Thermoplastic Elastomers

Arranged by:
Siti Ermi

(5213415011)

Septyani Fitrianingsih

(5213415017)

Desi Puryani

(5213415021)

Ilham Yaumika Nahri

(5213415025)

Mira Melina

(5213415033)

Semarang State University

2016

Thermoplastic Elastomers

A. Definition of thermoplastic-elastomer
Thermoplastic

elastomers

(TPE),

sometimes

referred

to

as

thermoplastic rubbers, are a class of copolymers or a physical mix of

polymers (usually a plastic and a rubber) which consist of materials with both
thermoplastic and elastomeric properties. While most elastomers are
thermosets, thermoplastics are in contrast relatively easy to use in
manufacturing, for example, by injection molding. Thermoplastic elastomers
show advantages typical of both rubbery materials and plastic materials. The
principal difference between thermoset elastomers and thermoplastic
elastomers is the type of cross-linking bond in their structures. In fact,
crosslinking is a critical structural factor which imparts high elastic properties.
Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) are family of polymers that behave
thermoset rubber with having recyclability and processing advantages of
plastics. Thermoplastic elastomers do not require curing or vulcanization in
the process and can be processed by conventional thermoplastic techniques
such as injection moulding, extrusion and blow moulding.
Advantage of using TPE product;
Easy thermoplastic processing
Easy processing with shorter cycle time
Low energy consumption
Curing is not necessary
Good colourability
Over moulding over various plastic
100% recyclable

B. Properties of thermoplastic-elastomer
In order to qualify as a thermoplastic elastomer, a material must have
these three essential characteristics:
i. The ability to be stretched to moderate elongations and, upon the
removal of stress, return to something close to its original shape

ii.
iii.

Processable as a melt at elevated temperature

Absence of significant creep

C. Types of thermoplastic-elastomer

There are six generic classes of commercial TPEs:

1.)
Styrenic block copolymers (TPE-s)
2.)
Thermoplastic olefins (TPE-o)
3.)
Elastomeric alloys (TPE-v or TPV)
4.)
Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU)
5.)
Thermoplastic copolyester
6.)
Thermoplastic polyamides
1.) Styrenic block copolymers (TPE-s)
Styrenic block copolymers (SBCs) are the largest-volume market of
the family of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). TPEs have rubberlike
properties, but process as thermoplastics. As with other thermoplastic
elastomers, styrenic block copolymers are characterized by their ability to be

processed as thermoplastic materials while possessing the physical and

mechanical properties characteristic of filled vulcanized elastomers. In
addition, the scrap generated is reprocessable. These factors combine to
reduce the production cost of finished articles based on these materials,
compared with vulcanized rubber. Styrenic block copolymers exhibit good
elastic qualities, but display lower elastic recovery than standard rubbers.
Also, they demonstrate good flexibility at lower temperatures but their use is
limited at higher temperatures because of their relatively low softening points.
i.
There are three major types of SBCs:
ii.
Styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) block copolymers
iii.
Styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS) block copolymers
iv. Hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers (HSBC)
2.) Thermoplastic olefins (TPE-o)
Thermoplastic olefin (TPO), or olefinic thermoplastic elastomers refer
to polymer/filler blends usually consisting of some fraction of a thermoplastic,
an elastomer or rubber, and usually a filler. Thermoplastics may include
polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), block copolymer polypropylene
(BCPP), and others. Common fillers include, though are not restricted to talc,
fiberglass, carbon fiber, wollastonite, and MOS (Metal Oxy Sulfate). Common
elastomers include ethylene propylene rubber (EPR), EPDM (EP-diene
rubber), ethylene-octene (EO), ethylbenzene (EB), and styrene ethylene
butadiene styrene (SEBS). Currently there are a great variety of commercially
available rubbers and BCPP's. They are produced using regioselective and
stereoselective catalysts known as metallocenes. The metallocene catalyst
becomes embedded in the polymer and cannot be recovered.
The geometry of the metallocene catalyst will determine the sequence
of chirality in the chain, as in, atactic, syndiotactic, isotactic, as well as
average block length, molecular weight and distribution. These characteristics
will in turn govern the microstructure of the blend.
Components for TPO are blended together at 210 - 270 C under high
shear. A twin screw extruder or a continuous mixer may be employed to

achieve a continuous stream, or a Banbury compounder may be employed for

batch production. A higher degree of mixing and dispersion is achieved in the
batch process, but the superheat batch must immediately be processed through
an extruder to be pelletized into a transportable intermediate. Thus batch
production essentially adds an additional cost step.
As in metal alloys the properties of a TPO product depend greatly
upon controlling the size and distribution of the microstructure. PP and PE
form a vaguely crystalline structure known as a spherulite. Unlike metals, a
spherulite cannot be described in terms of a lattice or unit cell, but rather as a
set of polymer chains that pack down closely next to one another and form a
dense core. The PP and PE components of a blend constitute the "crystalline
phase", and the rubber gives the "amorphous phase".
If PP and PE are the dominant component of a TPO blend then the
rubber fraction will be dispersed into a continuous matrix of "crystalline"
polypropylene. If the fraction of rubber is greater than 40% phase inversion
may be possible when the blend cools, resulting in an amorphous continuous
phase, and a crystalline dispersed phase. This type of material is non-rigid,
and is sometimes called TPR for ThermoPlastic Rubber.
To increase the rigidity of a TPO blend, fillers exploit a surface tension
phenomena. By selecting a filler with a higher surface area per weight, a
higher flexural modulus can be achieved. Specific density of TPO blends
range from 0.92 to 1.1.
Outdoor applications such as roofing frequently contain TPO because
it does not degrade under solar UV radiation, a common problem with nylons.
TPO is used extensively in the automotive industry.
TPO is easily processed by injection molding, profile extrusion, and
thermoforming. However, TPO cannot be blown, or sustain a film thickness
less than 1/4 mil (about 6 micrometres).

3.) Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU)

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is any of a class of polyurethane
plastics with many properties, including elasticity, transparency, and
resistance to oil, grease and abrasion. Technically, they are thermoplastic
elastomers consisting of linear segmented block copolymers composed of
hard and soft segments.
Chemistry of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)
TPU is formed by the reaction of:
i.
ii.

diisocyanates with short-chain diols (so-called chain extenders)

diisocyanates with long-chain diols.
The practically unlimited amount of possible combinations producible

by varying the structure and/or molecular weight of the three reaction

compounds allows for an enormous variety of different TPU. This allows
urethane chemists to fine-tune the polymers structure to the desired final
properties of the material.
Morphology of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)
The final resin consists of linear polymeric chains in block-structures.
Such chains contain low polarity segments which are rather long (called soft
segments), alternating with shorter, high polarity segments (called hard
segments). Both types of segments are linked together by covalent links, so
that they actually form block-copolymers.
The polarity of the hard pieces creates a strong attraction between
them, which causes a high degree of aggregation and order in this phase,
forming crystalline or pseudo crystalline areas located in a soft and flexible
matrix. This so-called phase separation between both blocks can be more or
less important, depending on the polarity and the molecular weight of the

flexible chain, the production conditions, etc. The crystalline or pseudo

crystalline areas act as physical cross-links, which account for the high
elasticity level of TPU, whereas the flexible chains will impart the elongation
characteristics to the polymer.
These "pseudo crosslinks", however, disappear under the effect of heat,
and thus the classical extrusion, injection moulding and calendering
processing methods are applicable to these materials. Consequently, TPU
scrap can be reprocessed.
Uses of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)
TPU has many applications including automotive instrument panels,
caster wheels, power tools, sporting goods, medical devices, drive belts,
footwear, inflatable rafts, and a variety of extruded film, sheet and profile
applications. TPU is also a popular material found in outer cases of mobile
electronic devices, such as mobile phones. It is also used to make keyboard
protectors for laptops.
Properties of commercially available TPU include:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

high abrasion resistance

low-temperature performance
high shear strength
high elasticity
transparency
oil and grease resistance
The currently available TPUs can be divided mainly in two groups,
based on soft segment chemistry:
o polyester-based TPUs (mainly derived from adipic acid esters)
o polyether-based TPUs (mainly based on tetrahydrofuran (THF)
ethers).

The differences between these two groups are outlined in the table below:
In other words, polyether-based TPU is used only in cases where
excellent hydrolysis and microbial resistance is required, as well as in cases
where extreme low temperature flexibility is important.
When stable light colour and non-yellowing performance are required,
aliphatic TPU based on aliphatic isocyanates is used.
Recently, BASF has pioneered crosslinking during TPU production,
made possible by adding liquid crosslinkers and using a masterbatch. Plantbased bio TPU has been developed for green thermoplastic elastomer
applications by Merquinsa and GRECO, marketed as Pearlthane ECO and
Isothane respectively.
4.) Copolyester elastomer
Copolyester elastomer,

also

called

copolyester

thermoplastic

elastomer, a synthetic rubber consisting of hard polyester crystallites

dispersed in a soft, flexible matrix. Because of this twin-phase composition,
copolyester elastomers are thermoplastic elastomers, materials that have the
elasticity of rubber but also can be molded and remolded like plastic. Among
many applications, they are made into solid tires and other automotive parts
particularly where resistance to heat, chemicals, and oil is required. A
prominent copolyester elastomer is Hytrel, a trademarked product of DuPont
Company in the United States.
Copolyester elastomers are block copolymers that is, the two different
types of chemical repeating units that make up the chainlike molecules occur
in long sequences, or blocks. The hard sequences usually consist of
polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), a stiff polyester resin. The soft sequences
consist of any one of a number of polyesters or polyethers, such as
polytetramethylene ether glycol. Upon cooling from a melt, the PBT

sequences spontaneously cluster together in hard crystalline domains that

connect the softer elastomeric sequences. The hard and soft regions are thus
held together by mechanical interlocking and by strong intermolecular
attractions, but they are not chemically interlinked into a permanent network
as is the case with traditional vulcanized rubbers. For this reason, copolyester
elastomers can be heated above the melting point of the crystalline domains
(approximately 200 C [390 F]) and then reprocessed a property ideal for
recycling. They retain their useful rubbery properties between 50 and 150 C
(60 and 300 F).

5.) Thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV)

Thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV), which consists of a polyolefin phase
(PP) with a dynamically cured EPDM phase, is closely dispersed in the PP
matrix which gives rubber-like properties and has the advantage of
thermoplastic processing techniques.
The final blend morphology always consists of cross-linked, micron
sized elastomer particles dispersed in a polymer matrix.

Figure - EPDM/PP matrix after dynamic vulcanization

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) are part of the thermoplastic
elastomer (TPE) family of polymers, but are closest in elastomeric properties
to EPDM thermoset rubber, combining the characteristics of vulcanized
rubber with the processing properties of thermoplastics. TPV is a dynamically
vulcanized alloy consisting mostly of fully cured EPDM rubber particles
encapsulated in a polypropylene (PP) matrix. There are almost 100 grades in
the Santoprene TPV product portfolio which are used globally in the
automotive, household appliance, electrical, construction and healthcare
markets. ExxonMobil is the sole proprietor of the material.

Santoprene pellets
TPV was created following several years of research and development
to find a new material for injection molded tires. While this search for a new

tire material was unsuccessful, it led to the development of TPV, which

combines the characteristics of a vulcanized rubber with the processing
properties of thermoplastics. The first sales of developmental products were in
1977, the year it was registered by Monsanto, and it was fully commercialized
in 1981.
Part of the TPE family of polymers, TPV is the closest in elastomeric
properties to EPDM thermoset rubber. TPVs offer a combination of
elastomeric properties, like compression and tension set, coupled with aging
performance and chemical resistance.
Early successes of thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV)
Santoprene TPV enjoyed early application successes in the automotive
sector, including rack and pinion boots, due to its flex life, fluid resistance and
sealability. In the appliance sector, a dishwasher sump boot made with
Santoprene TPV provided good sealing and resistance to heat and fluids. Due
to its sealing properties, Santoprene TPV was also successful in the domestic
and high-rise construction sectors in applications such as window seals, caster
wheels, tubing and small hose parts, electrical connectors and coatings for
wire and cables. It was also used in the medical industry as a gasket on
syringe plungers.
Chemistry of thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV)

Santoprene TPV is a dynamically vulcanized alloy consisting mostly

of fully cured EPDM rubber particles encapsulated in a polypropylene (PP)
matrix.
These photographs, made using an atomic force microscope (on the
left) and a scanning electron microscope (on the right), show a multitude of
very small particles, typically no bigger than a couple of microns in diameter.
These particles are fully vulcanized rubber (typically EPDM rubber for most
Santoprene TPV grades) in a thermoplastic phase (most often PP in the case of
Santoprene TPV grades). Fully cross-linked or vulcanized means 98% or
above and because the morphology is locked-in, it provides stable physical
properties.

Properties of thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV)

This table compares different sub-families of TPE, ranking their

performance compared to each other as excellent, good, fair or poor. It
demonstrates that TPV offers a combination of elastomeric properties, like
compression and tension set, coupled with aging performance and chemical
resistance. In addition to a relatively low density (or specific gravity), TPVs
can be used to reduce the weight of flexible systems and parts.
Designed for specific engineered applications, Santoprene TPV grades
range from a hardness of 35 Shore A up to 50 Shore D.
Santoprene TPV grades offer the following:
sealing performance: long-term aging durability combined with
dimensional stability and physical properties over the life of the part
aesthetics: aspect harmonization between parts and comfort touch
interior skins
processing: processability on standard thermoplastics processing
equipment
design flexibility: suitability for coextrusion (coprocessing: molding,
extrusion, blow molding) with other polymers for multipart system
designs
weight reduction: through lower density, part design optimization, and
material replacement
recycling: fully recyclable within the manufacturing process

Applications of thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV)

Santoprene TPV grades are designed for a broad range of specific
engineered applications.
Santoprene TPV is used in weatherseals, underhood and under-car
applications, and interior components. In weatherseals, TPV is used as a
lightweight alternative to thermoset rubber materials in semi-dynamic and
static parts, while in underhood and under-car applications it is well-suited for
air ducts, tubing, molded seals, grommets, suspension bellows, cable
jacketing, plugs, bumpers and many other parts. This is due to its sealing
performance and resistance to extreme temperatures, chemical exposure and
harsh environments.
In commercial glazing seals, Santoprene TPV is used for curtain wall,
storefront, architectural window, and skylight weatherseal applications. It is
also commonly used in residential glazing seals due to its low air and water
infiltration ratings for the life of window and door systems.
For road and rail construction projects, Santoprene TPV is used for
bridge and parking decks, water stops, rail pads and other applications.
In plumbing, Santoprene TPV is used to create long-term seals, gaskets
and grommets that are resistant to flex fatigue, harsh temperatures and
chemicals. It can be used in a variety of sealing applications including pipe
seals, bridge expansion joints and curtain walls, parts for potable water and
pipe seals for sewer and drainage.
Santoprene TPV is used in washing machines, dryers, dishwashers,
refrigerators, small appliances and floorcare. Its properties enable it to be used
in a range of parts including pump seals, hoses, couplings, vibration
dampeners, drum rollers, knobs and controls.

Santoprene TPV is used in wiring connectors to make watertight seals

with electrical and thermal resistance; insulation for high voltage applications;
and, flexibility even at low temperatures to 60 C.
It is used in industrial wire and cable connectors and low-voltage
industrial cable applications that include insulation and jacketing, in addition
to consumer wire and cable uses.
For electrical components, Santoprene TPV offers watertight seals,
enabling connectors to be insert-molded to cable jacketing, producing a single
integral part.
Santoprene TPV can be processed using conventional thermoplastic
processes such as injection molding, blow molding and extrusion.
Manufacturing a part using Santoprene TPV, in contrast to a rubber, is less
complex. Santoprene TPV is ready to use and does not need to be
compounded with different ingredients such as reinforcing fillers (carbon
black, mineral fillers), stabilizers, plasticizing oils, and curing systems.
Compared to processing rubber, thermoplastic processing of
Santoprene TPV can deliver shorter cycle times, a higher part output per hour,
and the reuse of scrap produced during processing. This can result in part cost
reduction, less tooling/machinery, lower scrap costs, and optimization of
material logistic costs compared to rubber.
After a short drying period, TPV pellets are automatically transferred
to the molding machine or extrusion line. Cycle times can be much faster,

because the parts do not have to cure in the mold, which is typically two to
three minutes for rubber. The TPV part only has to cool, typically about 30
seconds, and then it can be removed from the mold or cooled in water.
Injection molding: Santoprene TPV grades can be processed using
conventional thermoplastics injection-molding equipment at reduced cycle
times compared to thermoset rubber. TPV flexibility allows for greater
freedom of mold design where undercuts are employed.
Insert molding: Insert molding consists of placing a preformed
substrate into the mold and injecting TPV around or over it. If the insert and
the TPV are compatible materials, a melt bond occurs at the interface between
the two materials. The strength of this bond is affected by several factors,
including interface temperature, cleanliness of the insert and the melt
temperature of the TPV.
Two-shot injection molding: TPV can be combined with polymers
through several types of multi-shot injection molding processes. By
combining multiple materials, a wide variety of parts applications, such as a
hard/soft combination, can be achieved. The process produces both a finished
part and a substrate during each cycle. Two-shot molding is more efficient
than insert molding because no handling of the substrate is required.
Blow molding: Santoprene TPV can be blow molded in single layer,
multi-layer, exchange blow, sequential 3D, suction blow, flashless extrusion
blow, injection blow and press-blow molding processes.
Extrusion: Santoprene TPV is easy to extrude into single and complex
profiles. These materials can also be coextruded to yield a part with both rigid
and soft components.

Thermoforming: The thermoforming properties of Santoprene TPV are

similar to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and exhibit good melt
strength, which provides uniform and predictable sag characteristics during
heating. When producing sheet for thermoformed parts, key attributes of
Santoprene TPV are maintained, including colorability, impact resistance,
weatherability, chemical resistance, non-skid, matte surface in appearance and
feel.

D. Examples
Examples of TPE products that come from block copolymers group
are Santoprene (ExxonMobil), Termoton by Termopol Polimer, Arnitel
(DSM), Solprene (Dynasol), Engage (Dow Chemical), Hytrel (Du Pont),
Dryflex and Mediprene (ELASTO), Kraton (Kraton Polymers), Pibiflex.
Example of TPV is FORPRENE, TERMOTON-V. Examples of Styrenic
block copolymers (TPE-s) are SOFPRENE (SBS) and LAPRENE (SEBS).

E. Applications
TPEs are used where conventional elastomers cannot provide the
range of physical properties needed in the product. These materials find large
application in the automotive sector and in household appliances sector. In
2014 the world market for TPEs reached a volume of ca. 16.7 billion US
dollars. About 40% of all TPE products are used in the manufacturing of
vehicles. For instance copolyester TPEs are used in snowmobile tracks where
stiffness and abrasion resistance are at a premium. They are also widely used
for catheters where nylon block copolymers offer a range of softness ideal for
patients. Thermoplastic silicon and olefin blends are used for extrusion of
glass run and dynamic weatherstripping car profiles. Styrene block

copolymers are used in shoe soles for their ease of processing, and widely as
adhesives. TPE is commonly used to make suspension bushings for
automotive performance applications because of its greater resistance to
deformation when compared to regular rubber bushings. TPE may also be
used in medical devices and sex toys. TPE is also finding more and more uses
as an electrical cable jacket and inner insulation. TPE is also used in some
headphone cables.

F. Reaction polymerization
Block styrene-diene (butadiene, isoprene) copolymers belong to the
oldest and the most important thermoplastic rubbers. Pure block copolymers
(styrene block does not contain any diene structural units and vice-versa) are
produced the most often by livinganion polymerization. Depending on type of
active polyanion and functionality of used termination agent, double and triple
block copolymers of type SB and SBS. The SEBS copolymer is produced by
hydrogenation of triple block styrene-butadiene copolymer. Its elastomeric
blocks consist of ethylene (it is created by means of hydrogenation of 1.4butadiene units) and butylene (it is created by hydrogenation of 1.2-butadiene
units) and it features with extraordinary resistance against degradation.
Styrene-butadiene TPE may be produced also by copolymerization of
butadiene and styrene, but blocks of both monomers contain also small
amounts of the other monomer structural units.
Continuous phase is created in styrene-diene TPE by diene blocks
and domains by styrene blocks. In light of their elastic and processing
properties the most suitable copolymers are those with molecular weights of
styrene blocks varying. With increasing of styrene content in copolymer their
mechanic and processing properties are improving, but at the same time also
elastic properties are getting worse. Copolymers containing styrene higher
than ~ 75 % have thermoplastic properties. In the most cases of commercially

produced styrene TPE, the styrene content ranges around 20 - 30 %. Domains

of the polystyrene blocks are very small and thanks to narrow molecular
weight distribution and presence of chemical bonds between blocks located in
the interfacial layer those are equally distributed in the whole TPE volume,
thus the anisotropy of their properties is small. At the same time the domains
act as active filler particles, thus they have very good strength
characteristics. Normally they are used in form of compounds where content
of styrene TPE is only 25-50 %. Also other polymers create constituent part of
polymer basis, e.g. polyolefins or polystyrene. Besides them also naphthenic
or paraffinic oils are added as softeners and antidegradants, in case of
butadiene or isoprene copolymers. Styrene TPE is used for different purposes,
the most often as materials for sport and other footwear and also as electroinsulating and noise-insulating materials.
Polyester, polyurethane and also polyamide types of TPE are the most
often multi-block copolymers of type (AB)n, where also soft (elastic) and
hard (non-elastic) blocks alternate. In polyester types the amorphous
polyethers or also polyesters based on alcohols with longer aliphatic chain are
used as soft blocks. Hard polyester blocks are longer and able to create
lamellar crystals acting as physical cross-links below their melting
temperature. Continuous phase has amorphous character and also amorphous
parts of hard block participate on it. Typical example of polyester TPE is
poly(tetramethyleneglycol terephtalate btetramethylene terephtalate):

Glass transition temperature Tg of polyether blocks is normally

varying around 50C. Melting temperature of hard segments is growing with
increasing of their content in copolymer and the most often it ranges in
between 170-250C. From this reason the polyester TPE have very good
elastic properties and flexibility under low temperatures and at the same time
also high softening point. They are characterized by high strengths and very
good resistance against oils and other non- polar agents. Their disadvantage is
in possible hydrolysis of ester groups, thus if used in humid medium above
70C, they must be stabilized (e.g. by means of carbon diimide). They are
relatively expensive, so they are used only in cases when high strength is
required in parallel with resistance to oils or high temperature in dry medium,
e.g. in automotive industry.
Polyurethane TPE are similar to polyester TPE with its properties.
They are extremelystrength , have excellent abrasion resistance and at the
same time they resists to oils. Those are linear multi-block copolymers of the
(AB)n type. Hard segments in them are created by segments achieved by
polyaddition of diisocyanate and diol with short chain. Soft segments are
either polyurethane segments achieved by polyaddition of diisocyanate (4.4`diphenylmethane diisocyanate) or diol with long linear chain (1.4-butanediol).
Also polyesters or polyethers with end OH groups are often used in function
of diols, and their molecular weights are usually varying in range 600-4000
g.mol-1:

They are normally produced by polyaddition of diisocyanates and diols

with short chains under presence of polyester or polyether. In polyurethane
TPE in consequence of strong hydrogen bonds in polar polyurethane blocks
the highly oriented pseudo-crystalline and crystalline fields are created, and
these are separated from fields containing polyester or polyether blocks.
Polyurethane

segments

with short

diol

chain

then

create

domains

and polyurethanes with long diol chain, eventually polyester or polyether

segments create a matrix. Morphological structure of these TPE is practically
the same as in polyester TPE and the same is also temperature interval, in
which they keep double phase structure and their utilization areas.
Polyethers or polyesters create soft segments also in polyamide TPE.
Typical hard blocks are normally nylons (Nylon 6, 11 or 12). The most often
they are produced by copulation reactions of polyester or polyether with end
OH groups and polyamide with end COOH groups:

They are produced in broad hardness interval (approximately from

Shore A 60 to Shore D 75) and they keep double phase structure in
approximate range from 40 to 170-220C. Their small disadvantage is in
possible sorption of the atmospheric humidity, thus they are dried just before
processing. They have similar strength characteristics as other TPE. They have
also good dynamic properties, low hysteresis, high resiliency and good fatigue
resistance.

Simplified reaction scheme of anionic living butadiene and styrene polymerization

Styrene-butadiene block copolymer morphology

Properties of uncompounded styrene-diene TPE
Copolymer

Styrene

Hardness, M 300 , MPa Tensile

content, %

Shore A

Linear SBS

31

71

2.76

31.7

880

Linear SBS

17

53

0.93

4.8

1100

Linear SIS

14

37

0.69

21.4

1300

Linear SIS

21

52

1.38

20.0

120

Branched (SB)n

21

65

2.42

31.7

900

Branched (SB)n

30

75

5.52

27.6

820

Branched (SI)n

10

32

0.69

8.6

1300

strength, MPa

Elongation,
%

SBS, SB styrene-butadiene copolymer ; SI, SIS styrene- isoprene copolymer

Properties of polyether aramides (Pebax TM )
Hardness, Shore D

25

35

40

55

63

Tensile strength, MPa

29

34

36

44

51

Elongation, %

715

710

485

455

380

Tensile modulus, MPa

10.4

14.6

50

145

260

45

70

115

150

Tear strength, kN.m -1 38