Polyurethane components used in industrial environments are often exposed to demanding conditions, including heat, oil, and hydrolytic degradation. Maintaining mechanical performance under these factors is essential to ensure durability and long-term reliability. However, not all polyurethane systems provide the same level of resistance, making material selection a critical step in engineering design.
ETERNATHANE® 500 is a polycarbonate-based, MDI-terminated urethane prepolymer developed to deliver stable performance under these conditions. Its adjustable free NCO content, ranging from 5 to 16 wt%, enables precise tuning of polyurethane properties. This flexibility allows formulators to adapt the material to different mechanical and processing requirements depending on the application.
Polyurethanes based on ETERNATHANE® 500 show enhanced durability against hydrolysis, heat, and oil exposure. As shown in the chart on page 1, tensile strength retention remains higher compared to alternative systems such as PTMEG and polycaprolactone after exposure to aggressive environments.
In terms of mechanical performance, polyurethanes formulated with ETERNATHANE® 500 deliver a strong and flexible performance profile, combining excellent strength and resistance to permanent deformation, ensuring stable and reliable performance under demanding service conditions.
The material is also designed for practical processing. It offers a working pot life suitable for both machine and hand-batching procedures and can be combined with different curative agents, including 1,4-butanediol or polycarbonate diols, to further tailor performance.
Typical use involves casting processes under controlled temperature and moisture conditions, ensuring consistent material behavior and final part quality. This combination of durability, formulation adjustability, and processing reliability makes ETERNATHANE® 500 a suitable solution for high-quality polyurethane applications.
