APPLICATIONS OF THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANE ELASTOMER

EHC’s robust and revolutionary NT 3000 thermoplastic polyurethane escalator handrails hold the
advantage of superior resistance to de lamination, drive slippage, dust and vandalism.

Ball grinding mill

PU injection parts
PU squelch wheel
PU wheel of skating shoe, silk screen coating boot
PU elevator door, hook wheel and pulley
Thermoplastic polyurethane soft hose, V-belt, round belt, triangle belt, penta-angle belt
PU flexible coupling
Load bearing PU wheel
PU backup wheel, accelerating wheel and thread guiding and edging Rola wheel for textile machine

Polyurethane tires for electric lift trucks. Designed to handle the higher speeds of AC lift trucks

Production of parts for escalator handrails and rollers for use on escalators and elevators; as well as for
motor vehicles such as bumpers, spoilers, fenders, as well as tools, appliances, sporting goods, footwear
and tube connectors

PELLETHANE™ thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers

– provide excellent clarity, chemical resistance and flexibility.
Applications include exterior components like grilles, molding,
cladding and spoilers; IP skins, air induction systems
and single-sided window encapsulation.

Thermoplastic Polyurethanes, TPU's

Like the Styrenic TPE's, TPU's are block copolymers comprised of thermoplastic and rubber phases. The
ratio of these phases determines the nature of the product.

Materials range in hardness from 70 Shore A to 80 Shore D. Values below 70 Shore A are achievable but
difficult to handle due to their tackiness. Service temperatures range from - 50 C to 150 C and all have
excellent adhesion properties.

Thermoplastic TPU's, unlike the other TPE's, need to be pre-dried before processing by the normal
thermoplastic processing techniques. As viscous materials they are also shear sensitive in the molten
state.

FDA approved grades are widely used for meat and poultry wrapping. Newly developed grades, with
high moisture vapour transmission values, are used in disposable medical garments and foul weather
clothing. Extruded hose and pipe is used for potable water and medical devices such as catheters and
cardio implants. TPU's are also found in hydraulic hose and fuel tanks. Injection moulded components
are widely used in the automotive industry for fender extensions, fascias, gaskets etc. They are also used
in sporting goods such as ski boots and industrial wheels.
Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPE-U or TPU) These materials can be based on polyester or polyether
urethane types and are used in applications where a product requires excellent tear strength, abrasion
resistance, and flex fatigue resistance. Examples include shoe soles, industrial belting, ski boots, and
wire and cable. Hardness is restricted to the high end of the Shore A scale, typically >80 Shore A.

Both thermoset and thermoplastic urethane components are manufactured by a variety of processes
including casting, injection molding, transfer molding, extrusion, and reaction injection molding (RIM).
Additionally, after treatment by a peroxide or sulfur curing process, malleable gum urethane can be
processed with standard rubber-industry molding equipment. Typical polyurethane components include
wheels, belts, rollers, shock-absorbing parts, gears, housings, bumpers, and squeegees.

A less readily obtainable property of urethane, but one that OEMs are looking for with increasing
frequency, is electrical semiconductivity. Semiconductive polyurethane components can enhance the
performance of a wide range of business machines and other electronic products. These include
printers, copiers, postal meters, ATM machines, and various medical charting and imaging devices.

Characteristics

Polyurethane elastomers are extremely versatile materials offering a wide range of special
characteristics. They have a particularly high level of elasticity, tensile strength and elongation. Besides
being superior in their rubber elasticity, abrasion resistance and ozone resistance, these products also
have good resistance to oil and gasoline. Other characteristics include being heat resistant (-20°C to
80°C) and hydrolysis resistant, as well as having shock absorbing abilities.

Usage

Industrial use - wide range of rollers, tubes, belts, packaging, gear,

insulation rubber, pipe linings and coatings for textile surfaces, and
insulators for electrical products
Others - shoe soles, plastic hammers, cutting boards, adhesive
sheets, and solid tires

polyurethane elastomers are currently being used as a special

sealant to bind bundles of hollow fibers in artificial dialysis cylinders .

Polyurethane elastomers are used in various rollers for copying

machines and electronic printers, as well as for rollers in traditional paper, steel and metal plating
manufacturing operations. Polyurethane elastomers are also used as insulation materials for LNG
carriers and storage tanks.

The biocompatibility of polyurethane-based elastomers enables them to be utilized in water purification

units, diapers and sanitary napkins.

Application Type

Roller skate/skateboard wheels MIDI ether

Printing/coating rolls TDI ester
Oil pipeline pigs TDI/MDI ester
Grain handling equipment MIDI ester
Fork lift tires TDI ethers, esters
Hammers TDI esters
Sandblast curtains and masks MIDI ethers
Laundry equipment MIDI ether
Paper mill rolls TDI ethers
Metal processing equipment MIDI esters, ethers