A Transparent Millable Polyurethane Rubber

Download MSDS and Brochure (revised July 2008)

Millathane 97 is a polyether millable urethane rubber having excellent wear properties, a high coefficient of friction and very good UV stability. This polyurethane rubber is designed for applications in shoe soling, roll coverings and other applications where transparency is brightly colored or decorative products are required.

Product Description

Processing

Millathane 97, like other millable urethanes, is processed by techniques which are common to the rubber industry. Compounds can be mixed on an open mill or in an internal mixer; molded articles can be produced via compression, transfer or injection molding; calendered sheets can be press cured or rotocured or vulcanized in steam or hot air autoclaves. See TIPS V3-1 for Injection Molding of Millathane 97.

For a video of Millathane 97 mill mixing, go to the Millathane section of the download page.

Properties

Vulcanizates based on Millathane 97 can be produced in hardnesses ranging from 45 to 95 Shore A durometer, and offer exceptional clarity, outstanding abrasion resistance, good chemical resistance and an excellent hydrolysis resistance. Millathane 97 shows an improvement in low temperature flexibility and wet traction compared to previous grades of clear polyurethane rubber.

Compounding

Millathane 97 is peroxide-curable only, and Varox/Lupersol 231 or DiCup R are generally used. Coagents such as SR231 (DEGDMA) and/or SR350 (TMPTMA) from Sartomer are commonlyused to improve cure rates and physical properties. They also improve processing because they are liquid materials.

 Millathane 97 requires reinforcing fillers to achieve hardness and high mechanical strength. A reinforcing filler like fumed silica is typically used to achieve clear compounds, and is easily incorporated into Millathane 97. Antioxidants such as Irganox 1010, Anox 20 or Anox 1315 (from Ciba and Chemtura, respectively) should be added at 0.25-0.5 parts and UV stabilizers also used if products will be used outdoors. The combination of Anox 1315, Lowilite 62,  and Tinuvin 328 (Chemtura and Ciba products) gives very good resistance to yellowing and resistance to ultraviolet (UV) light

Vulcanization Conditions

Compounds based on Millathane 97 are vulcanized at temperatures of 145º - 165º C, depending on the peroxide used, with typical curing times of compression molded lab sheets being 5 to 10 minutes.

Formulation Example

Contacts:
Millathane® Customer Service
Nina Manee at (800) 237-7634 x1348 or (727) 573-7676 x1348



Millathane® Technical Service:
Tom Jablonowski at (800) 237-7634 x1238 or (727) 573-7676 x1238