THE WOODLANDS, Texas. Sept. 30, 2021 – Huntsman’s Polyurethanes and Performance Products divisions will be taking part in the 63rd Center for the Polyurethanes Industry’s (CPI) 2021 Technical Conference, at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado from Oct. 5-7, 2021.

Huntsman, a sponsor of the event, also will play a key role in conference proceedings with its experts presenting, organizing and moderating technical sessions throughout the three-day program. Topics covered will include low-aldehyde catalysts for flexible and rigid polyurethane foams; innovations in automotive seating; and sustainability in raw materials.

Huntsman is also one of three finalists in the 2021 Polyurethane Innovation Award. The company’s award application highlights a special project with Pursell Agri-Tech – a leader in the North American fertilizer industry for more than a century. Working together, Huntsman and Pursell Agri-Tech have developed the advanced polyurethane-based, PurActive™ controlled-release fertilizer coating. Using Huntsman’s RIMLINE® polyurethane system, this next generation coating technology is designed to bring substantial benefits at each step of the agricultural value chain.

From a manufacturing perspective, PurActive Technology enables lower coat weights, shorter batch times, and significantly lower processing temperatures when compared to traditional fertilizers. By delivering nutrients to crops at the right rate and time, controlled release fertilizers can increase yields and decrease costs for farmers through delivery in a single application.

There are also environmental advantages. Nitrogen not absorbed by plants can make its way into streams and rivers – decreasing the amount of oxygen available to fish and other aquatic wildlife. Because controlled-release fertilizers release nutrients precisely when the plants require them, a higher percentage of nutrients are taken up by the plant. This reduces the amount of nitrogen loss via soil leaching and loss to the air through volatilization.

Specific details of Huntsman’s involvement in CPI conference proceedings are as follows:

Tuesday, Oct. 5

  • 2 p.m.: Cynthia Graham and Felicia Seyedkalal will help oversee the organization and moderation of a session focused on Sustainability and the End-of-Life Management of Polyurethanes
  • 2:30 p.m.: As part of the session dedicated to Emission Reductions in Flexible and Rigid Foams, the Huntsman team will discuss a novel low-aldehyde catalyst for polyurethane foams. Participants will include Matthew Meredith, Robert Grigsby, DiAnne Pham, Jerry Pilgrim and Sylvia Kelley
  • 3 p.m.: In the Rigid Construction Technical Session, Ruth Pinto, Jorge Vazquez, Long Han and Mikhail Gelfer will explore the use of DMA Foaming Experiments to Rapidly Optimize Formulations for Flow Demanding Rigid Foam Applications.

Wednesday, Oct. 6

  • 9 a.m.: Kicking off day two, Cynthia Graham and Kimi Bahret will help with the delivery of a technical session – sponsored by PU Magazine – exploring Sustainability in Raw Materials in the PU Industry
  • 2 p.m.: In the afternoon, Cynthia will also moderate a technical session on EH&S Issues.

Thursday, Oct. 7

  • 8 a.m.: On the final morning of the conference, Todd Bates will help oversee a session on Flexible Foam, which will review new technologies and testing methods
  • 10:30 a.m.: Mid-morning, as part of a session dedicated to Innovations in Automotive PU, Evan Cheolas will provide the second part of a presentation on searching for a best-in-class test method for automotive seating bolsters; a topic first visited at the last CPI show in 2019.