One of the reasons polyurethane is better than other materials is that it can be custom moulded to your purpose, including injection moulding. This blog post looks at what Poly Mouldings are, what they’re used for and where to get them.
What is Polyurethane moulding?
There are many different ways you can custom mould polyurethane, including; injection moulding, reaction injection moulding, compression moulding, rotational moulding, blow moulding, and casting.
Injection moulding is perhaps the most accurate, as it allows custom parts to be made to precision, and also allows the manufacture of millions of identical and complex parts.
The process of reaction injection moulding, (or RIM moulding,) involves the injection of a combination of carefully curated chemicals into a mould. The proportions of these chemicals can be altered, meaning that polyurethane moulding can be made to yield many different plastic properties.
There are many different beneficial properties of PU due to this versatility of the materials. Some of these benefits include:
- Hardness
- Tensile strength
- Compression strength
- Impact resistance
- Abrasion resistance
- Tear strength
What is Custom moulding most commonly used for?
The multiple versatilities and benefits of PU custom moulding means that it is used in many different industries, for many different parts. Here are some of the most common uses for polyurethane moulding:
- Furniture, bedding, and seating. Flexible polyurethanes are often used in the form of a foam for bedding and furniture. This is due to PU’s adaptable softness, hardness and density, all whilst still maintaining polyurethane’s renowned longevity and durability. Memory foam is a common use for polyurethane in this industry.
- Thermal Insulation. Frequently used in construction, polyurethane is one of the best performing insulation materials due to its structure of small cells. PU’s low thermal conductivity when compared to other materials means that thinner sheets of PU insulation are needed for a similar outcome; saving space, time and money.
- Footwear. Poly moulding technology is ideal for the soles of footwear, due to PU’s lightweight and shock absorbing nature. It is also better than rubber alternatives in terms of durability, and chemical and water resistance. Polyurethanes elastic, chain-like molecular structure also means that the sole of your shoes can be flexible, making them more comfortable to wear.
- Manufacturing parts. From paper manufacturing to the agricultural industry, poly moulding is one of the most used manufacturing processes for machine parts (like wheels, for example). This is again due to PU’s abrasion resistance, impact tolerance, long term performance and consistency. All this means that long-term, parts need to be replaced much less frequently than other materials, making PU the safest and most cost effective choice.
- Street Furniture. Street furniture, such as bollards, is often made of polyurethane since PU is low maintenance and never requires painting. Weather resistance, durability and impact resistance. PU can also be treated with a biocide that prevents the growth of fungus, mould and mildew, and can be chemically altered for added UV protection and water resistance; making it the perfect choice for outdoor use.
Keep reading: 5 Common Polyurethane Products You Didn’t Know About
Where can you get Poly mouldings?
Custom Moulded Polyurethane offers custom poly mouldings to your project’s specifications. Custom moulding means that products can be made to meet project requirements. This means having the colour, size, accuracy and quantity you need.
To get a quote get in touch with Custom Moulded Polyurethane to discuss your product requirements by calling +44 (0)1594 84 44 45 or emailing enquiries@cmponline.co.uk. You can also request a quote through a form on our website, and we’ll get back to you within 48 hours.
Poly mouldings are used across all industries due to the high versatility of the material, we hope this blog post provides some clarity around what poly moulding is, and when it is most commonly used. If you have any questions about poly moulding or a project you are working on, be sure to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.
Keep reading: How often do you need to buy polyurethane manufactured products?
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