Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500
Grade
SR-500 = high-density semi-rigid integral skin, ~0.50 g/cm³
Choose for wear- and grip-critical parts (steering wheels, shift knobs, handles) needing a tough, thick skin.
Values for the SR-500 condition
Other Integral Skin PU Foam grades and fills
Integral Skin PU Foam is listed in 9 conditions; see the grade overview at Integral Skin PU Foam.
Compare all 9 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low-density soft semi-rigid integral skin, ~0.25 g/cm³ | Pick when cushioning feel and low part weight matter more than stiffness (headrests, armrest pads, wheelchair pads). | — | 2 | 180 | 12 Shore D |
Flame-retardant integral skin | Use where rail/transit (EN 45545), aircraft interior or electrical-enclosure fire requirements apply. | — | 3 | 110 | 27 Shore D |
Carbon-black filled antistatic/dissipative integral skin | Use for electronics and medical enclosures or handles that must bleed off static charge. | — | 3 | 90 | 27 Shore D |
Light-stable aliphatic integral skin | Choose when the molded skin is the visible finished surface in sunlight and no topcoat is allowed (light-colored interior trim, medical housings). | — | 3 | 140 | 25 Shore D |
SR-350Default Semi-rigid integral skin, ~0.35 g/cm³ molded density | General-purpose self-skinning semi-rigid system for armrests, grips, covers and soft-touch panels. | — | 4 | 150 | 65 Shore A |
SR-500This page High-density semi-rigid integral skin, ~0.50 g/cm³ | Choose for wear- and grip-critical parts (steering wheels, shift knobs, handles) needing a tough, thick skin. | — | 6 | 140 | 80 Shore A |
Microcellular self-skinning elastomer, ~0.6 g/cm³ | Pick for shoe soles, rollers, seals and vibration pads where high tear/abrasion resistance and rubbery resilience are required. | — | 9 | 320 | 18 Shore D |
Rigid structural integral skin (RIM structural foam), ~0.70 g/cm³ | Use for load-bearing paint-ready housings and covers (medical equipment, kiosk, instrument enclosures) as a low-tooling-cost alternative to injection molding. | — | 24 | 8 | 65 Shore D |
Milled-glass / mineral reinforced rigid integral skin | Pick for large rigid panels needing higher stiffness, lower CTE and better dimensional stability than unfilled structural foam. | — | 30 | 5 | 72 Shore D |
What is Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500?
Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 is Integral Skin PU Foam in the SR-500 grade — choose for wear- and grip-critical parts (steering wheels, shift knobs, handles) needing a tough, thick skin. Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 has a tensile strength of 6 MPa (0.87 ksi), weaker than 82% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 140% and the elastic modulus is 0.05 GPa (0.0073 Msi). Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 has a density of 0.5 g/cm³ (0.0181 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -30°C (-22 °F). SR-350 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; SR-500 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Lightweight — 0.5 g/cm³ (0.0181 lb/in³), better than 84% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 2%, worse than 97% of polymer grades
- Difficult to weld — 5/100, worse than 89% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.07 W/m·K (0.0416 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 30/100, worse than 82% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 70/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades
Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Integral Skin PU Foam reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical3
Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 has a density of 0.5 g/cm³ (0.0181 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -30°C (-22 °F).
Mechanical11
Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 has a tensile strength of 6 MPa (0.87 ksi), weaker than 82% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 140% and the elastic modulus is 0.05 GPa (0.0073 Msi).
Thermal8
Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 is rated for continuous service to 90°C (194 °F). It conducts heat at 0.07 W/m·K (0.0416 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 150 µm/m·K (83.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), worse than 78% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 4.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 2%.
Manufacturability6
Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500's machinability is fair (50/100, worse than 73% of polymer grades); weldability not recommended (5/100); formability poor (20/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500
Is Integral Skin PU Foam easy to machine?
Trim flash and drill with sharp, high-rake or hot-knife tooling and vacuum extraction; the cellular core tears if fed too fast and dust must be captured, so most parts are net-shape molded with in-mold inserts instead.
Can Integral Skin PU Foam be welded?
Thermoset and non-weldable — join with PU or MS-polymer adhesives, over-molding onto a metal/plastic armature, or in-mold bonded inserts.
Can Integral Skin PU Foam be formed, bent or molded?
Low-pressure open-pour or closed-mold RIM at 40–65 °C tool temperature, mold release each shot, 2–6 min demold; skin thickness and hardness are tuned by tool temperature, blowing-agent level and shot overpack (typically 10–30 %).
What surface finishes work on Integral Skin PU Foam?
As-molded skin replicates the tool grain and is usually the finished surface; aromatic systems need a flexible 2K PU topcoat or in-mold coating for UV and abrasion, while aliphatic light-stable grades ship paint-free.
Integral Skin PU Foam chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| polymeric MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanA-component; NCO index typically 100–110 | 30 – 50 | 40 |
| chain extender / crosslinker (ethylene gsets skin hardness | 1 – 6 | 3 |
| blowing agent (water and/or HFO-1233zd, controls core density and skin thickness | 0.3 – 4 | 1.5 |
| amine + tin catalysts | 0.3 – 2 | 1 |
| silicone surfactant / cell regulator | 0.2 – 1.5 | 0.7 |
| pigment paste, UV stabilizer (HALS/benzohigher in light-stable LS-ALI grades | 0.5 – 5 | 2 |
| flame retardant (phosphate ester / melamFR-V0 variant only | 0 – 20 | 0 |
| milled glass fiber / mineral fillerGF15 / RRIM variant only | 0 – 20 | 0 |
| polyether polyol (polyoxypropylene/EO-caB-component base | ≥ 40 (balance) | — |
Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 — frequently asked
What is Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 used for?
Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 is typically used for automotive steering wheels and armrests, office chair armrests, shoe soles and furniture handles and decorative parts. In short: molded-in dense surface skin; skin and core in one shot; cushioning with structural stiffness.
What is the tensile strength of Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500?
Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 has a typical tensile strength of 6 MPa (0.87 ksi) — weaker than 82% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, worse than 73% of polymer grades). Trim flash and drill with sharp, high-rake or hot-knife tooling and vacuum extraction; the cellular core tears if fed too fast and dust must be captured, so most parts are net-shape molded with in-mold inserts instead.
Can Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). Thermoset and non-weldable — join with PU or MS-polymer adhesives, over-molding onto a metal/plastic armature, or in-mold bonded inserts.
What surface finishes work on Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500?
As-molded skin replicates the tool grain and is usually the finished surface; aromatic systems need a flexible 2K PU topcoat or in-mold coating for UV and abrasion, while aliphatic light-stable grades ship paint-free.
Can Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 be formed, bent or molded?
Low-pressure open-pour or closed-mold RIM at 40–65 °C tool temperature, mold release each shot, 2–6 min demold; skin thickness and hardness are tuned by tool temperature, blowing-agent level and shot overpack (typically 10–30 %).
What is the maximum service temperature of Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500?
Integral Skin PU Foam SR-500 is rated for continuous use to about 90°C (194 °F), and briefly to 120°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASTM D3574 — Flexible Cellular Materials: Slab, Bonded, and Molded Urethane Foams — ASTM International (2017)
- ASTM D1621 / D1622 — Compressive Properties and Apparent Density of Rigid Cellular Plastics — ASTM International (2020)
- Baydur / Bayfill integral skin and structural foam systems — Covestro (2022)
- Elastoflex / Elastofoam I integral skin system data — BASF Polyurethanes (2021)
- Specflex / VORANOL self-skinning system literature — Dow Polyurethanes (2021)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics (polyurethane foams) — ASM International (1988)
- CES EduPack polymer foam property records — Granta/Ansys (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.