A process for the preparation of polymerizable, primarily linear thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers with acrylate side groups comprising reacting an organic polyisocyanate with a mixture of(a) an acrylate diol having a molecular weight of 146 to 3000,(b) an organic polyhydroxyl compound other than those of paragraph (a) having a molecular weight between 400 and 5000, and(c) a chain extender selected from the group consisting of diols, diamines, aminoalcohols, and triols, having molecular weights between 61 and 400, water, and mixtures thereofwherein the ratio of isocyanate to active hydrogen containing groups is from 0.8:1 to 1.2:1 and wherein 1.4 to 1.8 moles of organic polyisocyante, 0 to 15 moles of component (c) and 0.3 to 6 moles of component (a) are used per mole of component (b). The polymerizable polyurethane elastomers may be used for the manufacture of molded parts, laminates, adhesives, coatings, magnetic tapes, and other articles.