What are the compounds used to make poly-urethane?

Answer 1

Polyurethanes are made by the reaction of a diol (a molecule having two -OH alcohol groups) and a diisocyanate ( a molecule having two -NCO) groups. The result is a polymer with urethane groups (-O-C(=O)-NH-) along the chain. The diisocyanate is usually toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and the diol can be as short as ethylene glycol (HOCH2CH2OH, or antifreeze), or as long as another polymer, such as polyethylene oxide.