Materials

Polyurethane or TpU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) means a wide range of polymers whose polymer chain is composed of urethane links –NH(CO)-O.

4-Belt only processes virgin raw materials of very high quality; with the use of pure materials and specific degrees of fluidity it is possible to provide our customers with all the optimum physical-mechanical characteristics that are required by industrial applications.

Properties

  • Excellent resistance to hydrolysis
  • Excellent flexibility at low and high temperatures
  • Resistance to micro-organisms
  • High elastic modulus
  • Excellent abrasion resistance
  • High impact strength
    Excellent weldability, even with PVC
  • High friction coefficient
  • Noiseless sliding

Types

  • Materials for use in the FDA/EC food sector “Metal detectable” materials
  • UV resistant materials
  • “Glass fibre” reinforced materials
  • Polyester or Kevlar reinforced materials
  • Endless achievable colours
  • Shiny, matt or rough finishes
  • Soft grip covered materials

Finishes

  • Smooth finish
  • Matt finish
  • Rough finish
  • Embossed finish
  • Metal finish
  • Textured finish

Special materials available upon request

  • High UV resistance
    Special modified materials for outdoor use or for exposure to strong light sources are available, special additives improve the duration of original colours and avoid the risk of early yellowing.
  • Antistatic materials
    By virtue of their chemical composition, polymer materials are good insulators, this property makes them critical in many applications. A disadvantage of this insulating property is the accumulation of static energy that is not discharged fast enough because of the typical low surface conductivity of the polymer.
  • Highly tough reinforced materials
    It is a special TpU-based mixture, composed of an organic polymer matrix in which a reinforcement of high-mechanical mineral fibres is integrated. When a reinforced material is subject to net pull force, the actual stresses are absorbed by the fibres, while the polymer matrix is only in charge of distribution across the fibres, thus determining a stress uniformity. Obviously such mechanical resistance affects the elasticity and elongation strength of the profile.
  • “Metal detectable” materials for the food sector
    The metal detectable TpU thermoplastic polymer is used in the food sector to prevent any adventitious contaminations of the production chain caused by fragments of components coming from process machines and equipment. Said materials are available in different shades of the blue and orange colours to facilitate visual inspection..
  • Extra clear materials
    A range of hardness is available in an extra clear shade with a very high degree of glassy-effect clearness. Said materials may be UV-additive added when needed, to increase the duration of clearness.
  • Co-extruded profiles
    Based on a drawing, it is possible to make co-extruded profiles with two or more materials of different hardness if special mechanical or application characteristics are requested.
  • Surface finishes and strand-reinforced profiles
    Upon request it is also possible to make profiles with surface finishes or customized textures. All the profiles we manufacture may, at the request of the customer, be reinforced with Polyester, Aramide or Steel cores of different cross-sections

 

For more information about the materials and their chemical resistance download our guide/catalog

4-Belt Guide/Catalog