Varieties and areas of use of polyurethane sheet

Polyurethane is a modern polymer material for structural purposes. In terms of its technical properties, this heat-resistant polymer is ahead of rubber and rubber materials. The composition of polyurethane contains such chemical components as isocyanate and polyol, which are petroleum refined products. In addition, the elastic polymer contains amide and urea groups of elastomers.

Today, polyurethane is one of the most used materials in various industrial and economic sectors.

Polymeric material is produced in sheets and rods, but most often polyurethane sheet is in demand, which has certain properties:

• the material is resistant to the effects of certain acidic components and organic solvents, which is why it is used in printing houses for the manufacture of print rollers, as well as in the chemical industry, when storing certain types of aggressive chemicals;
• high hardness of the material allows it to be used as a replacement for sheet metal in areas where there are prolonged increased mechanical loads;
• the polymer is highly resistant to vibration;
• polyurethane products withstand high levels of pressure;
• the material has a low capacity for thermal conductivity, retaining its elasticity even at minus temperatures, in addition, it can withstand indicators up to + 110 ° C;
• the elastomer is resistant to oils and gasoline, as well as petroleum products;
• polyurethane sheet provides reliable electrical insulation and also protects against moisture;
• the polymer surface is resistant to fungi and mold, therefore the material is used in food and medical fields;
• any products made of this polymer can be subjected to multiple deformation cycles, after which they again take their original shape without losing their properties;
• polyurethane has a high degree of wear resistance and is resistant to abrasion.

Polyurethane products have high chemical and technical characteristics and in their properties are significantly superior to metal, plastic and rubber.

It is especially necessary to highlight the thermal conductivity of a polyurethane material if we consider it as a heat-insulating product. The ability to conduct thermal energy in this elastomer depends on its porosity, expressed in the density of the material. The range of possible density for various grades of polyurethane ranges from 30 kg / m3 to 290 kg / m3.

The degree of thermal conductivity of a material depends on its cellularity.

The level of thermal conductivity starts at 0.020 W / mxK and ends at 0.035 W / mxK.

As for the flammability of the elastomer, it belongs to the G2 class - this means an average degree of flammability. The most budgetary brands of polyurethane are classified as G4, which is already considered a combustible material. The ability to burn is explained by the presence of air molecules in low-density elastomer samples. If the manufacturers of polyurethane designate the flammability class G2, it means that the material contains flame retardant components, since there are no other methods to reduce the flammability of this polymer.

According to the degree of flammability, polyurethane is classified as B2 class, that is, to hardly flammable products.

In addition to its positive characteristics, polyurethane material also has a number of disadvantages:

• the material is subject to destruction under the influence of phosphoric and nitric acid, and is also unstable to the action of formic acid;
• polyurethane is unstable in an environment where there is a high concentration of chlorine or acetone compounds;
• the material is capable of collapsing under the influence of turpentine;
• under the influence of high temperature conditions in an alkaline medium, the elastomer begins to break down after a certain period of time;
• if polyurethane is used outside its operating temperature ranges, then the chemical and physical properties of the material change for the worse.

Elastomers of both domestic and foreign production are presented on the Russian market of polymer construction materials. Polyurethane is supplied to Russia by foreign manufacturers from Germany, Italy, America and China. As for domestic products, most often on sale there are polyurethane sheets of the SKU-PFL-100, TSKU-FE-4, SKU-7L, PTGF-1000, LUR-ST brands and so on.

High-quality polyurethane is produced in accordance with the requirements of GOST 14896 standards. The properties of the material should be as follows:

• tensile strength - 26 MPa;
• elongation of the material during rupture - 390%;
• polymer hardness on the Shore scale - 80 units;
• breaking resistance - 80 kgf / cm;
• relative density - 1.13 g / cm³;
• tensile density - 40 MPa;
• operating temperature range - from -40 to + 110 ° C;
• material color - transparent light yellow;
• shelf life - 1 year.

The polymer material is resistant to radiation, ozone and ultraviolet radiation. Polyurethane can retain its properties when used under pressure up to 1200 bar.

The characteristics of a high degree of strength of the material appear if the product is made according to the norms of state standards. In the market for technical products, polyurethane as a structural material can most often be found in the form of rods or plates. The sheet of this elastomer is produced with a thickness of 2 to 80 mm, the rods are from 20 to 200 mm in diameter.

Polyurethane can be produced in liquid, foamed and sheet form.

• Liquid form elastomer is used for processing building structures, body parts, and also used for other types of metal or concrete products that are weakly resistant to the effects of a humid environment.

• Foamed polyurethane type used for the manufacture of sheet insulation. The material is used in construction for external and internal thermal insulation.

• Polyurethane sheet is produced in the form of plates or products of a certain configuration.

Russian-made polyurethane has a transparent light yellow color. If you see red polyurethane, then you have an analogue of Chinese origin, which is manufactured according to TU and does not comply with GOST standards.

Domestic manufacturers of polyurethane produce their products in various sizes.... Most often, plates with a size of 400x400 mm or 500x500 mm are presented on the Russian market, sizes of 1000x1000 mm and 800x1000 mm or 1200x1200 mm are slightly less common. Oversized dimensions of polyurethane boards can be produced with dimensions of 2500x800 mm or 2000x3000 mm. In some cases, enterprises take a bulk order and produce a batch of polyurethane plates according to the specified parameters of thickness and size.

The unique properties of polyurethane make it possible to use it in various industries and fields of activity:

• for lining crushing and grinding lines, conveying lines, in bunkers and hoppers;
• for lining chemical containers in contact with aggressive chemicals;
• for the manufacture of press dies for forging and stamping equipment;
• for sealing rotating elements of wheels, shafts, rollers;
• to create vibration-resistant floor coverings;
• as anti-vibration seals for window and door openings;
• for arranging anti-slip surfaces near the pool, in the bathroom, in the sauna;
• in the manufacture of protective mats for the interior and luggage compartment of cars;
• when arranging the foundation for the installation of equipment with high dynamic loads and vibration;
• for shock-absorbing pads for industrial machines and equipment.

Polyurethane material is a relatively young product in the market of modern industrial products, but thanks to its versatility, it has become widely known. This elastomer is used for O-rings and collars, rollers and bushings, hydraulic seals, conveyor belts, rolls, stands, air springs and so on.

In household use, polyurethane is used in the form of shoe soles, imitation of plaster moldings, children's toys, floor anti-slip coatings for marble stairs and bathrooms are made of elastomer.

You can learn more about the areas of use of polyurethane in the following video.