Hundreds of our clients and partners use and create polyurethane molding products across dozens of industries. That’s why we have created a robust arsenal of industrial molding products that can improve almost every aspect of the molding process, from preparation to post-molding cleaning. If you have any questions about any of our products for urethane and polyurethane molding, just contact us!

Shop Polyurethane Molding Solutions

Comparing the Properties of Urethane and Polyurethane

Urethane and polyurethane are molding materials made from various chemical compounds. Urethane is the molecular base unit, while polyurethane is the term used to describe materials created by combining many urethane base units in polymer chains. By combining urethane base units in various ways, materials that are functionally quite different can be created.

Here’s a comparison of the two:

Urethane

• Colorless
• Rigid and Firm
• Crystalline Structure
• Difficult to Mold
• Low Durability

Polyurethane

• Colorless
• Flexible and Malleable
• Polymer Structure
• Easy to Mold
• High Durability

This comparison illustrates how even minor chemical changes can significantly impact material behavior and demolded product results. Polyurethane is often easier to mold due to its polymer structure, while pure urethane is crystalline and does not flow easily into molds. Polyurethane is especially useful when the end product needs to be durable, long-lasting, and adaptable to specific performance requirements.

Urethane vs. Polyurethane: Applications and Uses

Simple urethanes are used in coatings and sealants, thanks to their resistance to moisture, chemicals, and abrasion. On the other hand, polyurethane is widely used across many industries due to its exceptional durability, versatility, and performance in both rigid and flexible forms.

Polyurethane Elastomers

Polyurethane elastomers are most commonly used in prototyping and small-scale production using silicone molds. The malleability makes it excellent for quickly tooling and fine-tuning a product on the fly.

Polyurethane Foams

Molded polyurethane, particularly in foam form, is used across many industries and products:

• Furniture and bedding
• Medical equipment
• Industrial gaskets
• Small wheels

Shop Polyurethane Molding Solutions

Urethane and Polyurethane Issues and Difficulties:

Both urethane and polyurethane have their difficulties and issues during their use and molding. Because they are chemically similar, these are essentially the same issues and difficulties across both:

Molding Difficulties

First and foremost, urethane can take on color changes very easily. This is excellent for achieving bright or distinctive colors in mixing, but this also means that you need to clean your molds more often to prevent color flaws from residue.

Toxicity

Urethane has also been shown to be toxic and even cancer-causing, according to the National Library of Medicine and other health and safety organizations. However, this toxicity is not an imminent danger to consumers, but it should be noted that there is some risk involved.

Additionally, while polyurethane is more chemically stable in its cured form, exposure to its raw components—such as isocyanates—during manufacturing may pose health risks. Proper ventilation, protective equipment, and adherence to safety guidelines are essential during processing.

Recyclability and Biodegradability

For a long time, urethane and polyurethane were difficult to recycle and could not biodegrade. Today, the American Chemical Society has developed methods to make polyurethane degradable. Still, the additional steps to the molding process that this will take could be prohibitively expensive or slow for your needs.

Mold Urethane the Right Way with Stoner Molding!

Now that you have a firmer grasp of the difference between urethane vs. polyurethane, you can start your urethane molding process with a bit more knowledge, confidence, and preparation!

When you start molding, make sure that you use our high-quality molding products that will smooth out the most frustrating and difficult aspects of industrial molding. From high-power mold cleaners to easy mold-release products, your efficiency will be incredibly improved with just a few of the aerosols and coatings that we can provide. Call today to learn what we have to offer, get free samples, and access the leading experts in the industrial molding industry!

Shop Polyurethane Molding Solutions

Resources:

• https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Urethane