Some specific properties of Polyurethanes when examined show it to be a more practical choice as compared to those of rubber, metal and plastic.

• Abrasion Resistance:
The outstanding abrasion resistance of Cast polyurethanes has resulted in thousands of successful applications. In laboratory tests as well as in field applications, Cast Polyurethanes show a definite wear advantage over many other materials, The following figure illustrates a comparison of abrasion properties of Polyurethane with rubbers and plastics.

Above figure illustrates a comparison of abrasion properties of solid polyurethane with rubbers and plastics. In field studies, polyurethanes have outworn rubbers and plastics, as well as steel and ceramics in some applications, by a factor of 8 to 1.

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• Stress /Strain Properties
Some plastics have high modulus and tensile strength but low elongation. Most rubbers , have high elongation but low modulus and tensile strength. Polyurethane elastomers have high modulus, high tensile strength and high elongation. This combination imparts toughness and durability to the part.

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• Compression Properties:
Cast Polyurethanes have much higher load-bearing capacity than conventional elastomers of similar hardness.

Above figure is a comparison of the compressive stresses required to cause a 10% deflection with samples of cast polyurethanes and Neoprene rubber. This high load bearing capacity , combined with the superior abrasion and toughness is an important advantage in applications like metal forming die-pads, die springs, Fork lift tires, caster wheels, industrial rolls, etc.

• Hardness and Resilience:
Cast Polyurethane elastomers can be compounded in a wide range of hardness from 20A to 75D (soft as a rubber band or as hard as plastic) Special formulations of cast polyurethanes can be made with resilience values as low as 2% or 75%. This is ideal for applications such as springs and shock mounts.