HYDEX® 301 Plate, Unplaned

HYDEX® 301 is a transparent rigid polyurethane, the clear counterpart to the opaque rigid urethanes and one of the few see-through stock shapes with genuinely broad chemical compatibility. It is clear with a light amber cast and polishes to excellent optical clarity. Tensile strength is 9,000 psi with a 310,000 psi tensile modulus and Rockwell M95 hardness, so it is noticeably stiffer and harder than the opaque rigid urethane grades. Water absorption is 0.10 percent in 24 hours, which keeps parts dimensionally stable, and compressive strength reaches 11,700 psi at 10 percent strain.

Engineers reach for it when a part has to be both chemically resistant and visible: sight glasses, viewing windows, machine guards, chemical handling fixtures, pharmaceutical and cleanroom tooling, and medical device bodies where operators need to confirm flow or position. Stock shapes machine conventionally and buff to clarity with standard plastic polishing compounds. Two limits matter. Long-term service temperature is 170°F, with heat deflection at 170°F under 264 psi, so it is not a hot-water or steam material. Notched Izod impact strength is 1.10 ft-lb/in, so avoid sharp internal corners in impact-loaded parts.