What are Cast Elastomers?
A polymer becomes an elastomer when it possesses elastic characteristics, much like rubber.
Polyurethane is often referred to as PU.
Polyurethane cast elastomers can be many things: they can be strong, stiff, flexible, tough, resilient, durable, long-lasting and viscoelastic.
Polyurethane (PU) cast elastomer is a polymeric chemical compound that is formed through the reaction of a di isocyanate and a multifunctional polyol, glycol and/or amine.
Polyurethane elastomers while an important polymeric material used extensively in engineering applications, are a small part of the polyurethane (PU) group of materials.
Polyurethane elastomers are formed by combining an isocyanate such as (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) MDI, or (toluene diisocyanate) TDI, and a polymeric polyol - by changing these constituents and their ratio - the qualities of the polyurethane elastomers are exploited and formulated.
Additives such as pigments, flame retardants and/or fillers can also be added to the formulation.
Advantages of using NEUTHANE TM cast elastomers …
- resistance to abrasion
- high tensile and tear strength
- resistance to seawater and chemicals (oil, fuel, gas)
- high load-bearing capacity
- oxidation resistance
- transparency
- adhesiveness
- shape retention
- operating temperature (of the finished product) -60C° to 95C °
- wide hardness range
- strong adhesive
- flexible
- electric insulating properties
- noise dampening properties
Polyurethane elastomer is moulded via the reaction injection moulding (RIM) process.
The two or more liquid components, (isocyanate, polyol and additives), are metered through a mixing chamber and injected or poured into a mould where the chemical reaction of the components takes place to form an elastomeric solid material.
Also, elastomers are highly mouldable and stable allowing the production of large and/or detailed parts.
NEUTHANE elastomer moulded parts can be highly specified and cast to the most exacting of customer specifications.