Plymouth Foam, BASF introduce pet toys using revolutionary Infinergy material

Dog parents want the best for their pets – especially now when animal adoptions have peaked during the Covid-19 pandemic as quarantined residents seek furry companions.

One of the things that dog owners want for their pets is adequate playtime with safe animal toys. Studies have shown that dogs require at least 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise or playtime a day. For this reason, there is a need to ensure that the materials used in dog toys are nontoxic, durable, yet gentle.

Owners of furry babies can now rest assured – there are pet toys on the market doing just that. Plymouth Foam has introduced a line of dog toys under their AIRHIDE brand, which uses BASF’s Infinergy material. This revolutionary material is the world’s first expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU) that is utilized in a variety of applications. 

The elastic particle foam can be used anyplace where a combination of low weight, excellent mechanical properties and long-term durability is needed. The material enables the AIRHIDE pet toys to be abrasion resistant, which allows for toys to better withstand the force from sharp dog teeth. It offers the most determined power chewers a good bite while the AIRHIDE toys stay intact.

“Producing pet toys presents a unique set of requirements – from features of safety, sustainability to ruggedness, whilst still ensuring that the materials meet mechanical properties. At the same time, it also must achieve the desired soft feel and resilience,” said Jens P. Dierssen, Ph.D., Head of Global Business Management, Infinergy, BASF.

The nature of the material produces erratic bounces, giving the dog a different challenge with every throw. The material is also certified BPA free and is engineered to keep dogs active during all types of play.

“Infinergy is the perfect material for this application and achieves our goal of creating toys that provide fun and healthy interactions between the pet parent and dog,” said David Bolland, President/CEO, Plymouth Foam. “Our ARIRHIDE brand dog toys are the first collaboration to come out of our relationship with BASF and we are excited to see what innovation comes next.”

Beyond dog toys, Infinergy is also used in a wide range of proven applications that spans from footwear to sports equipment, flooring, furniture and automotive applications such as car seats and airless tires. For more information on BASF’s Infinergy material, click here.

Published in August 5, 2020 by Anna Spiewak.

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