VFI Liquid Urethane Plastics for Low-Volume, Custom Part Making

urethane plastic pieceVFI has been manufacturing urethane plastic for decades at our Brookfield, Wisconsin facility. These materials are utilized by industries across the US.

Urethane plastics are typically two-component thermoset liquids that are effective for part-making applications. In comparison to thermoplastic materials, urethane is best used for low-volume runs, custom manufacturing, additive manufacturing, and prototyping. If you only need to do a few or up to 100 part runs a day, these are the materials for you.

They are highly compatible with tin or platinum silicone molds for flexibility and fewer runs, or metal molds for higher durability and increased runs.

Each formula comes with varying properties to fit the needs of the user. The most important properties part makers look for are:

Property Standard Test Method Notes
Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) ASTM D648-18 @66 or 264 psi Important for parts subjected to extreme temperatures
Izod Impact Strength ASTM D256 (Notched)

 

 Important for parts that will experience wear and tear from impacts
Shore Hardness ASTM D2240

 

 Most plastic parts will be between 70-85 D for durability
Flammability UL 94 V-0

 

 Important when making electric boxes, housings, medical parts, etc.
Setting Times N/A Pot Life, gel time, demold time, and full cure time are essential to know for part production and turnaround times.
Paintability

 

 N/A Most urethane plastics are compatible with automotive paint; primer or scuffing may be recommended to prepare the surface.

High Heat Deflection & Fire-Retardant Materials for Extreme Environments

Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) is a critical property that part makers look for when they need a part to maintain its shape and structure when under stress at elevated temperatures.

This is tested by attaching material to two metal poles with a weight in the middle of the sample. It is lowered into an oil bath, and the point at which it deflects is recorded as the HDT.

VFI has several high-end plastics designed with high heat deflection temperatures.

On the other hand, some part makers are looking for parts with fire and flame testing to make fire-retardant plastic parts.

Before working with the VFI-4200 series, knowing how to work with urethane plastic materials is critical. They are high-end materials that require experience for the best results.

UV Stable Clear for Bubble-Free Clarity

While the look or aesthetic of parts isn’t a concern for many part makers, certain applications require parts to be crystal clear and bubble-free. If part makers don’t want to paint their part or require depth, tintable clear plastic is a great option. Clear plastics can be used to create displays, prototypes, sculptures, and more.

VFI offers several of these materials that cure into hard, durable, and UV-resistant parts. They must be processed with a vacuum chamber and/or pressure pot to ensure a bubble-free cast. The main difference between them is speed and properties.

As high-end materials, they are a bit trickier to work with and require experience to avoid mistakes, like extreme bubbling. Materials with long working times are great for larger parts, but this can also increase the risk of bubbling if care is not taken when processing them.

Machinable for Exact, High-Precision Parts

Another important aspect of part-making is the ability to machine parts. CNC and woodworking equipment or other tooling devices are used to make high-precision parts out of urethane plastics for desired textures and finishes. Materials with the best machining abilities are typically 70 D or higher on the Shore hardness scale.

VFI offers several machinable plastics that are also highly sandable and paintable. They work well as rotocast materials, as they can be poured as thin as 1/8th to half an inch. The difference between these materials is mainly speed.

These plastics are recommended for those who are just getting into using urethane plastic to make parts. They are a more cost-effective option with standard properties.

Applications for Urethane Plastic

These materials are used for a handful of applications, with some having better features for one application over another. Due to this versatility, we have seen them used for:

  • Industrial Part Making. Urethane plastic can be used to make custom, high-detailed parts that other materials cannot. It also offers a cost-effective way to produce small batches, whereas other materials may be costly in small amounts.
  • Master Model Making. A great way to protect models used to make molds is by making replicas out of urethane plastic. Many original models are at risk of breaking or degrading during the mold-making process, so a durable plastic will not only replicate all the details of the original but also resist wear.
  • Prototype Part Making. When part makers are just looking to create prototypes of their ideas before mass producing them, urethane plastic is a great option for these models. Urethane plastic and its tooling materials cost much less than expensive metal molds and casting materials used in traditional injection molding.
  • Prop Making. While other expensive materials can be used to make movie, TV, and theater props, urethane plastic is a great material to create durable, fast-setting props. It can also be used to make duplicate props if originals are at risk of damage.
  • Rotocast Part Making. Some part-making plastics have a long enough pot life to be rotocast into hollow, thin parts and are then backfilled with expanding urethane foam. This is another cost-effective method of creating parts and prototypes, since you are not casting a solid piece.

Why Choose VFI Urethane Plastic?

VFI is a manufacturing company that takes pride in servicing our customers with a personalized approach. This means that we offer custom formulation to meet the specifications of your project.

If there is a material that we offer that is close to what you’re looking for, we can work with you to develop something that matches your requirements. This means we can adjust speed, hardness, and other properties to ensure the material works the way you need it to.

Contact VFI if you have any questions about our urethane plastics or need help finding a specific material for your project.

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