聚氨酯弹性体(Polyurethane Elastomer ) 是一种介于橡胶和塑料之间的新型高分子合成材料，它既具有塑料的高强度又具有橡胶的高弹性，其耐磨性能高是天然橡胶的3—5倍，热塑型聚氨酯弹性体约占聚氨酯弹性体总量的25%左右，其优点是可以热塑成型，边料可以回收，机械强度高，浇注型聚氨酯弹性体是聚氨酯弹性体中应用最广、产量最大的一种； 优点是耐温性好，强度高。硬度范围宽广，可极柔软也可极硬。
　　热塑型聚氨酯弹性体可在较宽的硬度范围具有较高的弹性及强度、优异的耐磨性、耐油性、耐疲劳性及抗震动性，具有“耐磨橡胶”之称，聚氨酯弹性体在聚氨酯产品中产量虽小，但聚氨酯弹性体具有优异的综合性能，已广泛用于冶金、石油、汽车、选矿、水利、纺织、印刷、医疗、体育、粮食加工、建筑等工业部门。
　　浇注型聚氨酯弹性体具有优异的力学性能，其抗张强度、断裂伸长率、抗撕裂强度等力学性能都大大优于普通橡胶材料，由于聚氨酯弹性体具有非常良好的综合性能，因此应用领域十分广泛，几乎遍及工业、农业、医疗、国防等各个方面。

(PU) Any condensation polymer made by reacting an aromatic diisocyanate with a polyol that has an average molecular weight greater than about 750. The aromatic diisocyanates usually employed are toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI). The polyol component is either a polyester or polyether. In the “one-shot” system the elastomer is prepared directly in the mold that shapes the final product. The diisocyanate, polyol, and catalyst are rapidly and intimately mixed, then immediately poured or pumped into the mold. Prepolymers, in the form of liquids or low-melting solids, are used when a longer working time is desired. The prepolymers are mixed with catalysts, heated when necessary, degassed, and poured into the molds. Also available are millable guns and pellets containing all components, which have been reacted to a degree that permits further processing by methods used for rubber, including injection molding, compression molding, and transfer molding.