The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry of the American Chemistry Council announced Sept. 27 that Wanhua Chemical (America) Co., Ltd’s WANNATE 9131FC has won the 2023 Polyurethane Innovation Award. The Innovation Award is renowned throughout the polyurethane industry and recognizes companies and individuals whose visions and perseverance bring new life-enhancing products, technologies and initiatives to the marketplace.

“On behalf of CPI, congratulations to Wanhua Chemical (America) Co., Ltd on this recognition and achievement,” said Lee Salamone, senior director of CPI. “This new technology helps address the urgency to reduce our carbon footprint and highlights our industry’s increasing sustainability efforts. CPI is proud to recognize and honor Wanhua Chemical (America) Co., Ltd on this cutting-edge innovation.”

Wanhua Chemical (America) Co., Ltd described its winning entry as:

WANNATE 9131FC is a specially designed binder based on polymeric methylene diphenylene diisocyanate. It is used for fabrication of molded wood pallets. The use of WANNATE 9131FC as the binder to fabricate molded wood pallets allows for increased production output, improved product performance such as mechanical strength, water resistance and decreased energy consumption. WANNATE 9131FC allows the use of raw materials such as processing wood waste (vs. virgin or new wood) to fabricate wood pallets with a reduced carbon footprint, and a formaldehyde-free process.

“Wanhua is excited to announce our MDI-based prepolymer binder for molded wood pallets,” said Tim Chaffee, business director at Wanhua Chemical (America) Co., Ltd. “The pallets nest together for reduced transport cost from the manufacturer, they can be made from a variety of waste feedstocks like wood scraps and agricultural residues, and when the pallets reach end-of-life, they can be ground up and recycled into new pallets. The pallets have superior strength and durability, enhanced weather and water resistance, and outstanding heat and cold tolerance. All of this is accomplished while increasing bio-content and reducing energy requirements.”

Eligible innovations included finished products, chemistries, initiatives, training or education programs, processes and processing equipment that entered the market for the first time between June 18, 2021, and June 19, 2023.

In addition to the 2023 Polyurethane Innovation Award, the 2023 Polyurethanes Technical Conference featured 14 technical sessions, 21 posters, 65+ presentations and 47 exhibitors.