Elastomers for all applications

These plastics are PU thermoset elastomers. Depending on the chosen product and requested hardness, they can be two-component or three-component polyurethanes.

Their physical properties makes them soft materials with a high flexibility.

Unlike thermoplastic, they undergo chemical reaction called curing or cross-linking during the manufacturing process. Once they are set, they cannot be melted or reshaped. This bonding structure gives the material durability and more resistance to heat or chemical aggression.

These urethane materials are defined as elastomers as they have a rubber-like behaviour, with a high level of elasticity. This means that they can stretch several times and return to they original shape when the stress is removed. Moreover, being thermoset PUs, Synthene products show a great wearproofness, making them durable elastomers.

The Shore hardness of these elastic materials ranges from 35 Shore A for the softer Fastelast mix, to 65 Shore D for the semi-rigid HPR65.

The HPE and the HPR65 are suitable for injection or extrusion in RIM machine. For the HPE, depending on the requested hardness, the 2 polyols or the 2 isocyanates have to be pre-mixed before filling the tanks of the two-component mixing machine.

Pigments can be added to these elastomeric materials. However, it is important to note that the HPE et HPR65 materials are sensitive to UV light and will darken over time. The pigments must be solvent-based and should always be pre-mixed in the polyol component before mixing. We recommend an addition of 1% to 3% of pigment.

We recommend to use polyaddition silicone rubber to make the mould. In case of high scale application, aluminium mould can be considered.

The HPE, and particularly the hardnesses ranging from 60 Shore A to 85 Shore A, can be used to make durable polyurethane moulds. This tooling material is highly tear resistant and can be used to realise concrete moulding for example. With PU moulds instead of traditional silicone moulds, a subsequent amount of parts can be moulded in one tooling material.

All these materials should be casted or injected at room temperature. In order to reduce the viscosity of the HPE, it is possible to slightly heat the components to facilitate the castings, depending on your project. In that case, the potlife will also be reduced, it is therefore important to take this parameter into account.

The HPE can withstand temperatures between -40°C and +90°C

The Fastelast can be used between -20°C and +80°C

For the HPR65, we recommend applications between -20°C and +85°C

The colder the environment, the more rigid the product will be.

Unlike thermoplastics, the material will not melt if exposed to hot temperatures. In case of warm temperatures, the product will soften. If the temperature is too hot, the material can be subject to deformation

The HPE are formulated to have an exceptional chemical resistance. It can be used underwater and automotive environments. Synthene has tested the HPE in several automotive fluids such as diesel, engine oil, aqueous solutions. It has also been used in many projects with submarine applications.

Synthene’s elastomers are very versatile and can be used in various industries such as Aerospace, Automotive, Leisure, Medical, Defense, Prototyping, Foundry…

The PU elastomers can be used to make various types of soft parts with high resistance, such as: seals, gaskets, silent blocks, anti-vibration parts, fitting reference to set manufactured parts, protective layers as a coating, car parts, hoses, bellows, wheels, carterpillars, rollers, conveyor belts, concrete moulds with greater resistance than silicone, encapsulation materials, sport shoe soles, diabolo-shaped parts to guide pipes, bend resitrictors, pipe brake, clamps, pipe coatings,…the possibilities are endless! Contact us to discuss about your project!

Rubbers like the HPE can be used for the fabrication of substrates, as a coating or protective layer for electronic parts for instance, or for composite materials.

The HPE system shows a good adhesion to metal, as long as the surface is properly cleaned, sanded and cleaned again with a proper solvent. All the process should be completely moisture-free. Using a compatible primer is necesary to guarantee a good level of bonding. After these steps, the casting can be realised on the metal part.

For the Fastelast system, a post-curing is necesary to obtain the optimized properties of the polymer.

In the case of HPE or HPR65, a post-curing is possible. However, letting the product cure at room temperature (23°C) is also an option. This is particularly helpful for parts with big dimensions, or with specific shapes that do not fit in an oven. Within 7 days, the product has reached the mechanical characteristics that are indicated in the technical datasheet (TDS).

Before or during casting, we recommend to keep the material away from any source of moisture, that may react with the isocyanate component and create foam in the material, or unsual softness. To guarantee a successful casting, store and use the product in a dry place.

Once the product is set, our elastomers show a good resistance to moisture. The High Performance Elastomers (HPE)

The exposure to UV has an impact on the colour of the material, that can darken over time. Regarding the mechanical properties, the PU elastomers are stable materials that can be used in outdoor conditions.

These ranges of thermoset PU rubber-like products have been formulated to have a high resistance to tear and abrasion.