Polyurethane
(PU) is manufactured by reacting di-isocynate with a polyol in the presence of
a catalyst and additives. Various blowing agents are used in the process of
polyurethane manufacturing to open up cells resulting in production of
lightweight polyurethane foams. To stabilize the process surfactants are used
to retain the shape of the polyurethane foam. Polyurethane foams are treated
with colour paste, pigments and dispersions to make colored polyurethane (PU)
foams. Such polyurethane foams are resilient, comfortable, flexible,
lightweight, fatigue resistance, durability, offer design freedom and
aesthetics. All variants of polyurethane foams are chemically stable,
versatile, offer more thermal resistance in insulations, better moisture
resistance, long life, accurate, high-performance insulation, and making it the
most suitable in the refrigeration segment.
The
colored polyurethane foams are classified into flexible and rigid; based on
based on cell structure. Almost all flexible coloured polyurethane foams have
open cell structures and are used as polyurethane foams. Coloured polyurethane
foams account for a larger share in the European market because they offer
support, comfort, resilience and aesthetics. These are used in upholstery
furniture, bedding, packaging and automotive accessories. Rigid coloured
polyurethane foams are closed cells polyurethane foams which offer energy
efficiency, high performance, versatility and thermal resistance properties.
Rigid coloured PU foams are used in construction, electronics appliances, as
insulating material in wall insulation, floor insulation, refrigerators and
chillers. Flexible polyurethane foams are used in providing thermal insulation,
easy carpet maintenance, and are recyclable. It was observed that there is an
increasing demand for luxury furniture, bedding, and pillow top mattresses
which will drive the market for flexible coloured polyurethane foams market in
Europe.
According
to the study “Europe
Colored Polyurethane (PU) Foams Industry Situation and Prospects Research Report”,
various coloured polyurethane foams are used in numerous industries such as
furniture, interiors, construction, electronic appliances, automotive,
footwear, packaging, sports and leisure apparel among others. Furniture and
interiors account for a largest market share followed by construction industry
in Europe’s coloured polyurethane foams market. There is an increasing demand
for coloured polyurethane foams in electronics appliances and automobile market
which is expected to continue increasing over the next few years. European
automobile industry uses coloured polyurethane foams for cushion seats, head
rests and cushioned panels.
The
leading players in coloured polyurethane foams market in Europe are Rogers
Corporation, Recticel S.A., Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation,
Huntsman Corporation, The Dow Chemical Company, BASF SE, Stepan Company, Bayer Material
Science AG, Carpenter Company and INOAC Corporation. It was observed that there
are numerous large and small vendors in Europe’s polyurethane coloured foams
market which makes it extremely competitive. Vendors in the coloured
polyurethane foams market are investing massively in R&D to promote
bio-based polyurethane foams. Geographically, the coloured polyurethane foams
market in Europe is spread across Germany, Russia, UK, France, Italy and other
regions.
With
the introduction of bio-based coloured polyurethane foams, it is expected to
open opportunities for a steady growth. Bio-based polyurethane coloured foams
are gaining popularity in Europe and are preferred over fiberglass and stone
wool for insulation purposes. The increasing consumption of bio-based
polyurethane coloured foams is due to urbanization coupled with
industrialization and the requirement for energy-efficient buildings or green
buildings will drive the market for coloured bio-based PU foams in Europe over
the next few years. However, stringent environmental regulations and volatility
in the raw material prices are likely to hinder growth in coloured polyurethane
foams market in Europe.
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