Polyurethanes

class=skin-invert-image|thumb|right|Polyurethane synthesis: the urethane groups −NH−(C=O)−O− link the molecular units, resulting in a polymer consisting of an alternating chain of two monomers. thumb|A kitchen sponge made of polyurethane foam

thumb|Elastic material used in the fabrics of a summer cycling kit|cycling attire comprising a jersey, [[bib shorts and gloves]]

In organic chemistry, a polyol is an organic compound containing multiple hydroxyl groups (). The term "polyol" can have slightly different meanings depending on whether it is used in food science or polymer chemistry. Polyols containing two, three and four hydroxyl groups are diols, triols, and tetrols, respectively.

viscoelastic form of open-celled polyurethane foam, used for cushions and mattresses

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thumb|The generalised chemical structure of polyisocyanurate showing the isocyanurate group. The polyols are abbreviated as Substituent|R-groups.

Zylon (IUPAC name: 'poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole)') is a trademarked name for a range of thermoset liquid-crystalline polyoxazole. This synthetic polymer material was invented and developed by SRI International in the 1980s and manufactured by Toyobo. In generic usage, the fiber is referred to as PBO.

In polymer chemistry, the term prepolymer or pre-polymer, refers to a monomer or system of monomers that have been reacted to an intermediate-molecular mass state. This material is capable of further polymerization by reactive groups to a fully cured, high-molecular-mass state. As such, mixtures of reactive polymers with un-reacted monomers may also be referred to as pre-polymers. The term "pre-polymer" and "polymer precursor" may be interchanged.