---
title: "Bimetallic Lining in the Mining Industry: Polyurethane and Steel"
description: "Bimetallic lining with TIMOL polyurethane: design, advantages, comparison with rubber and steel, installation features, and custom orders. Learn more!"
lang: "en"
date: "2026-11-14"
canonical_url: "https://timol.com.ua/en/statti/bimetaleve-futeruvannya-v-girnichodobuvniy-promyshlovosti"
---
# Bimetallic Lining in the Mining Industry: Polyurethane and Steel

Have you encountered situations where metal lining of chutes or gravity equipment wears out within months, causing downtime that leads to losses of thousands of tons of production? Rubber lining, which seemed like a savior, quickly wears under abrasive action and cannot withstand impact loads. Bimetallic lining based on steel and polyurethane offers a solution that combines rigidity and cushioning, ensuring a truly long service life. In this article, you will learn how bimetallic lining works, why TIMOL polyurethane is more effective than rubber and pure steel, and how to order parts for your unit.

## What is Bimetallic Lining: Design, Principle, and Manufacturing
Bimetallic lining is a combination of a metal base element (usually structural or wear-resistant steel) and a layer of cast polyurethane that directly absorbs abrasive loads. This assembly consists of a steel carrier onto which a polyurethane layer, several millimeters to several centimeters thick, is applied by free casting. Steel provides geometric stability, fastening, and resistance to large mechanical loads, while polyurethane absorbs the main abrasive impact, dampens dynamic loads, and extends the maintenance interval.

The manufacturing process at TIMOL involves careful preparation of the metal base: cleaning, degreasing, and roughening the surface for reliable adhesion. Then, polyurethane is poured into a mold and polymerized directly on the metal. This ensures a monolithic bond of the layers without the risk of delamination, even under moisture or vibration. The thickness and hardness of the polyurethane are selected for specific operating conditions, from units working with large ore fractions to gravity chutes with fine wet abrasives.

## Where Bimetallic Lining Really Works in the Mining Industry
Bimetallic lining shows maximum efficiency in units with strong abrasive and impact loads, where standard steel or rubber quickly wears out. This includes gravity chutes, trays, troughs, bucket elevators, wear-resistant plates, elements of transport systems, and screens. Such plates are mounted by bolting, anchoring, or gluing directly to the supporting structure. Joint surfaces must be flat, and the polyurethane layer free of cracks and defects, which is crucial for long-term operation under heavy loads.

In gravity equipment, bimetallic lining not only extends the service life of the unit but also reduces the risk of emergency stops due to material sticking and clogging. Unlike all-metal linings, the polyurethane layer does not corrode, is not destroyed by chemicals, and does not chip under local impacts. Units remain sealed and require less frequent maintenance, which is especially important for hard-to-reach areas of mines and quarries.

## Why Polyurethane in Bimetallic Lining is More Effective than Rubber and Pure Steel
Polyurethane in bimetallic lining provides 10 times higher wear resistance compared to standard rubber and significantly surpasses steel in abrasion resistance due to its elasticity. The elastic layer of polyurethane deflects abrasive particles, preventing deep cuts and chipping, which is unattainable for rigid steel. The steel base ensures the necessary rigidity for mounting and load transfer to the structure, while being fully protected from aggressive environments and corrosion, as it is isolated by polyurethane.

For units with strong abrasives, it is optimal to choose polyurethane with a hardness of 80, 95 Shore A. This range provides the best balance between wear resistance and elasticity, ensuring the material does not crumble or lose elasticity even at high temperatures or impacts. In practice, such lining lasts 3 to 5 times longer than rubber, and under intense abrasion, 10 times longer than standard rubber. Learn more about the properties of polyurethane and its applications in the mining industry in the [relevant section](/galuzi/gornodobyvayuschaya_promyshlennost).

## Comparative Table: Polyurethane, Rubber, Steel in Lining

| Material | Abrasion (DIN 53516) | Working Temperature | Tensile Strength | Hardness | Density |
|---------------------------|----------------------|-----------------------|--------------------|-------------------------|---------------------|
| Polyurethane (TIMOL) | 20-45 mm3 | -60...+100 °C | 25-60 MPa | 50 Shore A - 70 Shore D | 1.05-1.25 g/cm3 |
| Rubber SBR | 100-200 mm3 | -40...80 °C | 8-20 MPa | 40A - 80A | 0.94-1.1 g/cm3 |
| Steel (structural) |, | -40...500 °C | 370-700 MPa | 120 HB - 250 HB | 7.7-7.9 g/cm3 |
| Wear-resistant steel Hardox |, | -40...250 °C | 1250-1600 MPa | 370 HB - 540 HB | 7.8-7.85 g/cm3 |

The abrasion of TIMOL polyurethane is 20-45 mm3 according to DIN 53516, while for SBR rubber, this indicator is 100-200 mm3. This means that polyurethane lining lasts 3-5 times longer than rubber under the same conditions, and compared to standard rubber, 10 times longer. Steel has outstanding strength but does not cushion impacts or dampen vibrations, leading to rapid loss of unit integrity when working with abrasives.

## Physics of Operation and Advantages of Bimetallic Lining
Bimetallic lining operates by distributing functions between materials: steel takes on the main mechanical load, while polyurethane absorbs local impacts and prevents abrasives from reaching the metal. This is especially noticeable in chutes and troughs, where ore or coal particles move at high speed, constantly contacting the surface. The polyurethane surface not only resists abrasives but also reduces noise, vibrations, and prevents material sticking, simplifying cleaning and reducing the risk of accidents.

Importantly, TIMOL polyurethane operates over a wide temperature range, from -60 to +100 °C, is not afraid of short-term fluctuations, and does not change its properties at high humidity or exposure to aggressive reagents. This allows such lining to be used in both underground mines and open quarries. Thanks to the strong bond with metal, the polyurethane layer does not peel off even under frequent impacts or vibrations.

> **Engineer’s Tip:** To achieve maximum resource from bimetallic lining, choose polyurethane in the hardness range of 80-95 Shore A. This hardness provides the ideal combination of elasticity and wear resistance, especially in units with intense abrasives. For adhesion, the steel must be thoroughly cleaned and roughened before pouring polyurethane.

## Installation, Maintenance, and Repairability of Bimetallic Lining
Installation of bimetallic plates is done by both bolting and gluing, depending on the size of the part, the nature of the unit, and the need for quick replacement. In many cases, a modular system is used: individual plates are fixed on a frame, allowing only worn areas to be replaced without dismantling the entire structure. Thanks to the elasticity of polyurethane, the risk of cracks and chips on the surface is significantly lower than in all-metal or rubber linings.

In maintenance, bimetallic units are convenient because when the polyurethane layer wears out, it can be restored by re-pouring without replacing the metal base, significantly reducing repair costs and equipment downtime. Cleaning polyurethane surfaces is easier, as the material does not promote abrasive adhesion and is not destroyed by chemical reagents in ore or concentrate. This is especially important for units operating in hard-to-reach or underground conditions, where service interventions are minimal.

## For Which Units Bimetallic Lining is the Optimal Solution
Bimetallic lining is indispensable in cases where traditional steel or rubber quickly deteriorates from abrasives, and fully polyurethane parts cannot provide the required rigidity and fastening stability. This includes chutes, troughs, screens, and wear-resistant plates for the mining industry. Here, the combination of polyurethane and steel gives maximum effect: the service life of the unit increases manifold, while geometry and strength are maintained even under extreme loads.

In addition to classic trays and chutes, bimetallic lining is used in screen units, bucket elevators, and gravity equipment, where it is important to combine wear resistance and cushioning of moving particles. Learn more about the application of polyurethane in the mining industry and examples of units in the [industry section](/galuzi/gornodobyvayuschaya_promyshlennost).

## How to Order Bimetallic Lining at TIMOL Factory
To order bimetallic lining, you need to provide a drawing or sample of the unit, specify the type of steel, and the desired thickness of the polyurethane layer. TIMOL factory manufactures bimetallic plates, linings for chutes, troughs, screens, and other mining industry units using free casting technology to your dimensions. The factory technologists will select the optimal hardness and configuration for specific operating conditions.

You can familiarize yourself with the range of polyurethane products in the [catalog](/katalog), and for consultation or order calculation, contact us through the [contact form](/contacts). We work with drawings and individual requirements, guaranteeing technical support at all stages, from material selection to on-site installation.

## Conclusion: Bimetallic Lining, a Solution for Maximum Wear Resistance
Bimetallic lining with TIMOL polyurethane is the optimal choice for mining industry units where fastening rigidity and maximum wear resistance are required. The combination of steel and polyurethane provides a resource unattainable for purely steel or rubber linings. For calculations tailored to your unit, contact the TIMOL factory, and our engineers will help select the optimal design and polyurethane hardness considering operating conditions. Learn more about the material and technology in the [Reference Information](/informatsiya) section.