18 Sep 2019
Cologne, Germany – Lanxess AG has launched a new polyurethane solution, based on an MDI polycaprolactone prepolymer, for challenging wheel applications.
The system, which involves Adiprene LFM C525 cured with Vibracure 2101, offers high performance and dynamics such as high tear strength, outstanding fatigue and abrasion resistance, said the German materials supplier 17 Sept.
Adiprene Low Free (LF) MDI C525 is a polycaprolactone-based prepolymer with a free MDI level of less than 1%.
When cured with Vibracure 2101, the system delivers a 96 Shore A material, said Lanxess adding that lower hardness elastomers are also possible with variants of Vibracure 2101.
Lanxess said it had conducted tests on the wheel system, at different loads, speeds and wheel geometries, based on ISO industry standards.
The system, said the company, has proven to perform “as good as the highest performance industry standard, delivering great dynamics but also a lower rolling resistance allowing energy savings.”
Adiprene LFM C525 prepolymer, according to Lanxess, is easy to process, requiring on average 16-24 hours at 115-120 °C post cure time, and it is stable at room temperature for ca. 36 month.
In the PU system, the LF isocyanate technology facilitates the use of the "differentiated" curative and prevents the “starring” effect which creates star-shaped crystals within the elastomer due to curative precipitation.
In addition to easy handling and high performance, the LF technology is claimed to bring better health and safety conditions to the processor.
Furthermore, Lanxess said it had developed a predictive wheel model tool that predicts, with good accuracy, the wheel performance within the final application.
The tool can help customers in evaluating the performance of the new solution in different wheel designs or in different load and speed conditions.
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