Comparison of Some Soft Unplasticized Cast Polyurethane Rubbers

Different types of unplasticized cast polyurethanes with hardness around 60 Shore A have been compared. The tensile properties, tear strength, resistance to hydrolysis, and swelling in solvents and water were examined. The influence of composition on the properties of cast polyurethanes prepared from a polyadipate polyol and diisocyanates, including the effect of a range of fillers, was investigated in detail. Fumed silica, fumed alumina, and carbon black significantly increased the hardness and tensile strength of the rubber, whereas kaolin and talc gave small increases. Ground silica, calcite, and rutile had no effect. No significant increases in tensile strength were obtained with silane and titanate coupling agents with a fumed silica filler. The rate of hydrolysis or extent of swelling in xylene was unchanged by fillers.