SABIC Introduces NORYL™ Polyols for Cast Polyurethanes While Improving Their Hardness and Elasticity

SABIC recently introduced NORYL™ AP2001G polyol for cast polyurethane
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By partially substituting polypropylene glycol or polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMG), this oligomer of polyphenylene ether (PPE) improves the properties of cast polyurethane systems by increasing hardness and elasticity – properties that have hitherto It has been difficult to improve at the same time
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In addition, NORYL™ AP2001G polyol provides oil, moisture, abrasion, tear and high temperature resistance properties that help cast polyurethane parts withstand extreme conditions and potentially extend their service life
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Potential applications include protective pipe liners for mining drill bits, screens, and mud transportation; components for hydraulic, robotic, and conveying equipment; and wheels, casters, and rollers
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"The development of NORYL™ AP2001G polyol in cast polyurethane demonstrates SABIC's ongoing commitment to advancing materials science to address unmet needs across the value chain," said Dr.
Antonello Cerullo, senior business development manager at SABIC
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The technology Offers multiple benefits to stakeholders: It gives formulators a new way to differentiate their products and helps end users avoid costly downtime by improving the durability of parts and equipment
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At the same time, by extending the pot life of polyurethane and slowing its reactivity, NORYL™ AP2001G polyol can provide processors with greater flexibility and more precise dimensional control while increasing productivity
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Cast polyurethane material is one of the most popular thermoset processes and the market is showing strong growth
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According to Emergen Research, the increasing use of cast elastomers in the mining industry is the main driver of an estimated CAGR of 4.
3% during 2019-2027
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Other industries that use cast polyurethane are agriculture, oil and gas, material handling, and sports and recreation
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Verify performance characteristics

SABIC worked with Troy Polymers, a leading R&D laboratory in Madison Heights, Michigan, USA to formulate polyurethane samples using NORYL™ AP2001G polyol and conduct extensive testing and validation
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Troy Polymers found that adding a small fraction (13.
3%) of NORYL™ AP2001G polyol in a polypropylene glycol and PTMG-based polyurethane combination resulted in a 10-point increase in Shore A hardness
.

It also significantly improves compressive and tensile strength compared to formulations without SABIC products
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Specifically, the tensile strength of polypropylene glycol-based polyurethane was increased by nearly 3 times (290%), and the tensile strength of PTMG-based polyurethane was increased by 45%
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In addition, NORYL™ AP2001G polyol reduced the wear rate of polypropylene glycol-based urethanes by 64% under standard test conditions
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Immersion testing on polyurethane showed that the addition of NORYL™ AP2001G polyol helped reduce hydraulic oil or water absorption after three days
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Both materials absorb less liquid, including 40% less water
.

Compared to PTMG, polypropylene glycol is generally less expensive to use; however, it generally results in lower performance of polyurethane materials because PTMG has better hardness, toughness, stiffness, and tear and chemical resistance
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The use of SABIC's NORYL™ AP2001G polyol as a partial replacement for polypropylene glycol helps to improve the performance of polypropylene glycol to that of PTMG polyurethane, making polypropylene glycol a cost-effective, high-performance solution in polyurethane formulations
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Dr.
Aisa Sendijarevic, Research Director, Troy Polymers said: "At Troy Polymers, our business is focused on driving innovation in polyurethanes, and we have been able to demonstrate that SABIC's NORYL™ AP2001G polyol for cast polyurethanes is a true breakthrough technology
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We observed To date, formulations using NORYL™ AP2001G polyol have impressive performance improvements in hardness, toughness and oil, water and heat resistance compared to existing materials
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These results show its future advancement in polyurethane technology great potential for development
.
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