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ThermoplasticElastomersTPE,TPR
Introduction
Theformaldefinitionofathermoplasticrubberorelastomer(TPE)isapolymerblendorcompoundwhich,aboveitsmelttemperature,
exhibitsathermoplasticcharacterthatenablesittobeshapedintoafabricatedarticleandwhich,withinitsdesigntemperaturerange,
possesseselastomericbehaviourwithoutcrosslinkingduringfabrication.Thisprocessisreversibleandtheproductscanbereprocessed
andremoulded.

Properties
Even though TPEs are thermoplastic, they exhibit elasticity similar to that of a crosslinked rubber. A key indicator is their softness or
hardnessvalueasmeasuredontheShoredurometerscale.Likecrosslinkedrubber,TPEsareavailableasverysoftgelmaterialsfrom20
ShoreOOupto90ShoreA,atwhichpointtheyentertheShoreDscaleandcanbeformulatedtogivehardnessvaluesupto85ShoreD,
whichdesignatesamaterialthatisveryhard.

DesignersincreasinglyuseTPEsduetothesignificantcostsavingspossiblebecausetheirabilitytobeprocessedonplasticsmachinery.
Conventionalrubber,whethernaturalorsynthetic,isathermosettingmaterialthatmustundergoachemicalcrosslinkingreactionduring
mouldingorextrusion,typicallycalledcuringorvulcanization.Duetothisreactionitisnotgenerallyprocessableinstandardthermoplastic
equipment.Thetimethatittakesforthevulcanizationreactiontocompleteisinfluencedbymanyfactors,howeveritistypicalthatthisis
somewherebetween1minutesandseveralhours.ThethermoplasticmouldingandextrusionprocessesusedforTPEs,ontheotherhand,
avoidthecrosslinkingstepandcanachieveveryfastcyclestimes,whichcanbeaslittleas20seconds.Environmentalancostpressures
requiremoreandmorematerialstoberecycleable,TPEprocessingscrap,rejectpartsorendoflifeproductscanbeeasilyreprocessed,
whereasmostthermosettingelastomersendupaslandfill.

AdditionaladvantagesoverthermosetrubberprovidedbyTPEsincludeexcellentcolourabilityandalowerdensity.

TeknorApexmanufacturesoneoftheworldsmostdiversifiedrangesofTPEcompounds.Thesearesuppliedundersixtradenamesthat
represent different technologies, including di and triblock hydrogenated styrene block copolymers (Tekron, Elexar, and Monprene),
thermoplastic polyolefin blends (Telcar), thermoplastic vulcanizates (Uniprene), and overmolding compositions designed to bond to
diversepolarsubstrates(Tekbond).

HereiswhyTeknorApexTPEsareamongthefastestgrowingplasticsmaterials:
TPEs are a unique class of engineering materials combining the look, feel and elasticity of conventional thermoset rubber with the
processingefficiencyofplastics.
The meltprocessability of TPEs makes them very suitable for highvolume injection moulding and extrusion. They can also be
reclaimedandrecycled.
As elastomers, TPEs exhibit high elasticity. Our range of grades encompasses rubberlike properties and offer a wide range of
durometers,lowcompressionset,andhighelongation.

MainCharacteristics

Excellentflexuralfatigueresistance Goodelectricalproperties

ResistancetoLow&HighTemperaturesfrom30degCto
Goodtear&abrasionresistance
+140degC

Highimpactstrength Colourability
 Lowspecificgravity Recyclable

Excellentresistancetochemicals&weathering PossesslowCompressionSet

Coinjection&coextrusionwithPolyolefins&certainEngineering

Plastics

GradesavailableintheTPEindustry
TherearesevenmainTPEgroupsavailablecommerciallyandthesearelistedinapproximateascendingpriceorder:

1)StyrenicBlockCopolymers(TPES)SBSisbasedontwophaseblockcopolymerswithhardandsoftsegments.Thestyreneend
blocksprovidethethermoplasticpropertiesandtheButadienemidblocksprovidetheelastomericproperties.SBSisprobablythehighest
volumeTPESmaterialproducedandiscommonlyusedinfootwear,adhesives,bitumenmodificationandlowerspecificationsealsand
grips,whereresistancetochemicalsandagingalowerpriority.SBSwhenhydrogenatedbecomesSEBS,astheeliminationoftheC=C
bondsinthebutadienecomponentgeneratedethyleneandbutylenesmidblock,hencetheSEBSacronym.SEBSischaracterisedby
muchimprovedheatresistance,mechanicalpropertiesandchemicalresistance.MonpreneTekronandElexarproductsfromTeknor
Apexaregoodexamplesofhydrogenatedstyrenicblockcopolymers.

2)ThermoplasticPolyolefins(TPEOorTPO)Thesematerialsareblendsofpolypropylene(PP)anduncrosslinkedEPDMrubber,in
somecasesalowdegreeofcrosslinkingispresenttoboostheatresistancandcompressionsetproprties.Theyareusedinapplications
wherethereisarequirementforincreasedtoughnessovertheconventionalPPcopolymers,suchasinautomotivebumpersand
dashboards.Thepropertiesarerestrictedtothehighendofthehardnessscale,typically>80ShoreAandwithlimitedelastomeric
properties.

Historicallytheseproductsweremechanicalblendsofthe2polymers,TelcarfromTeknorApexisoneexampleofthistypeofTPEO.
HoweverwithnewcatalysttechnologyitisnowpossibletoblendtheEPDMandPPinthereactor,thereforethesetypesofTPEsarenow
availablefrommajorpolymermanufacturers.Theseproductsaresuitedtohighvolumelowcostapplications,howeverthereisstilla
marketforcustommechanicalblendedTPEO

3)Thermoplasticvulcanisates(TPEVorTPV)ThesematerialsarethenextstepupinperformancefromTPEO.Thesetooare
compoundsofPPandEPDMrubber,howevertheyhavebeendynamicallyvulcanisedduringthecompoundingstep.Theyhaveseen
stronggrowthinEPDMreplacementforautomotiveseals,pipeseals,andotherapplicationswhereaheatresistanceofupto120degCis
required.Shorehardnessvaluesrangetypicallyfrom45Ato45D.TheUnipreneseriesfromTeknorApexisaverygoodexampleofTPE
Vmaterialsandareavailablefrom15ShoreAto50ShoreD.UnipreneXLincreasestheuppertemperaturelimittowards140Cwithbig
improvementsinlongtermscompressionsetresistanceversusstandardTPEVmaterials.

ThereareanumberofnewTPEVsbeingintroduced,termedSuperTPVswhicharebasedonengineeringplasticsblendedwithhigh
performanceelastomers,whichcanoffergreatlyimprovedheatandchemicalresistance.

4)Thermoplasticpolyurethanes(TPEUorTPU)Thesematerialscanbebasedonpolyesterorpolyetherurethanetypesandareusedin
applicationswhereaproductrequiresexcellenttearstrength,abrasionresistance,andflexfatigueresistance.Examplesincludeshoe
soles,industrialbelting,skiboots,andwireandcable.HardnessisrestrictedtothehighendoftheShoreAscale,typically>80ShoreA.

5)Thermoplasticcopolyesters(TPEEorCOPEorTEEE)areusedwhereincreasedchemicalresistanceandheatresistanceupto
140degCareneeded.Theyalsoexhibitgoodfatigueresistanceandtearstrengthandsoareusedinautomotiveapplicationssuchas
blowmouldedbootsandbellows,wireandcable,andindustrialhoseapplications.Againhardnessisrestrictedtothehighendandis
typicallybetween85Ato75D.

6)Meltprocessablerubber(MPR)isdesignedformoredemandingapplicationsrequiringchemicalresistance,particularlyresistanceto
oilandgrease,whereMPRreplacescrosslinkednitrilerubber.Italsopossessespropertiessimilartothoseofvulcanisedrubberinnoise
dampeningapplicationsandhassimilarstressrelaxationproperties.ApplicationsofMPRincludeautomotivecomponents,suchas
weatherstrips,andhandgrips,whereagoodbondingtoPVC,polycarbonate,orABSisrequired.Compressionsetvaluesarestillmuch
higherthanforthermosettingelastomerssothepenetrationintothehigherperformancesealingmarkethasbeenlimited.

7)Thermoplasticpolyetherblockamides(TPEA)Theseproductsofferthegoodheatresistance,havegoodchemicalresistanceand
bondingtopolyamideengineeringplastics.Theirapplicationsincludecablejacketingandaerospacecomponents.

PolymerTypes:

TPES MPR
Styrenicblockcopolymer MeltProcessableRubber

TPEO TPEE
ThermoplasticOlefinicelastomer ThermoplasticPolyesterElastomer

TPEV TPEA
ThermoplasticVulcanisate ThermoplasticAmideElastomer

TPEU

ThermoplasticPolyurethaneelastomer

DuetothewiderangeofTPEsonthemarketandtheeverexpandingrangeofapplicationsitiscriticalthatthedesignersandspecifiersof
productsusingTPEsremainabreastofthemostrecentinnovationsfromindustrysuppliers.Thefollowingisonlyasnapshotofwhatcan
beachievedwithTPEmaterialsandwestronglyurgereaderstocontactChemPolymer/TeknorApextodiscusstheirapplicationindetail
andobtainthemostuptodateadvice.

PHYSICALPROPERTIES

TensileStrength0.52.4N/mm
NotchedImpactStrengthnobreakKj/m
ThermalCoefficientofexpansion130x106
MaxContUseTempupto140oC
Density0.911.3g/cm3

RESISTANCETOCHEMICALS

DiluteAcid****
DiluteAlkalis****
OilsandGreases****
AliphaticHydrocarbons****
AromaticHydrocarbons**
HalogenatedHydrocarbons**
Alcohols****

KEY*poor**moderate***good****verygood

Currentcasestudies

Typicalapplicationsfromtherangeofmaterialsareshownbelow:
 WireandCables

ElexarTPEScompoundsareaqualityfamilyofelastomercompoundsspecificallytargetingwire&cable,fibreoptic,and
electricalapplications.Theiruniqueblendofprocessability,functionality,customizationandpropertiesmakesthemthefirst
choiceofbothdesignengineersandprocessors.

PowerandHandTools

MonpreneandTekbondelastomersareanelitebrandofTPEsofferingsomedistinctadvantages.Theiruniqueblendofbondabilitytoa
widerangeofsubstrates,,processability,functionality,andpropertiesmakethemthefirstchoiceofmanydesignengineersand
processors.

PenGrips

MonpreneandTekbondTPEsareaseriesofproprietaryelastomercompoundsthatenableovermoldingtoengineering
thermoplastics,addtactileandvisualenhancementandprovideafunctionalperformancesuchasresistancetoskinoils.
Thereforethesematerialsoffertheabilitytoenhancethequalityofanywritingproduct.

AirbagCovers

Tekronfeaturesthefeelandflexibilityofrubberwhileofferingthebenefitsofeasyhandlingfortheenduser.Thisseriesof
compoundsfromTeknorApexhasawiderangeofapprovalsforAirBagCoversandisabletosatisfy35Cinchamber
deployment,whilsteliminatingthepaintingprocessrequiredbymaterialssuchasCOPE.

GripsandHandles

TelcarThermoplasticRubbersofferawiderangeofperformancebenefitssuchasarubberyappearanceandhotairagingup
to125degreesC,excellenttearstrength,ozoneandweatheringresistance,fluidresistancetoacids,bases,andotheraqueous
basedfluids.

Plugs,SealsandGrips

Unipreneisaspeciallydesignedthermoplasticvulcanizate(TPV).ItperformslikecuredEPDMwiththefeelofthermoset
rubberbutprocesseswiththeeaseandspeedofathermoplasticolefin(TPO).UnipreneTPVshavemechanicaland
recoverypropertiescomparabletomostvulcanizedelastomersandaresuperiorinperformancetomostthermoplastic
elastomers(TPEs).UnipreneXLpushestheboundariesofperformanceevenfurther.Pleaseseebelowformoredetail.

HistoryofThermoplasticElastomers/Rubbers(TPR/TPE)
Thefirstthermoplasticelastomerbecameavailablein1959andsincethistimeaplethoraofnewvariationsofsuchmaterialshasbecome
available.TherearesixmainTPEgroupsfoundcommerciallystyrenicblockcopolymers(TPES),polyolefinblends(TPEO),elastomeric
alloys,thermoplasticpolyurethanes(TPEU),thermoplasticcopolyesters(TPEE)andthermoplasticpolyamides(TPEA).

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