PU (Polyurethane) sheet is a polymer material sheet made of polyurethane resin as the main raw material through casting, calendering or extrusion. It has the elasticity of rubber, the strength of plastic and unique physical and chemical properties, and is widely used in industry, consumer electronics, automobiles, medical and other fields.
The core advantage of Polyether polymer sheet lies in its "designability" - by adjusting the raw material formula (such as polyols, isocyanates, chain extenders, etc.) and process parameters, its hardness, elasticity, wear resistance, chemical resistance and other properties can be precisely controlled to meet the needs of different scenarios. Compared with traditional materials (such as PVC, rubber, silicone), PU sheet has the following differentiated characteristics:
High elasticity and tear resistance: The elongation at break can reach 300%-800%, which is much higher than PVC (usually <200%), and the tear strength is excellent, which is suitable for scenes with repeated bending or impact.
Outstanding wear resistance: The Akron abrasion value (an indicator of wear resistance) is only 0.01-0.03cm³/1.61km, which is 1/3-1/5 of rubber, and it is not easy to wear after long-term use.
Oil and chemical resistance: It has good resistance to mineral oil, animal and vegetable oils, weak acids and alkalis, etc. (but strong solvents such as acetone may dissolve PU), suitable for oily environments or chemical contact scenes.
Low temperature toughness: The glass transition temperature (Tg) can be adjusted to below -40°C through the formula, and it still maintains flexibility at low temperatures (better than the problem of PVC becoming brittle at low temperatures).
Environmental protection: Some solvent-free PU sheets can meet environmental standards such as RoHS and REACH, and can be recycled (thermoplastic PU, TPU).
Hardness (Shore A/D): Determines flexibility and load-bearing capacity. Soft (below A 30) is suitable for fitting the human body (such as insoles), and hard (above D 60) is suitable for load-bearing structures (such as gears).
Tensile strength and elongation at break: PU sheets with tensile strength > 20MPa and elongation at break > 300% can withstand high-strength stretching (such as industrial conveyor belts).
Abrasion resistance (Akron wear value): The lower the value, the better the wear resistance. PU sheets with <0.03cm³/1.61km are suitable for high-friction scenarios (such as elevator wheels).
Temperature resistance: The temperature range of ordinary PU is -40℃~80℃, and special formulas can be extended to -50℃~120℃ (such as automotive engine compartment parts).
Chemical resistance: Stable to grease, weak acids and alkalis, but strong oxidants (such as concentrated sulfuric acid) and aromatic hydrocarbons (such as toluene) may degrade, and the formula needs to be selected according to the contact medium.
Typical application areas
Industrial manufacturing
Conveyor belt base material: wear-resistant and oil-resistant properties make it the first choice for food, mining, and logistics conveyor belts (replacing rubber, with a lifespan increase of 3-5 times).
Mechanical seals/shock absorbers: high elasticity and fatigue resistance can absorb vibrations and are used in machine tools and stamping equipment (reducing noise by more than 30%).
Consumer electronics
Mobile phone/tablet protective cover: TPU sheets are injection molded to achieve lightness (thickness 0.5-2mm), drop resistance (fall height 1.5m without damage) and touch sensitivity.
Electronic shielding pads: conductive PU sheets (with added carbon fiber or metal powder) are used in semiconductor production lines to prevent static electricity from damaging components.
Automotive industry
Interior parts: seat armrests, headrest coverings (soft PU, Shaw A 50-70, comfortable touch and easy to clean).
Dust cover/buffer block: engine peripheral parts need to be resistant to high temperatures (100-120℃) and oil stains, and PU sheets can replace traditional rubber.
Medical health
Medical gaskets/orthopedic braces: Medical grade PU (passed ISO 10993 biocompatibility test) is non-toxic and non-allergenic, used as a plaster substitute or postoperative fixation.
Protective clothing lining: Breathable PU microporous membrane (thickness 50-200μm) is both waterproof and breathable (MVTR＞5000g/m²·24h).
Home life
Anti-slip floor mats/yoga mats: Soft PU (Shore A 60-80) surface texture design enhances friction and rebounds quickly (recovery time <0.5s).
Customized furniture covering: High hardness PU (Shore D 60-80) can imitate wood grain/stone grain effects, and its wear resistance is better than PVC veneer.
