Urethane vs. Polyurethane — What's the Difference?

A colorless, crystalline compound used as a pesticide.

Forms durable elastomers used in automotive parts.

Basic building block in chemical syntheses.

Applied as coatings and adhesives.

Known chemically as ethyl carbamate.

Common in everyday products due to its versatility.

Found in various small-scale applications.

Can be engineered into thermosetting or thermoplastic forms.

Used in medicine as a sedative and anesthetic.

Used to make flexible and rigid foams.

A colorless or white crystalline compound, CO(NH2)OC2H5, used in organic synthesis and formerly as a palliative treatment for leukemia. Also called ethyl carbamate.

Polyurethane (often abbreviated PUR and PU) is a polymer composed of organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links. In contrast to other common polymers such as polyethylene and polystyrene, polyurethane is produced from a wide range of starting materials (monomers) and is therefore a class of polymers, rather than a distinct compound.

Any of several esters, other than the ethyl ester, of carbamic acid.

A synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by urethane groups, used chiefly as constituents of paints, varnishes, adhesives, and foams

A white crystalline organic compound, ethyl-carbamate, NH₂COOC₂H₅, used in the synthesis of other organic compounds.

Coat with polyurethane paint or varnish

Any compound of having this general structure.

Any of various thermoplastic isocyanate polymers, widely varying in flexibility, used in tough chemical-resistant coatings, adhesives, and foams.

(informal) Polyurethane.

(organic chemistry) Any of various polymeric resins containing urethane links; used in very many industrial and domestic applications.

A white crystalline substance, NH2.CO.OC2H5, produced by the action of ammonia on ethyl carbonate or by heating urea nitrate and ethyl alcohol. It is used as a hypnotic, antipyretic, and antispasmodic. Hence, any ester of carbamic acid.

Any polymer containing [-NH.CO.O-] linkages; such polymers are much used as the basis of light but rigid foams for packaging (polyurethane foam) and for hard coatings, as on floors.

Same as polyurethane.

Any of various polymers containing the urethane radical; a wide variety of synthetic forms are made and used as adhesives or plastics or paints or rubber

An ester of carbamic acid

Polyurethane is used in many applications including foams, elastomers, coatings, and adhesives.

The manufacture of polyurethane can release harmful isocyanates, though it is safe once cured.

Pure urethane is stable and non-toxic, but its derivatives and misuse can be harmful.

It forms a durable, resilient, and flexible coating that protects surfaces from mechanical wear and environmental elements.

Urethane is a single organic compound, whereas polyurethane is a polymer consisting of multiple urethane units.

No, they cannot. Urethane is used for specific chemical purposes, while polyurethane is used for structural, flexible, and coating applications.

Polyurethane is a versatile polymer made from linking urethane units, used widely in various forms and applications.

Urethane is used in pesticides and as a chemical intermediate in various industrial processes.

Polyurethane is extremely versatile and durable, making it ideal for a wide range of applications.

Yes, primarily during its manufacture due to isocyanate vapors, but it poses little risk once fully cured.

Common products include foams in mattresses, furniture upholstery, automotive parts, and protective coatings.

It is produced by the reaction of ethanol with urea.

No, urethane itself is not commonly used in household products; its derivatives, like polyurethane, are more widely used.

There are thermosetting and thermoplastic polyurethanes, each with different properties and uses.

Yes, certain types of polyurethane can be recycled, though it is complex and depends on the form of the material.