What is a Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE)?

Description: Polypropylene compounded with SEBS Synthetic Rubber

Cost: Lowest cost, lowest performance

Properties:

1. Available in general purpose, unfilled, and filled grades
2. Can be glossy, tacky, clear, translucent, or opaque
3. Soft feel
4. Over-molding compatible, with good adhesion to substrates
5. Low heat resistance
6. Good chemical resistance (acids, bases, alcohols, detergents)
7. Good hydrolytic stability
8. UV stability
9. Safe for food contact, with biocompatible grades available
10. Hardness can range from 5 Shore A to 95 Shore A

Description: Polypropylene compounded with EPDM Rubber

Cost: Moderate cost, moderate performance

Properties:

1. Less tacky than SEBS
2. Matte appearance; only available in an opaque finish
3. Over-molding compatible, with good adhesion to substrates
4. High heat resistance
5. Low compression set
6. Chemical resistance (acids, bases, alcohols, non-hydrocarbon-based oils and substances)
7. Safe for food contact, with biocompatible grades available
8. Hardness can range from 25 Shore A to 95 Shore A

Description: Aromatic or Aliphatic Isocyanate Hard Segment Polymerized with Polyester or Polyether Polyol Soft Segment

Cost: Moderate to High Cost, High Performance

Properties:

1. Excellent toughness
2. Excellent abrasion resistance
3. Excellent cut and tear resistance
4. Good compression set
5. Available in glossy, clear, translucent, and opaque grades
6. Over-molding compatible, with good adhesion to substrates
7. Safe for food contact, with biocompatible grades, UL Listings, and NSF-approved grades available
8. Hardness can range from 60 Shore A to 80 Shore D

Description: Compounded blend of COPE, Chlorinated Ethylene & other proprietary constituents

Cost: Moderate to high cost, moderate to high performance

Properties:

1. Low squeak
2. Good abrasion resistance
3. Good chemical resistance
4. Excellent weatherability and environmental resistance
5. Maintains flexibility over a wide temperature range
6. Over-molding compatible, with good adhesion to substrates
7. Matte, clear, translucent and opaque grades
8. Hardness range from 50 Shore A to 95 Shore A

Description: Ester hard segment polymerized with Polyether Polyol soft segment

Cost: High cost, high performance

Properties:

1. Resilient through repeated flexures
2. Flexible in low temperatures
3. Excellent high-temperature performance
4. Creep and kink-resistant
5. Good resistance to chemicals, oils, and solvents
6. Glossy and opaque grades available
7. Hardness range from 80 Shore A to 75 Shore D

Description: Nylon-based Elastomer, Polyamide hard segment polymerized with Polyether Polyol soft segment

Cost: High cost, high performance

Properties:

1. Good low-temperature flexibility and impact resistance
2. Excellent dynamic properties (resilience, hysteresis, repeated flexures, flex-fatigue-resistance, kink-resistance)
3. Excellent hydrolytic stability
4. Low coefficient of friction
5. Glossy and opaque grades available
6. Hardness range of 75 Shore A to 80 Shore D

Application development hinges on how your product will ultimately be used; our specialists will discuss every design with you in-depth to get a full picture of your needs.

Material properties to consider include: hardness, stretch, compression set, abrasion and tear resistance, resistance to bending, adhesion to substrates, energy absorption, and acoustic dampening, as well as any reinforcements or enhancements that your application may need to meet your goals.

How a material looks and feels can make a big difference in your application. If you're developing a medical prosthetic, matching skin tone will be an important factor. If the item is a toy, you'll probably want vibrant colors.

You may need high surface friction (achieving a tacky, grippy exterior), a dry, silicone-like feel, or something silky smooth, bordering on slippery. Surface finishes are largely divided into glossy or matte, while color options include transparent, translucent, opaque, or pre-colored grades.

Thermoplastics need to perform in environments with varying levels of heat and corrosive chemicals, such as electrical manifolds and medical fluid tubes. The following are some important considerations that our resin specialists will review with you.

● Temperature requirements: in addition to minimum and maximum constant-use temperatures, we'll want to know how long your application will have to endure extreme temperatures.

● UV exposure and weather: are you creating indoor or outdoor applications? Will they constantly deal with the elements or only put up with them occasionally?

● Chemical resistance: splash exposure or full submersion? We want to know about the fluid temperatures and chemical types (acid, base, fuel, oil, cleaning solution) that your product stands up to.

● Load and flex: how much pressure will your part be under? Will it get repeatedly flexed or extended?

Many TPE applications need certification by a regulatory agency or some OEM approval. The most common standards are:

1. REACH SVHC and RoHS compliance
2. UL certification (flammability and weatherability)
3. OEM automotive approvals
4. FDA and EU food contact compliance
5. FDA toy safety compliance
6. Medical ISO 10993 or USP Class VI compliance
7. NSF 51 and 61 compliance

You have countless options when it comes to machining thermoplastic. The method you choose should depend on production quantity and a careful cost-benefit analysis with our experts.

See if injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, over-molding, co-extrusion, blown film, or calendaring is right for your project.

Cost drives most manufacturing decisions. Our resin specialists will guide you through your materials options and explore cost-saving options like additives, which can offset cost while preserving the integrity of your end product.