Technical document

The advantages and disadvantages of TPE materials

2025-05-21 09:20:43 TPE

Advantages of TPE Materials

  1. Superior Processability

    • Can be molded via injection molding and other processes without vulcanization, enabling short production cycles. Scrap materials are recyclable.

  2. Diverse Physical Properties

    • Offers elasticity, soft touch, and a wide hardness range. Features fatigue resistance, with some formulations exhibiting good chemical resistance.

  3. Environmental Safety

    • Mostly non-toxic and compliant with environmental standards; some are degradable.

  4. Design Flexibility

    • Easy to color, suitable for secondary processing, and can be co-molded with other plastics.

  5. Good Weather Resistance

    • Typically maintains stable performance between -40°C and 100°C, with some grades suitable for broader temperature ranges.

  6. Lightweight

    • Lower density than rubber and some plastics.

    injection mould

Disadvantages of TPE Materials

  1. Limited High-Temperature Resistance

    • Common types have a maximum service temperature of ≤100°C and may soften/deform at higher temperatures.

  2. Inadequate Oil Resistance

    • Generic types are prone to swelling when in contact with oils. Improved formulations are costly and still inferior to traditional rubber.

  3. Lower Mechanical Strength

    • Tensile and tear strengths are lower than vulcanized rubber, making it unsuitable for high-strength structural components.

  4. Poor Solvent Resistance

    • Some types are easily dissolved by organic solvents such as aromatic hydrocarbons.

  5. Higher Cost

    • Raw material costs for high-performance grades are high, with some relying on imports.

  6. Moderate Dimensional Stability

    • May undergo slight deformation in high-temperature or high-humidity environments.

injection mould

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