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TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) is a kind of elastomeric raw material, which has the features of high resilience, high strength, available in a wide hardness range. Suitable for a wide range of applications. Non-toxic and safe, and excellent colorability.
It exhibits soft touch, weather resistance, fatigue resistance and temperature resistance. It's easy to process, no need to vulcanize, can be recycled to reduce costs and carbon emission.
Specific products can be over-molded onto PP, PE, PC, PS, ABS, AS,PETG,PCTG,PMMA and other basis materials, but can also be molded separately.
1.Polymer types, prepared by reactor, such as TPA,TPU, and TPEE
2.Polymer blends, prepared in a compounding operation such as TPS and TPV.
a.Note that In China we call TPS-H TPE (based upon SEBS)
b.TPS-N (based upon SBS) we call TPR.
Like thermoplastics, TPE are processed by injection molding, extrusion and casting. Since TPE’s under certain conditions adhere to harder substrates, they can also be overmoulded and co-extruded.
TPE material generally show many advantages:
1. Adjustable hardness; from gel like hardness (Shore OO grades) to medium hardness (Shore A range) to Hard – vulcanized rubber like grades (Shore D range)
2. The benefit of using thermoplastic elastomers is the ability to stretch to moderate elongations and return to its near original shape creating a longer life and better physical range than other materials.
3. TPE material is easy to process and shape, can be manufactured into various shapes by injection molding, extrusion, blow molding or casting. It can also be combined with other materials by overmolding or co-extrusion. TPE’s can also be thermal welded.
4. TPE materials exhibit good cold resistance with brittle points below -50 ℃ and continuous use temperatures over 70℃ .
5. TPE materials have, depending upon the polymer base, good chemical resistance to most daily chemicals at room temperature and limited immersion times.
6. Some TPE materials have excellent wear resistance. These products are widely used in automotive parts, industrial products, such as castors.
7. TPE materials are thermoplastic materials and can be 100% recycled, without significant property loss. Reducing cost and waste generation.
8. TPE’s are easy to color using a pigments or universal color masterbatches.
9. The haptic of TPE’s can be adjusted from silky smooth for watch straps to vibration dampening grippy for power-tool handles.
10. TPE materials usually do not contain toxic and harmful substances, comply with the relevant environmental protection and safety standards.