Rubber and polyurethaneproperties

Polyurethanes are formed through the chemical reaction between a polyol and diisocyanate. Despite having a complex chemical structure, polyurethanes like thermosets can be custom formulated to meet exact design and performance requirements. As a result, polyurethanes can virtually be found anywhere in applications like medical devices, military & defense, and packaging to name a few.

Ground sealed bearings have a machined housing and a flanged outer race. Their unique inner race construction accommodates a 3/4″ bore and 1-3/8″ OD. Size is not available in a precision sealed bearing.

If you find custom leak test seals are a key requirement for improved performance, this can easily be tailored by your thermoset polyurethane manufacturer. For material assistance, complete our design tool here, or click the button below to start your custom polyurethane seal today.

Ispolyurethane rubberor plastic

While rubber and polyurethanes may have a few similarities, there are many distinct differences between the two. As an example, the table below breaks down these variations to help discern between the two sought-after materials:

Polyurethanevsrubbersole

Rubbers are a family of polymeric materials based on the chemistry of natural rubber latex. While there are many synthetic rubbers on the market, they share a basic chemical composition with natural rubbers. While rubber is a cost-effective solution for many applications, its physical properties often prevent superior performance, especially in extreme environments.

Rubber and polyurethane seals are commonly used for their material selection and physical properties. Depending on its environmental conditions and overall function, one material is usually a better option over the other. For example, leak tests are often an excellent application for polyurethane seals as helium is typically employed during testing. Unlike rubber, polyurethanes can exhibit superior abrasion resistance, tensile strength, and tolerances to greases, oils, oxygen, and ozone. In addition, polyurethanes like thermosets can offer product engineers an endless range of customizable formulations and manufacturing capabilities to achieve complex geometries and better performance for extended wear. Because rubber is biodegradable, it tends to rot and degrade over time with exposure to certain elements - leading to potentially inaccurate test results and frequent seal replacements. For this reason, polyurethanes are often preferred for applications that require very specific physical properties for improved performance.

Rubber and polyurethane are two types of materials that are commonly employed in leak test seals. While there are many formulations to choose from within these two polymers, each material has its unique physical properties that can improve or weaken the performance of your leak test. To help streamline your material decisions, we will discuss these two commonly employed materials and explore which ones may be best for your application.