POLYURETHANE-what is the advantages and applications


POLYURETHANE

(URETHANE - POLYURETHANE - THERMOPLASTIC & THERMOSET)Polyurethane
Polyurethane is a unique material that offers the elasticity of rubber combined with the toughness and durability of metal. Because urethane is available in a very broad hardness range (eraser-soft to bowling-ball-hard), it allows the engineer to replace rubber, plastic and metal with the ultimate in abrasion resistance and physical properties. Polyurethane can reduce plant maintenance and OEM product cost. Many applications using this ultra-tough material have cut down-time, maintenance time and cost of parts to a fraction of the previous figures.
Urethanes have better abrasion and tear resistance than rubbers, while offering higher load bearing capacity.
Compared to plastics, urethanes offer superior impact resistance, while offering excellent wear properties and elastic memory.
Urethanes have replaced metals in sleeve bearings, wear plates, sprockets, rollers and various other parts, with benefits such as weight reduction, noise abatement and wear improvements being realized.


ADVANTAGES TO POLYURETHANE

Abrasion resistant
Parts made of polyurethane will often outwear other materials by a margin of 5 to 50/one when severe abrasion is a factor. It has been proven to be vastly superior to rubber plastics and metal in many applications.

Oil and solvent resistant
Polyurethane has excellent resistance to oils, solvents, fats, greases and gasoline.
Load bearing capacity
Polyurethane has a higher load-bearing capacity than any conventional rubber. Because of this characteristic, it is an ideal material for load wheels, heavy duty couplings, metal-forming pads, shock pads, expansion joints and machine mounts.
Tear resistant
Tear-strength ranges between 500-100 Ibs./linear inch, which is far superior to rubbers. As a result, urethane is often used as drive belts, diaphragms, roll covers, cutting pads, gaskets and chute liners.
Weather resistant
Polyurethane has outstanding resistance to oxygen, ozone, sunlight and general weather conditions.
Excellent noise abatement properties
The hard urethanes are now being used as gears in products where engineers desire sound reduction. The soft urethanes are used to replace rubbers for improved sound/vibration dampening.
Flex-Life
Most formulations offer extremely high flex-life and can be expected to outlast other elastomer materials where this feature is an important requirement. Dust boots, bellows, diaphragms, belts, couplings and similar products are made from urethane for this reason.
Electrical properties
Polyurethane has excellent electrical insulating properties and is used successfully in many moulded wire and cable harness assemblies.
Heat and cold resistant
Continuous use above 225°F is not recommended nor is urethane recommended in hot water over 175°F. At low temperatures, polyurethane will remain flexible down to -90°F. A gradual stiffening will occur at 0°F, but will not become pronounced until much lower temperatures are obtained.
Polyurethane
PRECISION-CAST SHEETS
Cast sheets are ideal for fabrication into a wide variety of products.
Standard sizes are: 12"W x 12"L, 12"x 24", 24" x 24", 12" x 48"L, 24" x 48" L
PRECISION CAST SHEETS: 12"x12", 12"x24", 24"x24", 36"x36", 24"x48", 48"x48", 24"x72", 24"x144", 36"x108", 48"x72", 48"x 144".
ULTRA PRECISION SHEETS: 24"x24". (tolerance: +/- 0.002"on thickness)
OPEN CAST SHEETS: 48"x96", 48"x120", 48"x144", 60"x144", 48"x288".
Hardness: 20A, 30A, 40A, 60A, 70A, 80A, 90A, 95A, and 75D
Standard Colors: Amber or Black (Other Colors Available)
FABRIC-BACKED SHEETS
Standard sheets are available integrally cast onto duck cloth (.048" thick), permitting easy cementing to metal or other surfaces. This composite converts effectively to large roll coverings or chute and bin liners. Bond strength between the fabric and the urethane is excellent, and there is no strikethrough to the exposed side of the fabric. Sheet is stocked in 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", and 9/16" overall thicknesses up to 48" square. Custom sizes and thicknesses are available on special order.
BARS
Bar stock is popular for metal forming uses. The precise size eliminates the need for a matched female die. The material becomes the contact surface in forming, bending or shaping metal without scratching or marring the finished product. Bar stock is also used as press-brake pads, bumper pads, and wear strips, and is machined into a great variety of prototype parts. Standard sizes are available 48" long and in thicknesses of 1" square, 2" square and 2" x 3". Custom sizes are available.
RODS
Cast rods are used for guide, drive and pinch rollers and outwear conventional rubber rollers 20 to 1. They are excellent for bulge forming. Rod stock is used for prototype parts like gears, bearings and bushing, and is easily machined to close tolerances. Standard rods are 36" long and are available in diameters of 1/4", 3/8". 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 7/8", 1", 1-1/4", 1-1/2", 1-3/4", 2", 2-1/4", 2-1/2", 2-3/4", 3", 3-1/4", 3-1/2", 3-3/4", 4", 4-1/4", 4-1/2",4-3/4", 5", 5-1/2", 6". Custom sizes are available on request.
TUBES
Cast tube stock makes excellent roll covers when press fitted over metal cores. They are also converted into gaskets, seals and rings. Tubes are well suited for prototype parts. Standard cast tubes are 36" long and are supplied in several diameters (custom sizes available on request): Inside Diameter 1", 1-1/4", 1-1/2", 1-3/4", 2", 2-1/4", 2-1/2", 3"
Outside Diameter 2" 2-1/4" 2-1/2", 2-3/4", 3", 3-1/4", 3-1/2", 3-3/4", 4"

APPLICATIONS
Belts
Metal forming pads
Wear strips
Bumpers
Gears
Bellows
Machinery mounts
Cutting Surfaces
Sound-dampening pads
Chute and hopper liners
Prototype machined parts
Gaskets
Seals
Rollers
Roller covers
Sandblast curtains
Diaphragms



COMPOUND =MP300MP600MP750MP850MP900MP950MP160MP175
DUROMETER =30A60A75A85A90A95A60D75D
TYPICAL APPLICATIONSREPLACESKEY PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
BUMPER PADSRubberXXBashore Resilience
CUTTER BARSWood, UHMWXXTear; Compression /Deflection
BUSHINGSRubber, MetalXXXXAbrasion, Tear
TUMBLER LININGSRubberXBashore Resilience
ISOLATION VIBRATIONRubberXXXResilience; Compression /Deflection
CUTTING SURFACESWood, UHMWXXXTear; Compression, Deflection
DIE CUTTING PADSWood, UHMWXXXTear; Compression, Deflection
WEAR PADSUHMW, MetalXXTear; Compression, Deflection
IDLER ROLLERSUHMW, MetalXXXTear; Compression, Deflection
SQUEEGEESRubberXXXTear; Solvent Resistance
FORK LIFT TIRESRubberXXHeat Build Up; Resilience
PRINTING ROLLSRubberXXSolvent Resistance, Compression Set, Abrasion
OIL PIPELINE PARTSRubber, MetalXXXXOil and Abrasion Resistance
HYDRAULIC SEALSRubberXXOil Resistance; Compression Set
GRAIN SHOOT LININGSRubberXSliding Abrasion
OFFICE EQUIP. ROLLERSRubber, Plastic, MetalXXXTear, Abrasion Resistance
ELEVATOR WHEELSRubberXXXCompression Set; Compression /Deflection; Heat Build Up
PAPERMILL ROLLSRubber, MetalXXXXHeat Build Up; Hydrolysis Resistance
GASKETSRubber, CorkXXXXXXCompression Set; Chemical Resistance

Urethane hardness range
Urethane data sheet
urethane sheeturethane rod and bar stockurethane tubeurethane rings