The advantages and disadvantages of TPV materials

I. Advantages of TPV Materials

1. Excellent Physical Properties

• High Elasticity and Flexibility: Exhibits elasticity close to traditional rubber, maintaining good resilience across a wide temperature range (-60°C to 130°C). Suitable for dynamic sealing, shock absorption, and other applications.

• High Strength and Fatigue Resistance: Offers higher tensile strength and tear resistance than common thermoplastic elastomers (e.g., TPE), with long-term use resistance to deformation. Ideal for high-frequency stretching or compression conditions.

• Chemical Corrosion Resistance: Superior oil and solvent resistance (e.g., fuel, lubricants, acid/alkali solutions) compared to most TPE, approaching the level of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber.

2. Superior Processability

• Thermoplastic Processing Characteristics: Can be molded via injection, extrusion, blow molding, or other thermal processes without vulcanization, enabling short production cycles, high efficiency, and low energy consumption.

• Good Melt Flowability: Melt flow properties are similar to plastics, facilitating filling of complex molds and suitable for precision part manufacturing.

• Recyclability: Scrap and waste materials can be reprocessed, meeting environmental requirements and reducing costs.

3. Weather and Aging Resistance

• UV and Aging Resistance: With stabilizers added, it can be used outdoors long-term, showing better weather resistance than natural rubber and resisting cracking from light, oxygen, or ozone.

• Stable Performance in Extreme Temperatures: Does not harden or brittle at low temperatures, nor soften or deform at high temperatures. Suitable for extreme environments (e.g., automotive engine compartments, outdoor seals).

4. Environmental Friendliness and Safety

• Non-Toxicity: Most TPV materials are certified by FDA, RoHS, etc., making them suitable for food contact or medical applications (e.g., medical hoses, bottle cap seals).

• Low VOC Emissions: Environmentally friendly TPV materials have low volatile organic compound (VOC) content, meeting environmental standards for automotive interiors.

5. Design Flexibility

• Wide Hardness Range: Shore hardness can be adjusted from 20A to 60D, covering soft to rigid material needs. Facilitates co-injection molding with other materials (e.g., PP, PA).

• Adjustable Surface Properties: Formulations can achieve matte, high-gloss, smooth, or rough surfaces to meet diverse aesthetic and tactile requirements (e.g., handles, pipes).

II. Disadvantages of TPV Materials

1. Higher Cost

• Complex production processes (requiring dynamic vulcanization technology) and raw material costs are higher than common TPE (e.g., SEBS-based TPE), approaching or slightly exceeding some rubbers (e.g., EPDM).

2. Limited High-Temperature Resistance

• Long-term service temperature generally does not exceed 130°C (special formulations up to 150°C), lower than silicone rubber (>200°C) and fluoroelastomers (>250°C). Unsuitable for ultra-high-temperature environments (e.g., around engine combustion chambers).

3. Poor Resistance to Polar Solvents

• Weak resistance to strong polar solvents (e.g., ketones, esters, aromatics), potentially causing swelling or degradation. Material grades must be selected based on specific media.

4. Sensitive Processing Temperature

• Strict temperature control (typically 180–230°C) is required during melt processing. Excessive temperatures may degrade the rubber phase and affect performance; too low temperatures lead to poor flowability, resulting in short shots or rough surfaces.

5. Poor Adhesion to Polar Substrates

• Weak direct co-injection bonding with polar plastics (e.g., PC, ABS), requiring primer or special interface agents, which increases process complexity.

6. Risk of Low-Temperature Brittleness

• While offering better low-temperature performance than most rubbers, some low-hardness TPV grades may exhibit brittle fracture below -60°C. Cold-resistant formulations must be selected for extreme low-temperature environments.

III. Application Scenarios and Selection Recommendations

1. Optimal Applications: Automotive components (seals, dust covers, hoses), electronics (waterproof seals, buttons), industrial products (shock pads, conveyor belts), daily goods (tool handles, sports equipment).

2. Cautionary Applications: Ultra-high-temperature (>150°C) environments, direct contact with strong polar solvents, or scenarios requiring direct bonding with polar materials without auxiliary processes.

3. Selection Criteria: Choose appropriate TPV grades based on usage environment (temperature, media, mechanical load), processing method (injection/extrusion), and environmental requirements, considering hardness, weather resistance level, and cost.