Castable urethane raw materials are liquid, which permits them to be pumped, metered, mixed and dispensed by machines under very precise control of temperature and ingredient proportions. They enter molds as a hot liquid at low pressure and are cured at an elevated temperature. This unique characteristic allows us to mold any shape, any size. We can mold very large urethane parts with thick cross-sections which are completely uniform throughout.
Urethane typically offers a longer service life compared to plastics or conventional rubber. Urethane parts can be soft as a sponge, hard as a rock, or anywhere in between. Some urethane formulations are FDA-approved for food contact applications. Other benefits of urethane include:
Urethane Advantages...
| ...vs. Metal |
|
Lightweight Noise Reduction Abrasion Resistance Less Expensive Fabrication Corrosion Resistance Resilience Impact Resistance Flexibility Easily Moldable Non-Conductive Non-Sparking Often Lower Cost |
| ...vs. Plastics |
|
High Impact Resistance Elastic Memory Abrasion Resistance Noise Reduction Variable Coefficient of Friction Resilience Thick Section Molding Lower Cost Tooling Low Temperature Resistance Resistance to Cold Flow (or Compression Set) Radiation Resistance |
| ...vs. Rubber |
|
High Abrasion Resistance High Cut & Tear Resistance Superior Load Bearing Capacity Thick Section Molding Without a Cutting Gradient Colorability Oil Resistance Ozone Resistance Radiation Resistance Broader Hardness Range Castable Nature Lower Cost, Low Pressure Tooling |
To learn more about urethane, please see our Design Guide.
Polyurethane offers dozens of benefits, can be a smart substitute for metal, plastics, and rubber, and can be molded for a wide variety of applications.