Nothing hinders your productivity like polyurethane product failure.
This can drive your entire production to a halt, increasing your downtime and causing you to spend countless hours locating the problem and replacing the parts.
But what causes this to happen, and how can you prevent it from occurring?
Polyurethane product failure is usually due to one of the following reasons:
1. Improper installation
Improper installation can happen in many ways: a contractor might use the wrong adhesive, apply it too quickly, or install panels at an angle so that they are less than 90 degrees to one another.
The end result is the same - air and water find their way in and cause your parts to fail.
The contractor might also use subpar material for a specific application, such as using PVC in an area where it's too close to electrical wiring or installing panels on top of joists that are not properly supported (either by beams or underlying structural members).
These scenarios can lead to warped panels that will buckle under pressure or to joists that collapse under the weight of heavy panels.
Improper maintenance
Most polyurethane products are not designed to be self-repairing and require regular upkeep, such as correcting water damage before it has had a chance to warp the material or replacing broken seals. If these tasks aren't done on time, the product will fail.
2. Incorrect storage
Even though polyurethane is waterproof and weatherproof, if it's left in an area with high humidity levels or temperatures of more than 122° Fahrenheit (50° Celsius), the material will degrade. It should be kept away from these conditions to ensure that it lasts for as long as possible.
Exposure to environmental factors
A lot of polyurethane products are stored outside. If the materials are not properly labeled or covered, sunlight and other environmental factors can contribute to their breakdown over time. The end result is that they will become warped or brittle with age - which typically leads to rapid product failure.
The best thing you can do when storing your polyurethane products is to make sure they are in a dry, covered area that is not exposed to the sun or other environmental factors.
3. The type of polyurethane used
Most OEM products are made using polyesters because they’re cheap. You definitely get what you pay for in this industry, and it’s important to note that these cheaper parts do not hold up well under UV light.
At Mark Tool & Rubber, we don’t use polyesters to manufacture our urethane. All we use are high-quality polyethers. This is how our products last longer, withstand UV light, and decrease your overall downtime.
We also perform quality control on all of our products to reduce the risk of product failure. It’s thanks to these extraordinary measures that our products have been trusted by industry professionals since 1954. Contact us today to request a quote!