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Rubber & Elastomers•Polyurethane Elastomers•
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Polyester Polyurethane (AU)

Primary Designation:ASTM AU
Aliases:
Polyester UrethaneCast Polyester PolyurethaneAU Urethane

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Data Completeness:0 composition elements and 2 condition-specific property values cataloged.
Omitted fields represent unverified properties. "Missing is better than invented."

Key Engineering Properties

Representative source rows, qualified by their reported conditions. Inspect the tables below for all values, limits, and source notes.

Hardness (Shore A)
60 – 95 Shore ARANGE · Cast Prepolymer Vulcanizate (Post-Cured 16h at 100°C, 90 Shore A) · temperature not stated
ASTM D2240 / ISO 48-4
Service Temp Range
-30°C to 80°CContinuous Limit
Continuous service between -30°C and +80...

Engineering Summary

Polyester Polyurethane (AU) is an elastomeric urethane polymer synthesized from polyester diol soft segments, diisocyanates (TDI or MDI), and short-chain diol chain extenders. AU exhibits exceptional mechanical tensile strength, outstanding cut and tear propagation resistance, and excellent dry sliding and impingement abrasion resistance among engineering elastomers. It provides superior resistance to mineral oils, hydraulic oils, greases, and non-polar hydrocarbon fuels. However, the ester chemical linkage is susceptible to hydrolytic cleavage in warm water, high humidity, and steam environments, rendering AU unsuited for continuous warm aqueous service.

Polyester Polyurethane (AU) Documented Applications

  • ›Heavy-duty hydraulic cylinder piston seals, rod U-cups, and high-pressure wiper rings
  • ›Industrial solid forklift tires, heavy equipment load wheels, and guide rollers
  • ›Mining screen decks, ore chute protective liners, and gravel conveyor scrapers
  • ›High-pressure hydraulic hose outer abrasion covers and pneumatic impact bumpers
  • ›Metal-forming die pads, press brake strippers, and shock-absorbing machinery cushions

Recognized Aliases

Source-backed commercial trade name and short designations cataloged in canonical data.

Polyester UrethaneCast Polyester PolyurethaneAU Urethane

Elastomer Technical Profile • Polyester Polyurethane (AU)

ASTM D1418: AUISO 1629: AUASTM D2000: Type BG (AU)

Polymer backbone: Polyester-based polyurethane. Thermoset and cast elastomer mechanical, thermal, and chemical behavior depends strongly on compounding ingredients, crosslink density, and curing system.

Key Engineering Advantages

  • •Exceptional tensile strength among engineering elastomers for high-pressure hydraulic sealing
  • •Outstanding tear, cut, and gouge resistance under severe dynamic sliding loads
  • •Superior dry sliding and impingement abrasion resistance (rated Excellent in Parker ORD 5700 Table 2-2)
  • •Outstanding resistance to mineral oils, hydraulic fluids, lubricating greases, and fuels
  • •High load-bearing capacity with low rolling resistance for heavy solid forklift wheels

Engineering Limitations & Risks

  • •Highly susceptible to hydrolytic degradation (ester cleavage) in warm water, high humidity, and steam
  • •Susceptible to fungal and microbial growth in tropical, warm aqueous environments
  • •Continuous operating temperature limited to 80°C (176°F) in dry environments; lower in humid conditions
  • •Poor resistance to polar solvents (MEK, acetone), hot acids, and alkalis

Thermal Operating Limits & Service Profile

Min Continuous-30°C
Max Continuous80°C
Max Intermittent / PeakNot specified

Note: Continuous service between -30°C and +80°C in dry environments per Parker ORD 5700 Section II (Figure 2-3 & Table 2-2). In aqueous service, autocatalytic ester cleavage accelerates with temperature and humidity, making continuous warm water immersion not recommended. ASTM D2000 line callouts reflect 70h laboratory test conditions rather than continuous service ratings.

Chemical & Environmental Media Compatibility (Engineering Selection Guide)

Parker ORD 5700 Selection Ratings
Ratings represent manufacturer engineering fluid selection guidance (Parker ORD 5700 / producer design manuals). They do not substitute for batch-specific ASTM D471 / ISO 1817 laboratory immersion testing under service temperature, pressure, and dynamic stress.
Petroleum Oils & Hydraulic FluidsSuperior resistance to mineral oils and hydraulic oils up to 80°C
EXCELLENT
Aliphatic Hydrocarbon FuelsLow volume swell in gasoline, diesel, and kerosene
GOOD
Warm Water & High HumidityEster backbone undergoes hydrolytic cleavage accelerated by elevated temperatures and humidity; continuous warm water immersion is not recommended
NOT RECOMMENDED
Atmospheric Ozone & UVNaturally resistant to ozone cracking without antiozonants
EXCELLENT
Ketones & Chlorinated SolventsSevere solvent swelling and dissolution
NOT RECOMMENDED
Microbial & Fungal ExposureEster linkages provide nutrients for microbial digestion in warm humid environments per ASTM G21
POOR

Compounding & Physical Property Context

Compounding Dependency: Soft-segment molecular weight and diisocyanate type (MDI vs TDI) govern mechanical properties. MDI-based systems provide lower toxicity and superior environmental performance. Anti-hydrolysis carbodiimide additives can retard moisture degradation but do not eliminate vulnerability.

Gas & Fluid Permeability: Low gas permeability; comparable to NBR.

Abrasion Endurance: Outstanding dry sliding and impingement abrasion resistance (rated Excellent in Parker ORD 5700 Table 2-2), outperforming standard diene rubbers.

Tear Resistance: High cut, gouge, and tear resistance under heavy dynamic abrasive loads per Parker ORD 5700 Section II.

Compression Set (ASTM D395): Good compression set resistance at ambient to 70°C; increases rapidly under sustained heat above 80°C.

Polyester Polyurethane (AU) Specifications & Designations

Standard Designations & Applicable Specifications — Semantically classified designations distinguishing primary standard identifiers, commercial trade names, and applicable specification references.

Direct Standard DesignationsDIRECT DESIGNATION
3 Primary Identifiers
Scroll horizontally for full designation data
SystemIdentifierStandard System NameClassification Notes & Provenance
ASTMPRIMARYAUASTM D1418 Nomenclature—Ref: Standard Practice for Rubber and Rubber Latices—Nomenclature (ASTM D1418-22) / Rubber and latices—Nomenclature (ISO 1629:2013)
ISOAUISO 1629 Nomenclature—Ref: Standard Practice for Rubber and Rubber Latices—Nomenclature (ASTM D1418-22) / Rubber and latices—Nomenclature (ISO 1629:2013)
ASTM-D2000Type BG (AU)ASTM D2000 Classification SystemClassified within ASTM D2000 Table X1.1 under Type BG (100°C 70h test, Class G oil swell) for polyester urethane; accelerated test temperatures serve classification rather than continuous service ratings.Ref: Standard Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive Applications (ASTM D2000-21 / SAE J200:2021)
Recognized Commercial Aliases & Trade NamesCOMMON ALIAS
3 Listed
Scroll horizontally for full alias classifications
Recognized Name / AliasClassificationTechnical Usage & Context
Polyester UrethaneColloquial AliasColloquial or commercial industry synonym
Cast Polyester PolyurethaneColloquial AliasColloquial or commercial industry synonym
AU UrethaneColloquial AliasColloquial or commercial industry synonym
Applicable Specifications & Product Form ReferencesSPECIFICATION REFERENCE
3 Applicable Standards
Scroll horizontally for full standard specifications
Standards BodySpecification CodeSpecification Title / ScopeRelationship Type
ASTM InternationalASTM D1418Standard Practice for Rubber and Rubber Latices—NomenclatureSTANDARD · Edition: ASTM D1418-22Specification Reference
ISOISO 1629Rubber and latices — NomenclatureSTANDARD · Edition: ISO 1629:2013Specification Reference
ASTM InternationalASTM D2000Standard Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive ApplicationsSTANDARD · Edition: ASTM D2000-21Specification Reference
Engineering Notice: Applicable specifications establish manufacturing requirements, dimensional tolerances, and test criteria for specific product forms (e.g. bus bar, wire, plate, pipe). They represent applicable technical standards, not alternative or equivalent alloy grades.

Polyester Polyurethane (AU) Mechanical Properties

Contextual Mechanical Properties & Tempers: Engineering strength, ductility, and hardness values grouped by product form, temper, and section thickness. Mechanical properties are contextual and not isotropic averages.

Showing 2 of 2 conditions
Scroll horizontally for all conditions & tempers
Product FormTemper / ConditionSection SizeTensile (UTS)Yield StrengthElongationShear StrengthFatigue StrengthHardness (Scales Preserved)Status
Standard Product FormCast Prepolymer Vulcanizate (Post-Cured 16h at 100°C, 90 Shore A) · 70 °C
Source values and qualifiers
Compression Set (22h at 70°C): 20–35 % (RANGE)Good compression set resistance at moderate temperatures.ASTM D395 Method B / ISO 815-1Parker Hannifin Corporation, Engineered Materials Group — Parker Hannifin Corp. Catalog ORD 5700 (2018/2023), Section II (Basic O-Ring Elastomers: Table 2-2 & Figure 2-3), Section VII (Compatibility Tables) / ASTM D395-18 Method B
———————VERIFIED
Standard Product FormCast Prepolymer Vulcanizate (Post-Cured 16h at 100°C, 90 Shore A)
Source values and qualifiers
SHORE_A Hardness: 60–95 SHORE_A (RANGE)Commonly formulated from 70 to 95 Shore A for heavy load wheels and hydraulic U-cups; hard compounds extend into Shore D (up to 60 Shore D).Durometer Type A per ASTM D2240 / ISO 48-4 at 23°C.Parker Hannifin Corporation, Engineered Materials Group — Parker Hannifin Corp. Catalog ORD 5700 (2018/2023), Section II (Basic O-Ring Elastomers: Table 2-2 & Figure 2-3), Section VII (Compatibility Tables) / ASTM D395-18 Method B
——————
60–95 SHORE_A
VERIFIED
Hardness Integrity Notice: Rockwell B (HRB), Rockwell F (HRF), and Superficial 30T (HR30T) scales are reported on their measured scales without cross-scale mathematical conversion.
Source: See fact-level citations

Polyester Polyurethane (AU) Processing & Fabrication

Machining, joining, forming, and thermal processing ratings cataloged from the cited authoritative technical reference.

Source: Parker Hannifin Corporation, Engineered Materials Group

Machinability

Machined on conventional metalworking lathes using razor-sharp high-rake tooling and light depths of cut; ground with open-coat grinding wheels.

Heat Treatment & Working Ranges

Cast parts are demolded after initial gelling and subjected to post-cure ovens at 100°C to 110°C for 16 to 24 hours to achieve complete hard-segment phase separation and ultimate mechanical properties.

Forming & Cold Working

Processed via liquid cast prepolymer dispensing (open gravity or centrifugal molding) or thermoplastically injection molded/extruded (TPU pellets).

Polyester Polyurethane (AU) Equivalent & Comparable Grades

Comparable Grades & Cross-References: Carefully classified cross-reference relationships for Polyester Polyurethane (AU). Comparable does not mean equivalent.

Scroll horizontally for relationship classifications & comparisons
Related MaterialFamilyRelationship ClassificationMetallurgical Notes & DifferencesStatusAction
Polyether Polyurethane (EU)rubber-and-elastomersClose EquivalentCritical formulation trade-off: AU provides superior sliding abrasion resistance and petroleum oil resistance; EU provides superior water/humidity hydrolysis resistance and better low-temperature flexibility.Direct commercial substitution is generally permissible subject to certified Mill Test Report (MTR) confirmation for critical applications.VERIFIEDSide-by-Side Compare →
Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR)rubber-and-elastomersCommonly ComparedAU delivers vastly superior tensile strength, tear strength, and extrusion resistance for high-pressure hydraulic rod seals; NBR provides lower cost and superior water/glycol stability.Materials serve different design priorities (e.g. higher strength vs superior corrosion resistance or cost).VERIFIEDSide-by-Side Compare →

Related Engineering & Metallurgy Guides

Contextual technical guides explaining degradation mechanisms, testing methodologies, and selection criteria relevant to Polyester Polyurethane (AU).

Material Selection18 min read

Types of Rubber: Elastomer Classification, Chemical Resistance & Selection Guide

Selecting the correct rubber is not a matter of choosing a generic flexible polymer—it requires matching molecular backbone chemistry to service temperature, chemical media polarity, dynamic fatigue, and compression set. This engineering guide classifies the 11 primary elastomer families, detailing their ASTM D1418 / ISO 1629 designations, mechanical performance envelopes, and rigorous selection algorithms.

Author: MatGrades Materials Engineering GroupRead Guide →

Sources

Sources & Provenance Trail: Authoritative reference publications, standards specifications, and data registers cited across this material record.

ASTM International, ISO & Elastomer Engineering Technical CommitteesParker O-Ring Handbook (Catalog ORD 5700) & Elastomer Engineering Selection Guide
Development BenchmarkSTANDARDS ORG

Global engineering seal benchmark establishing continuous operating temperature envelopes (Figure 2-3), elastomer property comparisons (Table 2-2), ASTM D395 Method B compression set benchmarks, and manufacturer engineering fluid compatibility selection ratings (distinguished from raw laboratory immersion coupons).

Issuing Body: Parker Hannifin Corporation, Engineered Materials GroupRevision: ORD 5700 (2018/2023)View Source Record ↗
ASTM International, ISO & Elastomer Engineering Technical CommitteesStandard Practice for Rubber and Rubber Latices—Nomenclature (ASTM D1418-22) / Rubber and latices—Nomenclature (ISO 1629:2013)
STANDARDS ORG

Authoritative international nomenclature defining rubber acronyms and classification families.

Issuing Body: ASTM International & ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 45 (Rubber and Rubber Products)Revision: ASTM D1418-22 / ISO 1629:2013View Source Record ↗
ASTM International, ISO & Elastomer Engineering Technical CommitteesStandard Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive Applications (ASTM D2000-21 / SAE J200:2021)
STANDARDS ORG

Standardized classification system establishing Type and Class designations and line callouts for vulcanized rubber compounds.

Issuing Body: ASTM International & SAE International Technical CommitteesRevision: ASTM D2000-21View Source Record ↗
Intellectual Property & Provenance Notice: Mat Grades cites technical literature from recognized industry associations and standards organizations. Underlying technical standards and publication data remain the intellectual property of their respective issuing organizations.