Post-use polyurethane (PU) foam was degraded in superheated water at 423 to 623 K. The yield of diaminotoluene (TDA), one of the products, reached near 90%. The hydrolysis conditions (time and temperature) were important and the perfect liquid products could be obtained under the economic conditions at 523 K for 30 min. TDA was added to the reaction to investigate the effect on the decomposition of PU foam waste. However, in our conditions, basic additives only slightly improved the yield of TDA. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.