In Short
The different types of TPE
The different types of TPEs and their modification options provide the basis for plenty of materials properties thus enabling a cost-effective processing in applications for the most diverse industries.
TPEs contribute to enhancing products and setting them apart from others. In addition, they take over a lot of technical functions that so far have been reserved for elastomers. Using TPEs does not only increase a product’s benefits but also brings economic advantages to processors.
The processing and behavior of TPE materials classify them as belonging to a group of materials between thermoplastics and elastomers. They form an independent class of materials.
Basically, a distinction is made between reactor-made TPEs (e.g. TPA, TPU, and TPC) and TPE compounds (e.g. TPS and TPV). The properties of reactor-made TPEs are implemented in one polymer. The properties of TPE blends result from mixing different polymers to form a so-called compound.
Like thermoplastics, when heated and with the application of shear force, TPEs become free-flowing and when cooled regain their original structure and stability. Unlike the chemical cross-linking which occurs in thermoset rubbers, TPE involves purely physical cross-linking, which can be reversed via the further application of heat, this makes it possible to re-use all production waste and end of life products can be easily reprocessed.
The TPE softness or hardness value is measured on the Shore durometer scale. TPEs are available as ultra-soft gel like materials measuring 0 Shore A through to rigid materials measuring up to 65 Shore D, and just about every variation in-between.
It is this design flexibility, high-performance and ease of processing that has led to designers increasingly turning to TPEs as their material of choice. TPEs are used in a variety of applications in the automotive, medical, construction, electrical, appliance, packaging and industrial markets – and new uses for TPEs are being developed all the time.