Polyurea SOFT-A90
Hardness band
SOFT-A90 = soft / high-elongation grade
Choose for crack-bridging waterproofing, expansion joints and geomembranes where movement accommodation matters more than hardness.
Values for the SOFT-A90 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-A90This page 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 |
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 SOFT-A90?
Polyurea SOFT-A90 is Polyurea heat treated to SOFT-A90 — choose for crack-bridging waterproofing, expansion joints and geomembranes where movement accommodation matters more than hardness. Polyurea SOFT-A90 has a tensile strength of 12 MPa (1.74 ksi), weaker than 81% of polyurethane grades. Elongation at break is 600% and the elastic modulus is 0.02 GPa (0.0029 Msi). Polyurea SOFT-A90 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; SOFT-A90 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 600%, better than 105% of polyurethane grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 88/100, better than 100% of polyurethane grades
- High service temperature — 110°C (230 °F), better than 95% of polyurethane grades
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 35/100, better than 83% of polyurethane grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 20/100, worse than 97% of polyurethane grades
- Difficult to machine — 18/100, worse than 95% of polyurethane grades
- Low stiffness — 0.02 GPa (0.0029 Msi), worse than 81% of polyurethane grades
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 0.7%, worse than 81% of polyurethane grades
Polyurea SOFT-A90 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Polyurea SOFT-A90; 17 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 SOFT-A90 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 SOFT-A90 has a tensile strength of 12 MPa (1.74 ksi), weaker than 81% of polyurethane grades. Elongation at break is 600% and the elastic modulus is 0.02 GPa (0.0029 Msi).
Thermal8
Polyurea SOFT-A90 is rated for continuous service to 110°C (230 °F). It conducts heat at 0.19 W/m·K (0.11 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 90% of polyurethane grades. Thermal expansion is 130 µm/m·K (72.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical4
Polyurea SOFT-A90 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 (88/100), better than 100% of polyurethane grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Polyurea SOFT-A90 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 SOFT-A90's machinability is poor (18/100, worse than 95% 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 SOFT-A90
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 SOFT-A90 — frequently asked
What is Polyurea SOFT-A90 used for?
Polyurea SOFT-A90 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 SOFT-A90?
Polyurea SOFT-A90 has a typical tensile strength of 12 MPa (1.74 ksi) — weaker than 81% of polyurethane grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is Polyurea SOFT-A90 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (18/100, worse than 95% 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 SOFT-A90 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 SOFT-A90?
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 SOFT-A90 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 SOFT-A90?
Polyurea SOFT-A90 is rated for continuous use to about 110°C (230 °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.