Overview

Otto Bayer (Otto Georg Wilhelm Bayer), (November 4, 1902, 1982) was born in Frankfurt while not related to the family that founded the Bayer Group, he was nonetheless a noted chemist. In 1937 as head of a research group was head of the research group at the German IG Farbenthat discovered that polyaddition for the synthesis of polyurethanes out of polyisocyanate and polyol. Polyurethane foam is now ubiquitous in our lives. It was originally only a rigid product and was used in airplane wings and the soles of boots worn by Nazi soldiers (Miller and Lord). Polyurethane foam also replaced balsa wood for insulation of refrigerators and airplanes (Relos). It is made from "...a colloidal suspension of a gas in a liquid created by agitation. Foams are ... formed by the creation of gas bubbles in a base material such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber or other elastomeric materials." (Relos). Today, polyurethanes can be made to be rigid or flexible and are very versatile. It is a by- product of the same process that is used to make petroleum and is created by the reaction of "...polyester polyol, or polyether polyol, with an aromatic or aliphatic isocyanate. The reagents often used to make foam are polyester polyols and polyfunctional isocyanates." (Relos).

References

• Otto Bayer - biography by Bayer:Science for a Better Life.

• Miller, G. Wayne, and Peter B. Lord. "Fatal Foam." Projo.com. The Providence Journal, 28 Sept. 2003. Web. Aug.-Sept. 2009. <http://www.projo.com/sharedcontent/east/foam/partone.html>.

• Relos, Ellen. Polyurethane Foam. Stony Brook University, 25 July 2005. Web. Aug.-Sept. 2009.<http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:tmRUdpvphc8J:polymer.matscieng.sunysb.edu/OH_handouts/polyFoam.doc+chemical+makeup+of+polyurethane+foam&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a>.