What are Polyurethane Elastomers?
To the Chemist they are polymeric materials containing urethane groups (-NH-CO-O-) produced by the reaction of a polyol (curative) with an isocyanate (prepolymer).
To the Engineer they are materials offering a number of unique properties which enable products to be manufactured to meet a range of demanding applications.
To the Accountant they are materials which can be processed with low energy consumption and relatively low capital outlay for machinery to yield products which show cost savings through improved performance.
Polyurethane Elastomers combine many of the advantages of rigid plastics, metals and ceramics with the extensibility of rubber.
It is not claimed that Polyurethanes are the answer to all problems but they are extremely versatile and this is the key to their widespread and growing use.
There are many different types of polyurethane prepolymers, which when combined with a suitable curative, will set into a solid polyurethane elastomer. The four basic types, often referred to as the “chemical backbone” are:
- POLYETHER / TDI
- POLYETHER / MDI
- POLYESTER / TDI
- POLYESTER / MDI
Each material type is suited to different environments and applications, so please consult an Era Polymers representative to discuss your applications further.