---
title: "Applications of Polyurethane: Comparisons, Industries, Advantages"
description: "Where and why does polyurethane outperform rubber, steel, or plastic? 12 industries, property table, engineer's advice. Request a custom calculation."
lang: "en"
date: "2026-07-14"
canonical_url: "https://timol.com.ua/en/statti/oblasti-primeneniya-poliuretana"
---
# Applications of Polyurethane: Comparisons, Industries, Advantages

Is your screening wheel wearing out in just a few months, the rubber scraper delaminating before scheduled downtime, or the steel bushing needing replacement by the second season? In such conditions, polyurethane provides a real solution when standard materials fail. This article details where polyurethane is indispensable, which components it protects, and why it is chosen in 12 industrial sectors.

## In which industries is polyurethane truly indispensable?
Polyurethane is used in 12 key industries: mining, metallurgy, mechanical and automotive engineering, oil and gas, railway transport, pipe manufacturing, pulp and paper, printing, food, docks and ports, agriculture, and light industry. In each of these fields, it helps reduce downtime due to part replacement and increase the reliability of components.

Polyurethane parts are used in components where there is intense abrasive wear, frequent impacts, temperature fluctuations, or exposure to oils and reagents. In mining, this includes screening panels and chute linings; in metallurgy, scrapers and seals; in mechanical engineering, rollers, bushings, and bands. On railways, polyurethane is used for damping elements, and at docks, for protection against impacts and abrasion during mooring.

Importantly, TIMOL's polyurethane plant can manufacture parts according to the customer's specific drawing, considering the geometry of the component, mounting conditions, and type of load. This significantly reduces downtime costs and provides a predictable service life.

## Why does polyurethane endure where other materials fail?
Polyurethane stands out with wear resistance 10 times higher than standard rubber and a working temperature range from -60 to +100 °C. This allows its use in components where rubber, plastic, or even steel quickly wear out or break under impacts, abrasives, or temperature changes.

Components where polyurethane performs best include screens, belt conveyors, concrete mixers, roller mechanisms, shaft and cover seals, drum and chute linings. Its high elasticity and wide hardness range (from 50 Shore A for soft seals to 70 Shore D for wear-resistant supports) allow for flexible material selection based on specific load and movement type in the component.

In conditions where steel or rubber parts lose functionality due to wear or cracking, polyurethane continues to work without cracking, delaminating, or losing shape. This is especially noticeable in components with combined exposure to abrasives, impact loads, and oils.

## How is polyurethane manufactured and installed in industrial components?
Polyurethane products are manufactured by the free casting method, allowing for parts of complex shapes, with thicknesses from a few millimeters to several centimeters. The required hardness and geometry are selected for each component according to the customer's drawing.

The installation of polyurethane parts depends on the type of product. For example, scrapers are mounted to a metal holder through holes, rollers and bands are pressed onto a shaft or flange, and drum linings are applied to a prepared surface with an adhesive backing. Seals and gaskets are installed in standard seats, simplifying the replacement of old rubber counterparts.

All installation work is accompanied by instructions for surface preparation for adhesion, shot blasting or sandblasting, degreasing, and the correct choice of adhesive. This ensures maximum service life and reliable fastening even in harsh operating conditions.

## What polyurethane products does the TIMOL plant manufacture?
TIMOL's product range covers key components for various industries. Typical products include elevator buckets, wheels, rollers, bands for transport systems and conveyors, screens, and parts for mining and crushing equipment. A separate group includes hydrocyclones, bushings, rods, and rings for components with high rotational or axial loads.

The wide assortment also includes gravity equipment, polyurethane sheets and plates for lining, gaskets, seals, sealing rings for pumps and drums, scrapers, and belt cleaners for conveyors and concrete mixers. For each component, the optimal hardness and geometry of the part are selected according to the customer's drawing. All products can be viewed in the [catalog of polyurethane products](/katalog).

Custom manufacturing allows for both standard sizes and unique shapes, including complex parts for non-standard equipment. This is especially important for upgrading old lines and increasing the resource of components without changing the equipment design.

## Comparison table of polyurethane and alternative materials

| Property | Polyurethane (TIMOL) | SBR Rubber | Caprolon (PA6/PA66) | Structural Steel |
|--------------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| Abrasion (DIN 53516), mm3 | 20-45 | 100-200 | 30-90 |, |
| Working temperature, °C | -60...+100 | -40...80 | -40...100 | -40...500 |
| Hardness, Shore | 50A - 70D | 40A - 80A | 75D - 85D | 120-250 HB |
| Tensile strength, MPa | 25-60 | 8-20 | 60-85 | 370-700 |
| Density, g/cm3 | 1.05-1.25 | 0.94-1.1 | 1.13-1.15 | 7.7-7.9 |
| Rebound elasticity, % | 35-65 | 30-55 | 5-15 |, |

Polyurethane's abrasion according to DIN 53516 is 20-45 mm3, while SBR rubber's is 100-200 mm3, and caprolon's is 30-90 mm3. Thus, polyurethane parts have a significantly higher resource under abrasive load conditions. Rubber quickly loses shape and cracks, caprolon is brittle upon impact, and steel does not dampen impacts and transmits vibration to the structure. Polyurethane combines wear resistance, elasticity, and impact resistance, which is especially valued in complex machine components.

## How does polyurethane advantageously differ from steel, rubber, caprolon?
Polyurethane is 6-7 times lighter than steel and does not corrode, which is critical for components in wet or aggressive environments. Unlike steel, polyurethane dampens vibration and noise, so it is used for lining drums, rollers, and bands in transport systems, where excess noise and mechanical vibrations shorten the lifespan of adjacent components.

Polyurethane's wear resistance is 10 times higher than standard rubber, and its abrasion according to DIN 53516 is only 20-45 mm3 compared to 100-200 mm3 for SBR rubber. Rubber parts cannot withstand constant contact with lubricants, reagents, and abrasives, losing elasticity and breaking down. Caprolon, despite its tensile strength (60-85 MPa), lacks sufficient elasticity (5-15%) and can crack from impact, whereas polyurethane retains shape and does not crumble even under repeated loads.

Steel provides strength but is limited in damping and often leads to premature wear of adjacent components due to the transmission of impacts and vibrations. For working components where a combination of flexibility, impact resistance, and durability is needed, polyurethane is the optimal choice.

## How to choose the hardness and design of a polyurethane part?
The choice of polyurethane hardness depends on the type of load in the component. For parts working with abrasives (screens, linings, scrapers), the optimal hardness range is 65-70 Shore D. For seals, gaskets, and scrapers working with liquids or requiring elasticity, a softer material, 65-90 Shore A, is chosen.

Products for roller components (bands, wheels) are made from hard polyurethane, which does not deform under load and ensures stable operation. For drum linings, it is important to properly prepare the surface for casting to ensure maximum adhesion of polyurethane to metal. This reduces the risk of delamination during operation.

> **Engineering advice:** For components with strong abrasives, it is recommended to choose a hardness of 65-70 Shore D, and for seals and scrapers, in the range of 65-90 Shore A. Before casting onto metal, prepare the surface with shot blasting for maximum adhesion.

## How to order a polyurethane part for your task?
TIMOL plant accepts orders for both standard products and manufacturing according to the customer's drawing. It is enough to provide a sketch, drawing, or sample of the part. The plant's engineers will select the optimal polyurethane grade based on hardness, type of load, and operating conditions. Manufacturing is carried out by the free casting method, ensuring dimensional accuracy and compliance with the component's geometry.

The production time depends on the complexity of the product and the availability of molds. For standard items, the timeframes are minimal, and for unique products, they are agreed upon individually. For consultation, resource calculation, or ordering, simply contact via [TIMOL plant contacts](/contacts) or explore typical products in the [catalog](/katalog).

## Where to find more technical information and get a consultation?
Detailed information on polyurethane properties, free casting technology features, typical components, and replacement options can be found in the [reference information](/informatsiya) section. If you need to calculate the component's resource, select hardness, or discuss equipment modernization, TIMOL plant engineers will provide consultation and recommendations. You can submit a request or ask a question through the [contact form](/contacts).

## Conclusion: When is polyurethane the optimal choice?
If your equipment operates under conditions of abrasives, impacts, temperature fluctuations, or contact with reagents, TIMOL's polyurethane is the solution for real extension of component life. With flexibility in manufacturing, a wide hardness range, and wear resistance 10 times higher than rubber, you get a part that lasts longer and reduces downtime. Request a calculation or consultation, the [contact form](/contacts) is open for your projects.