SOME PROPERTIES OF INTEGRAL SKIN POLYURETHANE MOLDINGS

The various stages in the successful production of integral skin polyu rethane foam mouldings designed to simulate red cedar products are des cribed. The development of surface finishing techniques has resulted i n mouldings textually and visually almost identical with authentic red cedar. The mechanical properties of the mouldings have been measured and compared with those of red cedar. Although the flexural modulus is significantly less and the flexural and compression strengths are sli ghtly less, the surface hardness and the screw holding strength are si gnificantly higher for the mouldings than for the red cedar. The lower flexural modulus can be compensated at the design stage by dimensiona l modification pr the use of composite structures.