---
title: "Rolls, Polyurethane Lining for Rolls in the Metallurgical Industry"
description: "Discover why polyurethane roll lining in metallurgy lasts 10 times longer than rubber and outperforms steel. Compare characteristics, get tips, and place an order."
lang: "en"
date: "2026-10-07"
canonical_url: "https://timol.com.ua/en/statti/futerovka-valov-dlya-metallurgicheskaya-promyshlennost"
---
# Rolls, Polyurethane Lining for Rolls in the Metallurgical Industry

A halted rolling line due to a worn or damaged roll is a common issue for metallurgists. Traditional steel or rubber linings wear out quickly when working with abrasive products: surfaces degrade in mere months, and each replacement means downtime and additional repair costs. Polyurethane roll linings solve this problem, providing significantly longer service life and operational stability. This article explains why cast polyurethane is the optimal material for roll lining in metallurgy, which nodes benefit most, and how to properly implement this technology in your enterprise.

## Why Polyurethane Roll Lining is More Advantageous Than Traditional Materials
Polyurethane for roll lining in metallurgy offers 10 times greater wear resistance compared to rubber and significantly outlasts it. Compared to steel, polyurethane lining is lighter, absorbs impacts, and does not transmit vibrations to the structure. Its working temperature range from -60 to +100 °C allows its use in most workshop conditions and on nodes where steel surfaces corrode quickly or rubber burns out. Due to its elasticity, polyurethane protects parts from local chipping and absorbs impact energy, which is especially important on nodes for feeding, receiving, or transporting hot charge.

In metallurgy, polyurethane linings work most effectively on support and drive rolls, guide rollers, conveyor nodes, and parts that contact abrasive materials: ore, scale, or slag. Withstanding constant vibrations, impacts, temperature fluctuations, and contact with wet and aggressive environments, polyurethane maintains its shape and function significantly longer than rubber or steel. This reduces the number of emergency stops and lowers maintenance costs for nodes.

## Which Nodes and Parts Should Be Lined with Polyurethane
Polyurethane lining is optimal for the most loaded and rapidly wearing nodes of metallurgical units. These include:

- Rolls of rolling and feeding rollers working with abrasive or hot materials
- Support and drive rolls of belt, chain, and roller conveyors
- Linings and pads on guide drums, press, and feeding mechanisms
- Protective polyurethane sheets and plates for lining main contact surfaces

Practice shows that these parts most often cause line failures due to wear or local damage. Polyurethane lining significantly extends the service life of nodes and allows reducing the lining thickness due to high wear resistance (20-45 mm3 according to DIN 53516). Additionally, polyurethane is easily cast to the required size, retains the geometry of the part, does not crack from temperature fluctuations, and does not degrade even when working in constant humidity or contact with aggressive impurities.

## Characteristics of Polyurethane: What the Enterprise Gains
Choosing polyurethane lining for rolls in metallurgy gives the enterprise several key advantages. Firstly, the working temperature range from -60 to +100 °C allows the use of polyurethane even in the most challenging conditions of rolling and thermal units. Secondly, the resilience and rebound elasticity (35-65%) provide additional protection against impacts and vibrations, reducing the load on bearings and supports.

The hardness of polyurethane is selected individually for the task in the range of 50 Shore A to 70 Shore D. For lining rolls working with abrasive material, it is recommended to use hardness in the upper part of the Shore A scale (80-95 Shore A), which provides an optimal balance between elasticity and abrasion resistance. High tensile strength (25-60 MPa) allows polyurethane to withstand serious mechanical loads without tearing or cracking. The material's density (1.05-1.25 g/cm3) enables reducing the weight of the node compared to steel, lowering the load on supports and drive mechanisms.

## Comparison of Polyurethane with Rubber and Steel: Figures and Facts
Let's compare the key properties of polyurethane, NBR rubber, and structural steel, which are most often used for roll lining in metallurgy. The table below contains specific numerical indicators of wear resistance, strength, temperature regime, and other characteristics.

| Parameter | Polyurethane (PU) | NBR Rubber | Structural Steel (St3/45) |
|------------------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| Abrasion (DIN 53516), mm3 | 20-45 | 80-150 | - |
| Working Temperature, °C | -60...+100 | -30...+100 | -40...500 |
| Density, g/cm3 | 1.05-1.25 | 1-1.3 | 7.7-7.9 |
| Tensile Strength, MPa | 25-60 | 10-25 | 370-700 |
| Hardness (Shore/Brinell) | 50A-70D | 40A-90A | 120-250 HB |
| Rebound Elasticity, % | 35-65 | 20-45 | - |
| Wear Resistance to Rubber | 10 times higher | 1x (baseline) | - |
| Noise Level | low | medium | high |

The data shows that polyurethane is not only 10 times more wear-resistant than rubber but also has significantly lower density, simplifying installation and reducing the load on the node. Steel, although having high tensile strength, does not dampen vibrations, is noisy, and much heavier, while rubber quickly wears out under abrasive action and temperature fluctuations.

## Production and Installation of Polyurethane Lining: Features and Tips
Polyurethane products for roll lining are manufactured using the free casting technology. This allows obtaining parts of any complexity and geometry, with precise selection of thickness and hardness for a specific node. Before applying the lining, the roll surface is thoroughly cleaned and prepared to enhance the adhesion of polyurethane to metal. The polyurethane is applied as a continuous layer of the required thickness, after which the part is held until full polymerization. The finished lining requires no additional processing, retains its shape even under heavy loads, and does not delaminate over time.

Maintenance of such linings is reduced to visual inspection. In case of local damage, it is possible to repair the area by recasting polyurethane on site or replacing the lined section entirely. This is much simpler and cheaper than replacing an entire steel or rubber part. Thanks to the availability of [custom manufacturing](/katalog), it is easy to order linings of any shape and size for a specific metallurgical unit.

> **Engineer’s Tip:** For lining rolls that contact abrasive or hot materials, choose hardness in the range of 80-95 Shore A. This is the optimal balance between wear resistance and elasticity: the lining does not crack from impacts and prevents abrasives from "biting" into the surface. Before applying the lining, thoroughly degrease and sandblast the metal surface, as this is critical for reliable adhesion.

## How to Order Polyurethane Roll Lining for Metallurgy
Ordering polyurethane lining at TIMOL is done according to the customer's drawing or sample. Simply provide the node diagram or dimensions, and specialists will select the optimal hardness and thickness of polyurethane, considering the specifics of your production. Only cast polyurethane with a working temperature range from -60 to +100 °C is used in production, ensuring compatibility with all major metallurgical technologies. All products are manufactured under quality control, and the order is accompanied by consultation on installation and operation.

Read more about the application of polyurethane in this field on the [Metallurgical Industry](/galuzi/metallurgicheskaya_promyshlennost) page, and see the full list of products in the [Polyurethane Products Catalog](/katalog).

## Conclusion: Polyurethane Lining, a Solution for Continuous Metallurgy
Implementing polyurethane roll lining allows metallurgical enterprises to reduce downtime, lower repair costs, and achieve consistently high node resource in contact and abrasive zones. Cast polyurethane from TIMOL lasts 10 times longer than rubber, is lighter than steel, absorbs impacts, withstands temperature fluctuations, and is easily manufactured to specifications. If you are looking for an effective solution for roll lining, contact TIMOL specialists for material selection and calculation for your node. Submit a request through the [Contacts](/contacts) section for consultation and timing estimation.