Applications
Polyurethanes
Formulation, preparation, and application of materials for Polyurethanes
Polyurethane chemistries are quite fascinating as they can provide an extremely broad range of useful physical properties and are generally more durable & tear resistant than thermoplastics or synthetic rubber. Their unreacted viscosities and fast reaction times (which can often be accelerated with heat) also make them well suited for high throughput manufacturing. You’ll find hard, tough polyurethane materials in applications like climbing handholds and golf ball covers. Some chemistries can be soft and “tacky” yet sturdy enough to become the highest performance skateboard and rollerblade wheels or automotive bushings. They are also used as durable coatings for wood & fabrics, foam for insulation/bedding/seating/packaging, wear resistant components for conveyors/rollers, on garments & shoes, adhesives, sealants and more.
Fast reacting urethanes & polyurethanes can be challenging to mix and test at a lab scale as they may start to cure or blow (foam) seconds after combining components. Extremely rapid mixing is needed to thoroughly mix and still have time to pour & cast test parts. Mixing with single use mixing vessels & components is also highly recommended as the materials are likely to cure before they can be cleaned off.
For materials other than foams, it is often necessary to deair and/or vacuum degas materials prior to curing to prevent voids and achieve the best physical properties. This is most pronounced for systems using an isocyanate curative that is reactive with moisture (reacts to produce CO2 gas/bubbles). If reagents and equipment are kept dry e.g., in a vacuum oven, dearing without vacuum mixing may be sufficient. If any moisture is present and needs to be removed, a vacuum mixing cycle will solve the problem. Vacuum mixing is also recommended for moisture cured systems, especially those containing filler such as SPUR adhesives & sealants.
Why Hauschild SpeedMixer®
- Epoxy based adhesives are often used in place of or in addition to traditional fasteners. They provide a strong and permanent bond to a variety of materials like metals, ceramics, composites, and foams. They may be mixed with rheology modifiers like fumed silica, flocking for reinforcement, or beads to control the thickness of adhesive between bonded surfaces.
- To achieve the strongest possible bond, surfaces being bonded must be prepared by cleaning & sometimes roughening, epoxy components and additives must be weighed at the correct ratio as specified by the manufacturer, and the system must be mixed thoroughly. A vacuum degassing procedure is also often used to remove bubbles, dissolved gasses, or volatile content that could otherwise create voids or outgas. Once mixed, the epoxy will start to react and must be applied within the “working time” before it begins to gel or harden. The adhesives can often be packaged into cartridges to make application easier and faster so that nearly all the material can be used within the working time and waste is minimized.
Reduce operational costs with energy-efficient machines designed for rapid and thorough mixing, ensuring no unwanted bubbles & voids.
Easily scale your production from small batches to large quantities while maintaining uniformity and quality.
Our mixers handle a wide range of applications, including dispersing rheology modifiers like fumed silica and incorporating structures like hollow glass micro balloons to reduce density.
Hauschild Engineering Announces Expanded Support
for SpeedMixer™ Customers
Applications
Regardless of industry, Hauschild SpeedMixer® performs beautifully
