Functional Considerations

When defining functional requirements, consider all the environments to which your part will be exposed, as well as its end-use conditions. Ambient temperature, humidity, fire retardancy and UV radiation are of particular importance.

Consider the following guidelines when addressing functional requirements:

• Determine if your part needs high impact resistance and/or high stiffness
• Determine the structural conditions to which your part will be subjected
• Determine the parts end use as well as the chemicals the part may be exposed to
• Determine if stiffening inserts should be encapsulated in the part
• Consider elastomeric RIM polyurethane systems if your part needs good impact characteristics
• Consider rigid polyurethane systems for parts that need high stiffness
• Use structural composite polyurethane system if your part needs high stiffness and high impact strength
• Use self-skinning, rigid, foam systems when you need to reduce density and part weight.