy India’s monsoons and changing climate are raising performance requirementsThe growing integration of waterproofing and roof insulationHow building regulations and energy-efficiency requirements are changing specificationsWhy durability should be part of the sustainability calculationIndia’s dependence on imported polyurethane raw materials – and the growing importance of local formulationWhy damp-tolerant and fast-curing PU systems could make a major difference on Indian construction sites#Polyurethane #Waterproofing #Construction #BuildingEnvelope #India #SustainableConstruction #BuildingMaterials #MaterialsScience #PolyCast #PU #EnergyEfficiency #ClimateResilience

  6. Sep 14

    Helen Gorman - Specialist sports consultant & former international swimmer (S01 E09)

    S01 E09: The polyurethane supersuit revolution In this episode, former international swimmer and swimming commentator Helen Gorman looks back at the extraordinary “supersuit” era of 2008–09, when polyurethane technology transformed competitive swimming, world records tumbled and the sport became caught up in a technological arms race. Gorman, who also works with swimwear and wetsuit brand Blueseventy, discusses how polyurethane brought greater buoyancy, compression and glide to racing suits, why some swimmers were even wearing two suits, and how manufacturers pushed the technology increasingly far before swimming’s governing body introduced its textile-only rules in 2010. “In 2009, there were 43 world records broken. Imagine being a spectator there” “The polyurethane advantage of the way it made you float and glide was just another level” “People [were] queuing up to get fitted and to get a suit and probably not far off fighting each other to get one of these things in their hands” “Technology put a bit of fairy dust into a sport and totally changed it” Key topics: The rise of polyurethane “supersuits” in competitive swimmingHow PU improved buoyancy, compression and glideThe technological arms race between major swimwear brandsWhy 43 world records fell at the 2009 World Championships in RomeThe controversy over fairness, cost and access to performance-enhancing swimwearWhy polyurethane suits were banned from elite competition in 2010How today's textile racing suits compare with the supersuitsThe remaining world records from the polyurethane eraWhat manufacturers could produce today if PU supersuits were suddenly legal againWhere the line lies between materials innovation and artificial performance enhancement #Polyurethane #Swimming #Supersuits #SportsTechnology #MaterialsScience #Innovation #Swimwear #PolyCast #PerformanceMaterials #SportsInnovation

  7. Aug 10

    Chico van Hemert - RetourMatras Group (S01 E08)

    S01 E08: The recycling journey of a mattress In this episode, Chico van Hemert of RetourMatras discusses the complexities and innovations in mattress recycling, including collection systems, dismantling technology, chemical recycling, and the future of circular mattresses in Europe.   “If you don’t know what’s inside of it, you don’t know what comes out of it.”“It’s most of the time better to reuse things instead of producing new ones.”“You’re not sleeping on a chemical bomb. It’s just a mattress and you can recycle it.”"A loaded gun was the most dangerous thing we found."  Key topics: The current state of mattress recycling in Europe Challenges in collection and dismantling of mattresses The role of EPR schemes in advancing recycling Technologies for automated dismantling and chemical recycling The importance of eco-design and material traceability Progress in repolyol and polyurethane recycling Future predictions for circular mattresses by 2030   #CircularEconomy #Recycling #Sustainability #MattressRecycling #Polyurethane #Innovation #GreenIndustry #WasteManagement #CircularDesign #EcoInnovation

  8. Jul 6

    Stephen Mayfield - Algenesis Materials (S01 E07)

    S01 E07: The role of algae in sustainable polyurethane solutions In this episode, Dr. Stephen Mayfield discusses the potential of algae as a sustainable feedstock for bioplastics, the challenges in scaling algae production, and the innovative bio-based polyurethane platform Soleic. He shares insights into biodegradability, Bio-Iso manufacturing, and the future of sustainable polymers.   "Petroleum is just ancient algae""Bio-Iso is made using non-phosgene chemistry""Humans only operate under two modes: do nothing or overreact" #algae #bioplastics #biodegradable #polymers #sustainability #bio-iso #polyurethane #microplastics #circular

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About

PolyCast by UT is Urethanes Technology’s podcast exploring the innovations, opportunities and challenges shaping the global polyurethanes market. Each episode features candid conversations with producers, formulators, equipment suppliers, analysts and industry experts, and end users across foams, coatings, elastomers and adhesives. You can expect clear, trade-focused discussion on what’s changing now, from raw materials to sustainability, regulation, recycling and new process technology. Plus, practical takeaways you can use in the plant, lab or boardroom. PolyCast by UT delivers sharp analysis, real-world case studies and informed perspectives from across the supply chain.

Information

  • Creator
    Urethanes Technology International
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Urethanes Technology International
  • Show Website
    PolyCast by UT