Thermoplastic copolyester elastomer, TPE

Thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPE-E or COPE) are block copolymers. The chemical structure of one such elastomer is shown in Fig. 10.2. 

A route to compatibility involving ionomers has been described recently by Eisenberg and coworkers [250-252]. The use of ionic interactions between different polymer chains to produce new materials has gained tremendous importance. Choudhury et al. [60] reported compatibilization of NR-polyolefin blends with the use of ionomers (S-EPDM). Blending with thermoplastics and elastomers could enhance the properties of MPR. The compatibility of copolyester TPE, TPU, flexible PVC, with MPR in aU proportions, enables one to blend any combination of these plastics with MPR to cost performance balance. Myrick has reported on the effect of blending MPR with various combinations and proportions of these plastics and provided a general guideline for property enhancement [253]. 

There are two classes of polyolefin blends elastomeric polyolefin blends also called polyolefin elastomers (POE) and nonelastomeric polyolefin blends. Elastomeric polyolefin blends are a subclass of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). In general, TPEs are rubbery materials that are processable as thermoplastics but exhibit properties similar to those of vulcanized rubbers at usage temperatures (19). In TPEs, the rubbery components may constitute the major phase. However, TPEs include many other base resins, which are not polyolefins, such as polyurethanes, copolyamides, copolyesters, styrenics, and so on. TPEs are now the third largest synthetic elastomer in total volume produced worldwide after styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and butadiene mbber (BR). 

Thermoplastic elastomers contain sequences of hard and soft repeating units in the polymer chain. Elastic recovery occurs when the hard segments act to pull back the more soft and rubbery segments. Cross-linking is not required. The six generic classes of TPEs are, in order of increasing cost and performance, styrene block copolymers, polyolefin blends, elastomeric alloys, thermoplastic urethanes, thermoplastic copolyesters, and thermoplastic polyamides. 

General Description Amitel is DSM Engineering Plastics family of copolyesters (COPEs) and thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). These resins are multiblock copolymers in which butylene terapthalate hard segments andpoly(alkylene oxide) soft segments alternate repeatedly along the polymer backboned 1... 

Apec KU 1-9320 f[Bayer AG http //WWW. bayer-ag. de, http //www. bayer. com] Polyester elastomer, thermoplastic Synonyms COPE Copolyester elastomer thermoplastic Copolyester, thermoplastic elastomer TPE-E... 

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) continue to grow in commercial importance. These materials combine the functional properties of comparable thermoset elastomers with the fabrication advantages of thermoplastics. As a class, TPEs comprise several types of materials such as elastomeric alloys (EAs), styrenic block copolymers, copolyesters, and thermoplastic polyurethanes. 

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), which combine the characteristics of both thermoplastics and elastomers, can be classified into two major groups. The first is made up of block copolymers formed by polymerizing a thermoplastic monomer with an elastomer comonomer, as in the case of styrene block copolymers such as styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene (SEBS). Engineering TPEs such as thermoplastic urethanes (TPUs), copolyesters (COPEs) and polyether block amides (PEBAs) can be included in this first group. Other types of copolymer are from the polyolefin family, consisting of the polyolefin... 

The most important examples of thermoplastic elastomers include TPE-0 (polyolefin-based TPE), TPE-A (polyether(ester)-block-amide), TPE-E (copolyester-based TPE), TPE-S (styrene copolymer-based TPE), and TPU (polyurethane-based TPE). 

Whilst newer material types have emerged in recent years, primary TPE types can be categorized into two generic classes, block copolymers (styrenics, copolyesters, polyurethanes and polyamides) or thermoplastic/elastomer blends and alloys (thermoplastic polyolefins and thermoplastic vulcanisates). These TPE types are known as two-phase systems as essentially, a hard thermoplastic phase is coupled mechanically or chemically with a soft elastomer phase. The result is a TPE that has the combined properties of the two phases. 

High-performance TPE based on a polyamide (aka nylon) hard block along with a soft segment. PAEs are also known as polyether block amides or as copolyester amides or thermoplastic elastomer-amides. They are used mainly in areas where other TPE cannot compete/ perform, especially at lower temperatures. 

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