Polyurethane Handbook Gunter Oertel Pdf May 2026

To understand why this particular handbook is so highly sought after, one must recognize its origins. Polyurethane chemistry is intricate, involving diisocyanates and polyols reacting to form everything from flexible foams in mattresses to rigid insulation, high-performance adhesives, elastomers, and coatings. The late Günter Oertel, a respected chemist at Bayer, compiled contributions from over 30 in-house experts at the company. Bayer, where Otto Bayer and his team first invented polyurethanes in 1937, possessed unparalleled industrial know-how.

Therefore, Oertel’s Polyurethane Handbook is not merely an academic literature review; it is a compendium of proven industrial practice. Its chapters cover, with remarkable depth: the fundamental chemistry and raw materials (isocyanates, polyols, catalysts, blowing agents), processing technologies (reaction injection molding, slabstock, spraying), and the complete property profiles of end products. For an engineer formulating a new foam or a student trying to understand why a coating fails, the handbook provides authoritative, data-driven answers.

The handbook is meticulously organized, typically progressing from the molecular to the macroscopic: polyurethane handbook gunter oertel pdf

Günther Oertel is not merely a compiler; his association with Bayer AG (a global leader in PU materials) lends the handbook immense practical authority. The content reflects decades of industrial R&D and application engineering. It avoids purely academic abstractions in favor of "know-how" that solves real-world manufacturing problems, such as preventing shrinkage in foams or optimizing demold times.

The text elucidates the kinetics of the polyurethane reaction. It explains the competition between the gelling reaction (urethane formation) and the blowing reaction (water-isocyanate reaction producing CO₂), which is essential for managing foam density and cell structure. To understand why this particular handbook is so

Despite the editions dating back to the 1990s, the Polyurethane Handbook remains a staple in the industry for three reasons:

In the realm of polymer science, Günter Oertel’s Polyurethane Handbook is widely considered the definitive technical reference for polyurethane (PU) chemistry and technology. Often referred to simply as "Oertel," the book serves as a bridge between academic chemistry and industrial application. The text elucidates the kinetics of the polyurethane

While many textbooks focus strictly on synthesis, Oertel’s handbook is distinct in its practical approach. It was compiled with the contributions of numerous industry experts, providing a "boots-on-the-ground" perspective on how raw materials are processed, how formulations affect final properties, and how manufacturing machinery operates.

The book provides an exhaustive breakdown of the building blocks of polyurethane: