Rubber-Like
also Elastic 50A
Rubber-Like (Elastic 50A) is a two-component cast polyurethane elastomer, also supplied as an SLA/DLP photopolymer, offered across Shore A 30 to Shore A 90.
Values for the Shore A 60 condition
Rubber-Like grades and fills
Rubber-Like is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. Shore A 60 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Very soft rubber-like | Pick for gel-like pads, soft grips, skin/tissue mock-ups and low-force seals where maximum compliance matters. | 5 | 650 | 4 Shore D | |
Soft rubber-like | Soft gaskets, vibration pads and flexible bellows needing large deflection at low load. | 7 | 620 | 8 Shore D | |
Medium-soft rubber-like | General-purpose soft seals, grommets and over-mould-look prototype parts. | 11 | 570 | 12 Shore D | |
Shore A 60Default Medium rubber-like | Default all-round grade: seals, keypads, damping mounts and rubber-look functional prototypes. | 16 | 520 | 16 Shore D | |
Medium-hard rubber-like | Choose where a seal or bushing must resist extrusion and moderate load while staying elastomeric. | 24 | 480 | 22 Shore D | |
Hard rubber-like | Wear-duty parts: rollers, scraper blades, wheel treads, heavy-load bushings and impact pads. | 32 | 450 | 30 Shore D | |
Very hard rubber-like | Highest load-bearing elastomer grade: press pads, die springs, mining screens, high-pressure seal backups. | 42 | 400 | 40 Shore D |
What is Rubber-Like?
Rubber-Like (Elastic 50A) is a two-component cast polyurethane elastomer, also supplied as an SLA/DLP photopolymer, offered across Shore A 30 to Shore A 90. It is used for prototype and low-volume gaskets, grips, overmoulds and flexible fixtures because it copies mould detail closely and reaches 16 MPa tensile strength, 520 % elongation and a 4.7 MPa (0.0047 GPa) modulus. Limits are the 80 °C service ceiling, thermoset chemistry that cannot be re-melted or heat welded, and UV yellowing in aromatic grades; injection-moulded TPU is the usual alternative at higher volumes. Rubber-Like has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0415 lb/in³), heavier than 62% of polyurethane grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -45°C (-49 °F). Rubber-Like has a tensile strength of 16 MPa (2.32 ksi), weaker than 81% of polyurethane grades. Elongation at break is 520% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (6.82×10⁻⁴ Msi).
What is Rubber-Like used for?
- Gaskets
- seals
- overmolds
- grips
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 90/100, better than 100% of polyurethane grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 520%, better than 98% of polyurethane grades
- Readily welded — 15/100, better than 97% of polyurethane grades
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 35/100, better than 83% of polyurethane grades
Limitations
- Low stiffness — 0 GPa (6.82×10⁻⁴ Msi), worse than 100% of polyurethane grades
- High mold shrinkage — 1.2%, worse than 97% of polyurethane grades
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 90% of polyurethane grades
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 0.8%, worse than 88% of polyurethane grades
- Hard to polish — 30/100, worse than 82% of polyurethane grades
Rubber-Like properties
Typical room-temperature values for Rubber-Like-Shore A 60; bars are the position among polyurethane grades.
Physical5
Rubber-Like has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0415 lb/in³), heavier than 62% of polyurethane grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -45°C (-49 °F).
Mechanical12
Rubber-Like has a tensile strength of 16 MPa (2.32 ksi), weaker than 81% of polyurethane grades. Elongation at break is 520% and the elastic modulus is 0 GPa (6.82×10⁻⁴ Msi).
Thermal8
Rubber-Like is rated for continuous service to 80°C (176 °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 170 µm/m·K (94.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
Rubber-Like is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 20 kV/mm (508 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁰ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (78/100), better than 71% of polyurethane grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Rubber-Like takes about 100 MJ of energy and emits 5 kg of CO₂ — less than 83% of polyurethane grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability6
Rubber-Like's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 90% of polyurethane grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability excellent (90/100).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polyurethane family
Yield strength against density for every polyurethane grade FabDigit runs. Rubber-Like is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Rubber-Like
Is Rubber-Like easy to machine?
Machinable only with very sharp, high-rake or skiving tools, high speed and low feed; soft grades benefit from freezing or water-jet/laser-free die cutting, and parts must be fully supported to avoid deflection.
Can Rubber-Like be welded?
Cast (thermoset) urethane is not weldable — join by cyanoacrylate/urethane adhesive or over-moulding; TPU equivalents can be hot-plate, ultrasonic or HF welded.
Can Rubber-Like be formed, bent or molded?
Two-component cast: degas prepolymer, mix at 1:1–10:1 ratio, pour at 40–80 °C into silicone or metal tooling, gel in minutes and post-cure 8–16 h at 70–100 °C for full properties; allow 0.6–1.8 % shrink and avoid moisture (CO₂ bubbling).
Rubber-Like 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/TDI isocyanate prepolymeraromatic diisocyanate hard segment; aliphatic (HDI/IPDI) used for non-yellowing grades | 25 – 45 | 35 |
| chain extender (BDO / MOCA / HQEE)sets hard-segment content and hence Shore hardness | 3 – 12 | 8 |
| catalyst, pigment, UV/antioxidant additi | 0.1 – 3 | 1 |
| polyester or polyether polyolsoft segment; polyester = oil/abrasion resistance, polyether = hydrolysis resistance | ≥ 45 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Rubber-Like?
Surface replicates the mould — gloss, matte or textured; can be pad-printed, dyed in the mix, or coated with flexible urethane paint; aromatic grades should be UV-stabilised or aliphatic-topcoated to prevent yellowing.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Rubber-Like in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Elastic 50A
How much does Rubber-Like cost?
Rubber-Like is a budget-cost polyurethane ($), cheaper than about 99% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Rubber-Like — frequently asked
What is Rubber-Like used for?
Rubber-Like is typically used for gaskets, seals, overmolds and grips. In short: cast elastomer; pick Shore A hardness per application.
What is the tensile strength of Rubber-Like?
Rubber-Like has a typical tensile strength of 16 MPa (2.32 ksi) — weaker than 81% of polyurethane grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is Rubber-Like easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 90% of polyurethane grades). Machinable only with very sharp, high-rake or skiving tools, high speed and low feed; soft grades benefit from freezing or water-jet/laser-free die cutting, and parts must be fully supported to avoid deflection.
Can Rubber-Like be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Cast (thermoset) urethane is not weldable — join by cyanoacrylate/urethane adhesive or over-moulding; TPU equivalents can be hot-plate, ultrasonic or HF welded.
What surface finishes work on Rubber-Like?
Surface replicates the mould — gloss, matte or textured; can be pad-printed, dyed in the mix, or coated with flexible urethane paint; aromatic grades should be UV-stabilised or aliphatic-topcoated to prevent yellowing.
Can Rubber-Like be formed, bent or molded?
Two-component cast: degas prepolymer, mix at 1:1–10:1 ratio, pour at 40–80 °C into silicone or metal tooling, gel in minutes and post-cure 8–16 h at 70–100 °C for full properties; allow 0.6–1.8 % shrink and avoid moisture (CO₂ bubbling).
What is the maximum service temperature of Rubber-Like?
Rubber-Like is rated for continuous use to about 80°C (176 °F), and briefly to 120°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Rubber-Like cost?
Rubber-Like is a budget-cost polyurethane ($), cheaper than about 99% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Can FabDigit make parts in Rubber-Like?
Yes — Rubber-Like is available for urethane casting with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM D2240 — Rubber Property, Durometer Hardness — ASTM (2021)
- ASTM D412 / D624 / D395 — Tensile, Tear and Compression Set of Elastomers — ASTM (2021)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics (polyurethane elastomers) — ASM International (1988)
- Castable polyurethane elastomer system datasheets (Shore A 30–A 90) — Huntsman / Hexion / Smooth-On (2023)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector polyurethane elastomer property records — CAMPUS & UL (2024)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.