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Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)
2-20 usd/kg
Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) are rubber-like plastics, that can be converted by injection moulding, extrusion, laminating and welding. This makes them very versatile. Their properties range from very soft and stretchy to almost rigid. They are based on thermoplastic chemistry, which provides the moulding and forming characteristics, with a combination of soft and rigid segments. In some cases, the thermoplastic may be mixed or alloyed with a cross-linked (thermoset) rubber, which provides added toughness and mechanical performance. The characteristics of the material are governed by the ingredients, proportion of soft and rigid segments, and polymer structure (semi-crystalline or amorphous). As a result, there are many options available and the price varies a lot. Applications range from textiles (think spandex) to footwear, and medical equipment to structural automotive parts. In many cases, they offer a potentially recyclable alternative to conventional rubber, which is cured in a one-way reaction.
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Sustainability concerns
Non-renewable ingredients
Raw material generates polluting by-products
Low circularity potential
Microplastics
Polyester based thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are block copolymers of polyester and polyether (abbreviated as TPC, TPC-ET, TEEE, TPC-ES, TPC-EE, COPE). They are characterised by exceptional toughness and resilience, high resistance to creep and flexibility at low temperatures (-40 degC). As with other thermoplastic polyesters, they have good resistance to most chemicals and special grades include flame retardant, UV resistant, heat stabilised (some grades are stable up to 150 degC) and food contact. Their flexibility comes from the block structure, so there is none of the leaching or degradation associated with plasticisers. The properties can be adjusted over a wide range by altering the ratio and type of hard to soft segments. The soft segments are are either polyether (TPC-ET), polyester (TPC-ES) or a combination of the two (TPC-EE). The overall properties depend on the length and proportion of soft and rigid blocks, which is determined by the starting ingredients. They are used for demanding applications in automotive, electrical, consumer goods, appliances, power tools, sports equipment, furniture and general industry.
