Casting Urethanes

By comparison, Casting Urethanes offer a wide range of pliability and hardness:

• The 40 Shore A casting resin is soft with the approximate hardness of a rubber band.
• The 60 Shore A casting resin is firmer, about as hard as a car tire.
• The 60 Shore D casting resin is as hard as a solid rubber tire.
• The 75 Shore D casting resin is as hard as a hardhat.
• Fast Set Tooling/Prototyping Urethane Kit parts cure to a harder 80-84 Shore D.

Urethane casting resins, also known as polyurethane casting resins, are a type of liquid polymer that can be poured into molds to create solid, durable, and high-quality plastic parts. These resins offer several advantages and are widely used in various industries for prototyping, model making, and small-scale production. Here are some key characteristics and features of urethane casting resins:

1. Versatility: Urethane casting resins are available in a wide range of formulations, allowing for versatility in terms of mechanical properties, cure times, flexibility, and hardness. This versatility makes them suitable for a variety of applications across industries.
2. Easy to Use: Urethane casting resins are typically two-component systems that consist of a resin and a hardener. Mixing these components in the correct ratio initiates the curing process. They have relatively low viscosities, making them easy to mix and pour into molds. They also have a relatively long pot life, allowing ample time for handling and pouring.
3. Quick Curing: Urethane casting resins cure quickly, typically within a few minutes to several hours, depending on the specific formulation and ambient conditions. Faster curing times enable rapid prototyping and faster production cycles.
4. Dimensional Accuracy: Urethane casting resins have good dimensional accuracy and reproduce intricate details from the mold, resulting in high-quality parts that closely resemble the original model or pattern.
5. Mechanical Properties: Urethane casting resins can exhibit a wide range of mechanical properties, such as hardness, flexibility, impact resistance, and tensile strength. The specific properties can be tailored by selecting the appropriate resin formulation and adjusting the curing process.
6. Material Compatibility: Urethane casting resins are compatible with various additives, fillers, and pigments, allowing for customization of the material properties, appearance, and color of the cast parts. This flexibility makes it possible to achieve specific performance requirements or desired aesthetics.
7. Wide Range of Applications: Urethane casting resins find applications in various industries, including prototyping, model making, product design, art and sculpture, automotive parts, electronics encapsulation, medical devices, and consumer goods. They offer a cost-effective alternative to other manufacturing processes, such as injection molding, for small production runs or customized parts.

It is important to note that the handling, safety precautions, and specific properties of urethane casting resins can vary. It is recommended to follow the instructions and guidelines for proper usage, storage, and handling of these materials.

Want to learn more about Urethane Casting Resins? Fibre Glast has a free Learning Center with helpful white papers. You can learn more about Urethane Casting Resins by reading the white paper, Introduction to Urethane Casting Resins, or watch our video, A Step-by-Step Guide to Fast Set Urethane Resins.

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