Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) possess the physical and mechanical properties of vulcanized rubber combined with the processing characteristics of soft plastics. Because they do not require the thermal vulcanization process typical of traditional rubber, final products can be easily manufactured using standard plastic processing machinery. This unique feature has enabled the rubber industry to shorten its production workflow by one-quarter, save 25% to 40% in energy consumption, and boost efficiency by a factor of 10 to 20; it is truly a revolutionary advancement in both materials and processing technology within the rubber industry.
The two primary methods for manufacturing and processing thermoplastic elastomers are extrusion and injection molding, while compression molding is rarely used. Processing TPEs via injection molding is both rapid and economical; indeed, the injection molding methods and equipment typically used for general thermoplastic plastics are fully applicable to thermoplastic elastomers.
Thermoplastic elastomers can also be processed through blow molding, thermoforming, and thermal welding-methods that are entirely inapplicable to thermoset rubber products.
In terms of processing and application, thermoplastic elastomers exhibit the following characteristics:
1. They can be processed and molded using standard thermoplastic processing equipment and techniques, such as extrusion, injection molding, and blow molding.
2. They require no vulcanization to produce rubber-like products; this eliminates the vulcanization step, reduces capital investment, lowers energy consumption, simplifies the process, shortens production cycles, boosts manufacturing efficiency, and lowers processing costs.
3. Scrap and waste materials can be recycled and reused, thereby conserving resources and contributing to environmental protection.
4. Due to their tendency to soften at high temperatures, the operating temperature range for products manufactured from these materials is subject to certain limitations.