Polyurea ALIPH
Grade
ALIPH = aliphatic polyurea
Pick for exposed architectural, stadium, deck and topcoat work where gloss and colour must be retained outdoors.
Values for the ALIPH condition
Other Polyurea grades and fills
Polyurea is listed in 8 conditions; see the grade overview at Polyurea.
Compare all 8 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soft / high-elongation grade | Choose for crack-bridging waterproofing, expansion joints and geomembranes where movement accommodation matters more than hardness. | — | 12 | 600 | 35 Shore D |
Polyurea–polyurethane hybrid | Lower-cost blend with slightly longer gel time and better wetting/levelling; accepts modest moisture but is less hydrolysis- and heat-resistant than pure polyurea. | — | 14 | 320 | 45 Shore D |
Slow-set hand-applied / cartridge grade | Use for repairs, detail work, joints and small areas where heated plural-component spray equipment is impractical. | — | 14 | 350 | 45 Shore D |
Flame-retardant grade | Specify for tunnel, mine, marine and transit linings that must meet UL 94 V-0 or ASTM E84 Class A flame-spread requirements. | — | 15 | 250 | 52 Shore D |
AROMDefault Aromatic pure polyurea | Default workhorse for tank, secondary-containment, truck-bed and waterproofing linings where colour stability is not required. | — | 18 | 380 | 50 Shore D |
ALIPHThis page Aliphatic polyurea | Pick for exposed architectural, stadium, deck and topcoat work where gloss and colour must be retained outdoors. | — | 20 | 300 | 55 Shore D |
Mineral / glass-flake reinforced lining grade | Filled or glass-flake versions for tank bottoms, FGD and immersion service needing lower permeation, higher stiffness and less shrinkage. | — | 20 | 80 | 70 Shore D |
High-hardness / rigid grade | Use for abrasion-dominated service — mining chutes, slurry pipe, hopper and dredge linings — where stiffness beats elongation. | — | 26 | 120 | 65 Shore D |
What is Polyurea ALIPH?
Polyurea ALIPH is Polyurea in the ALIPH grade — pick for exposed architectural, stadium, deck and topcoat work where gloss and colour must be retained outdoors. Polyurea ALIPH has a tensile strength of 20 MPa (2.9 ksi), weaker than 71% of polyurethane grades. Elongation at break is 300% and the elastic modulus is 0.09 GPa (0.0131 Msi). Polyurea ALIPH has a density of 1.05 g/cm³ (0.0379 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of polyurethane grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -55°C (-67 °F). AROM is the default condition FabDigit quotes; ALIPH is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 91/100, better than 105% of polyurethane grades
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 92/100, better than 105% of polyurethane grades
- High service temperature — 120°C (248 °F), better than 100% of polyurethane grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 300%, better than 86% of polyurethane grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 20/100, worse than 97% of polyurethane grades
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 90% of polyurethane grades
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 0.7%, worse than 81% of polyurethane grades
Polyurea ALIPH properties
Typical room-temperature values for Polyurea ALIPH; 18 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Polyurea reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polyurethane grades.
Physical4
Polyurea ALIPH has a density of 1.05 g/cm³ (0.0379 lb/in³), lighter than 90% of polyurethane grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -55°C (-67 °F).
Mechanical11
Polyurea ALIPH has a tensile strength of 20 MPa (2.9 ksi), weaker than 71% of polyurethane grades. Elongation at break is 300% and the elastic modulus is 0.09 GPa (0.0131 Msi).
Thermal8
Polyurea ALIPH is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 0.2 W/m·K (0.116 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 60% of polyurethane grades. Thermal expansion is 130 µm/m·K (72.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical4
Polyurea ALIPH is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 20 kV/mm (508 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (91/100), better than 105% of polyurethane grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Polyurea ALIPH takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 5.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 64% of polyurethane grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
Polyurea ALIPH's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 90% of polyurethane grades); weldability not recommended (5/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Polyurea ALIPH
Is Polyurea easy to machine?
Cured film is trimmed with sharp knives, hot knives or water-jet; conventional machining smears and drags, and thermosets cannot be re-melted.
Can Polyurea be welded?
Not weldable — repairs are made by abrading, solvent/tie-coat priming and re-spraying fresh polyurea within the recoat window.
Can Polyurea be formed, bent or molded?
Applied by heated (60–75 °C) plural-component 1:1 impingement spray at 14–24 MPa, gel 3–15 s and tack-free under a minute; also cast or RIM-moulded for parts.
What surface finishes work on Polyurea?
Surface prep (SSPC-SP10 blast on steel, CSP-3 on concrete) plus epoxy primer governs adhesion; aromatic films need an aliphatic polyurea or PU topcoat for colour retention.
Polyurea 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 |
|---|---|---|
| MDI-based isocyanate quasi-prepolymer (Atypically polymeric/modified MDI, NCO ~15–16% | 40 – 55 | 50 |
| amine-terminated polyether resin (ATPE, polyoxypropylene diamine/triamine, MW 2000–5000 | 30 – 45 | 38 |
| aromatic diamine chain extender (DETDA /sets hard-segment content and hardness | 5 – 15 | 9 |
| pigment, UV stabiliser, adhesion promotegrade-dependent additives | 0 – 8 | 3 |
Polyurea ALIPH — frequently asked
What is Polyurea ALIPH used for?
Polyurea ALIPH is typically used for protective spray coatings, truck bed liners, waterproofing membranes and blast-mitigation linings. In short: fastest-curing protective lining; tougher than sprayed polyurethane; cures in seconds, walk-on quickly.
What is the tensile strength of Polyurea ALIPH?
Polyurea ALIPH has a typical tensile strength of 20 MPa (2.9 ksi) — weaker than 71% of polyurethane grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is Polyurea ALIPH easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 90% of polyurethane grades). Cured film is trimmed with sharp knives, hot knives or water-jet; conventional machining smears and drags, and thermosets cannot be re-melted.
Can Polyurea ALIPH be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (5/100). Not weldable — repairs are made by abrading, solvent/tie-coat priming and re-spraying fresh polyurea within the recoat window.
What surface finishes work on Polyurea ALIPH?
Surface prep (SSPC-SP10 blast on steel, CSP-3 on concrete) plus epoxy primer governs adhesion; aromatic films need an aliphatic polyurea or PU topcoat for colour retention.
Can Polyurea ALIPH be formed, bent or molded?
Applied by heated (60–75 °C) plural-component 1:1 impingement spray at 14–24 MPa, gel 3–15 s and tack-free under a minute; also cast or RIM-moulded for parts.
What is the maximum service temperature of Polyurea ALIPH?
Polyurea ALIPH is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F), and briefly to 180°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASTM D412 — Tension Properties of Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers — ASTM International (2021)
- ASTM D624 — Tear Strength of Conventional Vulcanized Rubber and TPE — ASTM International (2020)
- ASTM D2240 — Rubber Property, Durometer Hardness — ASTM International (2021)
- NSF/ANSI 61 — Drinking Water System Components — NSF International (2023)
- Polyurea Development Association (PDA) technical bulletins and applicator guidance — PDA (2022)
- Aromatic and aliphatic spray polyurea system datasheets (isocyanate prepolymer / ATPE resin suppliers) — Huntsman, Covestro, VersaFlex, SPI (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.