Thermoplastic elastomers-abbreviated as TPE or TPR (standing for *Thermoplastic Rubber*)-are a class of elastomers that exhibit rubber-like elasticity at room temperature while possessing the ability to be plastically molded at elevated temperatures. Structurally, thermoplastic elastomers are characterized by distinct resin segments and rubber segments linked by chemical bonds; the resin segments form physical cross-linking points through intermolecular forces, while the rubber segments serve as highly elastic chains that impart elasticity to the material. The physical cross-linking within the plastic segments undergoes reversible changes in response to temperature fluctuations, thereby endowing thermoplastic elastomers with the processing characteristics typical of plastics. Consequently, thermoplastic elastomers combine the physical and mechanical properties of vulcanized rubber with the processing capabilities of thermoplastic plastics; they represent a novel class of polymeric materials situated between rubbers and resins, and are frequently referred to as "third-generation rubber."
Since Bayer first synthesized thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) in 1958, the field of TPEs has experienced rapid development. This growth was particularly accelerated following the advent of styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers in 1963, a milestone that led to the progressive refinement of theoretical frameworks regarding TPE synthesis and a significant expansion of their application domains.