Polyurethanes - Glossary

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Glossary Additive Any substance that is added to a resin, usually in a relatively small percentage, to alter properties. Examples are slip additives, pigments, stabilizers, and flame retardants. Adhesive A material capable of bonding one surface to another. Adhesives are used in the plastics industry to join a plastic article to another article of (a) the same plastic, (b) a different plastic, or (c) a nonplastic material. Aliphatic An organic (substance) containing straight or branched chain arrangements of carbon atoms. Aromatic A class of organic compounds containing a resonant, unsaturated ring of carbon atoms. Included are benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, and their

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Polyurethanes - Glossary

derivatives. Blowing agent A non reactive substance incorporated in the polymerising reaction mixture between a diisocyanate and a polyol to form gas bubbles, thereby producing foam. Branching Lateral extension points in a polymer chain. Catalyst (organometallic or tertiary amines) A substance which accelerates the reactions of chemicals without being consumed itself. Catalyst (primary, secondary amines and OH groups) Amine having at least one reactive function in its structure. It reacts with an N-C-O group and it is incorporated in the polymer network. Chain extender Substances which lengthen the main chain of a polymer molecule causing end-to-end attachments. It will even provide the hard segment of the polymer structure. Cross-linking Formation of bridges between different polymer chains.

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Polyurethanes - Glossary

Cure Refers to the completeness of the chemical reaction processes. Di-isocyanate A reactive chemical grouping of a nitrogen atom bonded to a carbon atom bonded to an oxygen atom; -N = C = 0; a chemical compound, usually organic, containing two isocyanate groups. Elastomer Polymers which resist and recover from deformation produced by force, similar in behavior to natural rubber. Filler An inert material added to a polyurethane reaction mixture. Fillers are usually solid, particulate materials such as glass, silica, rubber or barytes. Flame Retardant An added substance which inhibits the initiation and/ or spread of flame. Flexible Polyurethane Foam Flexible polyurethane foams are produced by reacting a diisocyanate (typically TDI) with a high molecular weight polyol (typically a polyether). Carbon dioxide is the principal blowing agent for
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Polyurethanes - Glossary

FPF. The carbon dioxide can be produced by the reaction between an excess of diisocyanate with water, or can be added as liquid carbon dioxide. Functionality The number of reactive groups in a chemical molecule. Hydroxyl An alcoholic group (-O-H). The reactive group in polyols. Isocyanate A compound containing the isocyanate group, N=C=O, attached to an organic radical. MDI A mixture of 4,4 diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 4,2 diphenylmethane diisocyanate and 2,2 diphenylmethane diisocyanate. Mold Enclosure, usually metal, in which a polyurethane mixture reacts to give a shaped article. Polyisocyanate A polyisocyanate contains more than one isocyanate group. Polymer (Copolymer) A substance, natural or
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Polyurethanes - Glossary

synthetic, which can be represented as at least two repeated monomer units. A copolymer contains more than one type of monomeric unit. Polyol A substance containing several hydroxyl groups. A diol, triol and tetrol contain 2, 3 and 4 hydroxyl groups respectively. Polyurethane Polymeric substance containing many urethane linkages. Polyurethane foam This family of foams differs from other cellular plastics in that foaming occurs simultaneously with polymer-forming reaction between a diisocyanate and a polyol (or an amine). Rigid polyurethane foam This family of foams differs from other cellular plastics in that foaming occurs simultaneously with the polymer-forming reactions. In polyurethane resins, reacting a polyol with a diisocyanate makes the polymeric constituent of polyurethane foams. The polyol is generally apolyether type. When the isocyanate is in excess of the amount that will react with the polyol, and when the water is present, the excess isocyanate will react
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Polyurethanes - Glossary

with water to produce carbon dioxide (and the corresponding amine), which expands the mixture. RIM Abbreviation for Reaction Injection Molding. The RIM process involves the rapid metering, and mixing of polyurethane reaction ingredients, followed by their injection into a mold under pressure. Sealants A liquid, paste, or coating, or tape that fills small gaps between mating parts, e. g., pipe-thread sealant, or plugs small holes, stopping fluid leaks. Self skinning A foam reaction mixture which forms a skinned surface on being molded at a specified temperature and pressure. Slabstock Flexible polyurethane foam made in the form of a continuous block, usually of approximately rectangular cross-section. Surfactants Selected surfactants (surface-active materials), or mixtures of surfactants, help in mixing incompatible components of the reaction mixture.

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Polyurethanes - Glossary

TDI A mixture of 2, 4 toluene diisocyanate and 2,5 toluene diisocyanate. Thermoplastic A resin or plastic compound that, as a finished material, is capable of being repeatedly softened by heating and hardened by cooling. Examples of thermoplastics are: acetal, acrylic, cellulosic, chlorinated polyether, fluorocarbons, polyamides (nylons), polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, some types of polyurethanes, and vinyl resins. Thermoset A resin or plastic compound that in its final state is substantially infusible and insoluble. Urethane The chemical group based on

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