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- Why should I purchase Rhino Hyde® products versus the competitors?
- Isn't all urethane the same?
- Can I purchase Rhino Hyde® products direct?
- What hardness of material is the best for my application?
- What is the difference between polyester and polyether materials?
- What are the advantages of urethane versus steel, rubber and injection molded plastic?
- How do I cut and install Rhino Hyde ®Sheeting?
1. What separates Rhino Hyde® urethane products from our competitors?
All Rhino Hyde® materials are formulated and blended in-house. This allows us the ability to purchase the best raw materials available and to formulate materials to meet specific application needs, we do not have to rely on someone else to understand our customers needs. As far as we know, we are the only such urethane company in the United States. The advantages of having in house formulating and blending capabilities are;
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Formulating and utilizing materials that meet specific application requirements
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Tight control of quality through controlled blending and in-process quality control measures
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Tight control of costs, allowing us to be price competitive with a high quality product
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Flexibility when meeting new requirements, we can formulate quickly to meet changing market needs.
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We have in-house materials physical property testing to ensure you receive a consistent, high quality product
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We have an ISO 9001:2008 registered quality system ensuring consistent quality and continuous improvement
2. Isn't all urethane the same?
We actually get asked this question a lot and the simple answer is that all urethane is NOT the same any more than all steel is the same. There are many different formulations (grades if you prefer) all based on the quality, quantity and type of material used in the formulation. We have an in-house lab staffed with very experienced chemists. The fact is, we only blend Rhino Hyde® materials for internal use based on specific application requirements. In other words, when you purchase a Rhino Hyde® product, you can be assured the material has been formulated and field tested to match the application it is going to be used in.
3. Are Rhino Hyde® products sold direct or through distribution?
We utilize distribution for the majority of our product lines and only sell direct if distribution is unavailable in a specific territory. All distribution we utilize are specialists in their respective fields and are fully supported by our sales and engineering staff.
4. What hardness works best for my application?
Hardness is not a good measure to use when selecting a material for an application, however hardness is the most talked about physical property. Most abrasion resistant elastomeric products will maximize their physical properties between Shore A 60 and 95. Due to the range of products we manufacture, materials are available from Shore A 50 to Shore D 60 and each material is formulated to meet certain strength and wear properties.
When determining which material best fits an application we look at the type of material feed, volume of material, environmental conditions then determine which is our best material for that application. We then match the physical properties of the material to fit the application; properties evaluated include; tensile strength, Taber abrasion and tear properties, not just the hardness. Material specification for an application is based on many material physical properties and application parameters, your Rhino Hyde® sales representative is uniquely qualified to provide this recommendation.
5. What are the differences between polyester and polyether materials?
Polyester materials are the "work horse" of the abrasion industry and by their chemical composition generally have better wear properties than polyether materials, which is of course dependent on the application. Each abrasion application is different and a general statement cannot be made about one material being better than the other until all of the variables and factors in the application are understood. The main differences between the two materials are: polyether is less susceptible to hydrolysis than polyester, polyester materials are generally better for large particle applications and polyether is generally better for finer particle applicaitons.
Sound confusing? It really is a science to match the proper material to the application. Your Rhino Hyde® sales representative is well schooled in the properties of the various material formulations available and best able to specify the correct material for a specific application. The best way to fit the "correct" material to the application is to discuss all of the application parameters with your sales representative and then determine the correct material.
6.What are the advantages of urethane versus steel, rubber and injection molded plastic?
Rhino Hyde® polyurethane parts are produced out of a two component material that through formulation and processing develops extraordinary physical properties.
Advantages of urethane versus metal:
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Lighter weight
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Less noise
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Considerably better wear
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Corrosion resistance
Advantages of urethane versus rubber:
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Better abrasion resistance
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Higher load bearing
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Lighter weight, no solid backing required
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Pourable into more complex shapes
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Ozone cracking resistance
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Resistance to chemicals
Advantages of urethane versus thermoplastic urethane (TPU):
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Better abrasion properties
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Elastomeric memory
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Better impact resistance
7. How do I cut and install Rhino Hyde® sheeting?
Rhino Hyde® sheets come in plain, fabric, expanded and solid metal backing. These can be clamped, bolted or screwed in place. Cutting is normally accomplished with a shear, jig saw or sawzall with a coarse grit blade.
Download the Rhino Hyde® Sheet Technical Information bulletin for more information
