Thermoplastic Elastomer Compounding (TPE, TPR, TPU, EVA, etc)
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are a diverse family of rubber-like materials that, unlike conventional vulcanized rubbers, can be processed and recycled like thermoplastic materials. Even though TPEs are thermoplastic, they exhibit elasticity similar to that of a cross-linked rubber. A key indicator is their softness or hardness value as measured on the Shore durometer scale. Like crosslinked rubber, TPEs are available as very soft gel materials from 20 Shore OO up to 90 Shore A, at which point they enter the Shore D scale and can be formulated to give hardness values up to 85 Shore D, which designates a material that is very hard.
Here is why TPEs are among the fastest-growing plastics materials:
- TPEs are a unique class of engineering materials combining the look, feel and elasticity of conventional thermoset rubber with the processing efficiency of plastics.
- The melt-processability of TPEs makes them very suitable for high-volume injection moulding and extrusion. They can also be reclaimed and recycled.
- As elastomers, TPEs exhibit high elasticity. Our range of grades encompasses rubberlike properties and offer a wide range of durometers, low compression set, and high elongation.
