Glossary — polyurethane raw-material terms
Reference definitions for the RAG assistant: when a client asks "what is NCO / pot life / Shore", the bot answers from here. Each term — brief and precise.
TDI (toluene diisocyanate)
An isocyanate on which TIMOL's hot prepolymers are built (the TDI-xxxx line). Provides high strength and abrasion resistance; processing requires heating + the MOCA curative. See Hot System.
MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate)
An isocyanate on which component B of the cold mold systems (the DM series) is built. Allows curing at room temperature, without heating. See Cold System.
MOCA
An aromatic diamine curative for TDI prepolymers. Melts (~120 ℃) and mixes with the prepolymer at a set ratio (e.g., 100:11.7 for TDI-3140 (89A)). It solidifies if the temperature drops below working temperature — use the whole batch at once.
PTMEG
Polyether glycol (polytetramethylene ether glycol) — the "soft" base of the prepolymers TDI-2162 (95A) and TDI-2135 (85A); provides high elasticity, rebound and dynamic durability. Unlike the polyether base of TDI-3140 (89A).
Shore hardness (Shore A / Shore D)
A measure of elastomer hardness. Shore A — soft/medium PU (50-95A at TIMOL); Shore D — rigid (e.g., 49D in TDI-2162 (95A)). The higher the number — the harder the material.
NCO%
The content of free isocyanate groups in the prepolymer. Determines the ratio with the curative and the final hardness. E.g., 4.0% in TDI-3140 (89A), 6.2% in TDI-2162 (95A).
Pot life
The time during which the mixed compound stays liquid and suitable for pouring. E.g., 7 min in TDI-3140 (89A). After that, gelation begins.
Gel time
The moment the compound transitions from a liquid to a gel-like state — pouring must be finished before this.
Hot casting vs cold
Hot — prepolymer+MOCA, heated to 80-120 ℃ (the TDI line, Hot System). Cold — A/B at 25-40 ℃ without an oven (Cold System, the DM series).
Specific gravity / density
Mass per unit volume of the material (~1.05-1.26 g/cm³) — needed to calculate consumption per product.