Thermoplastic Elastomer TPE Compounds

Chlorinated polyethylene is added to EPDM (20/80%) used for soft cellular rubber application. 

Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is thermoplastic olefin (TPO) that is partially or completely vulcanized whereas thermoplastic olefin is used to designate any thermoplastic elastomer. 

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In the 1960s, anionic polymerized solutron SBR (SSBR) began to challenge emulsion SBR in the automotive tire market. Organolithium compounds allow control of the butadiene microstructure, not possible with ESBR. Because this type of chain polymerization takes place without a termination step, an easy synthesis of block polymers is available, whereby glassy (polystyrene) and rubbery (polybutadicnc) segments can be combined in the same molecule. These thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) have found use ill nontire applications. 

Blends of EPDM rubbers with polypropylene in suitable ratios have been marketed as thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), also commercially known as thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (TPO). These heterophasic polymers, characterized by thermoreversible interaction among the polymeric chains, belong to a broad family of olefinic alloys that can now be produced directly during the polymerization phase, unlike blended TPE and TPO, and various compositions (with various compounding additives) can be formulated which are primarily tailored to meet different requirements of most of car applications. The TPE-based synthetic leather and foam sheets are typical examples. 

SEBS-Compound Thermoplastic elastomer, TPE ABB Polymer Comp. 

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have been used in many important application areas because of their high degree of purity (low level of extractable compounds), recycling ability, and cost effectiveness. They are also used to replace latex and poly(vinyl... 

The family of elastomers known as thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are based on crosslinked polyolefin alloys and are compounded with common... 

The Swiss company, WW Fischer, offers PTFE (Teflon PTFE or Hostaflon), PBT (Celanex, Crastin, Ultradur or Valox) or PEEK (Victrex) insulator material options in its 405 series of cylindrical connectors according to the requirements of working temperature and other criteria. PEEK is an expensive polymer which tends to be employed when other materials fail to meet the specification requirements of the application. Other Fischer connector types use polyamide-imide (Torlon) or POM (Celcon, Delrin or Hostaform). Elastomeric seals used by Fischer in conjunction with their connectors are made from acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR N BUNA) or to MIL-P-25732, fluoroelastomer (FPM VITON), polychloroprene elastomer (CR Neoprene), ethylene-propylene diene elastomer (EPDM) and styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene thermoplastic elastomer (TPE-S or TPE-O) where each compound is followed by its trade name. Fischer s Swiss competitor, Lemo, manufactures a similar range of connectors including the Redel types which have a plastic body. 

There are different thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) that meet different requirements (see Table 6-13). As is the case with many TSEs and plastics, their properties can be varied and controlled by varying the ratio of the basic monomers used to compound TPEs, as well as by changing the types and amounts of additives and fillers. 

Compounded polymers prepared with thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are prepared in much the same manner as thermoplastics, with some exceptions. Thermoplastic elastomers generally combine the flexibility and frictional behavior of mbber compounds with the practical forming considerations of thermoplastic materials. These are commonly encountered in automotive and appliance applications where non-slip surfaces are desirable. Since compounds in this class have elastomeric physical characteristics, this often requires that a twin-screw mixer makes use of... 

To broaden the area of TPO applications to the low modulus side offering plastics with elastomeric properties, compounds with both a thermoplastic PP matrix and vulcanized domains of ethylene butylene rubber (EBR) have been introduced. These offer a route to mbber-hke materials that can easily be produced through injection molding. As a special feature, these thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) can be sequentially co-injected with normal TPO to give parts with specific functional zones. 

Topics discussed include compounding and dynamic vulcanisation of thermoplastic elastomers(TPEs),... 

Usually Poly (virtyl chloride) (PVC), Poly (Ether Block Amide) (PEBA), Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE), fluoro-polymers, nylons, etc. are nsed as catheter materials. Barium sulfate, bismuth compounds, temgsten contributes upto 90% of used radiopaque additives [1,2]. 

HDPE, high density polyethylene PP, polypropylene EVA, ethylene—vinyl alcohol SMC, sheet-molding compound ERP, fiber-reinforced plastic LDPE, low density polyethylene PE, polyethylene BMC, bulk mol ding compound TPE, thermoplastic elastomer. 

Thermoplastic elastomers are most commonly formulated from elastomeric polyurethane or block copolymers of polystyrene-elastomer, polyamide-elastomer, or polyether-elastomer bases. Thermoplastic elastomers are provided as a raw material in pelletized form for subsequent compounding. The internal domain structure that is required for thermoplastic-elastomeric performance has been established by specific considerations of blending and structural-chemical interactions. In compounding operations, specific temperature ranges are required to assure that phase separation does not occur in the TPE base polymer. 

Like most synthetic rubbers they are usually compounded with resins, oils, and fillers to produce commercial compounds that can be processed on ordinary thermoplastic processing equipment above the thermal transitions of the components of the compound. The artifacts produced usually have the characteristics of a rubber artifact tires, hoses, shoe-soles, gaskets, rubber bands, electrical cords, to name a few. These represent uses as monolithic structural thermoplastic elastomers. Most TPE s share this identity with conventionally vulcanized rubbers. It is the intended and primary use of this class of materials. ... 

Olefinic thermoplastic elastomer (TPO) materials are defined as compounds (mixfures) of various polyolefin polymers, semicrysfalline thermoplastics, and amorphous elastomers. Most TPOs are composed of polypropylene and a copolymer of ethylene and propylene called ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) [10]. A common rubber of this type is called ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, which has a small amount of a third monomer, a diene (two carbon-carbon double bonds in it). The diene monomer leaves a small amount of unsaturation in the polymer chain that can be used for sulfur cross-linking. Like most TPEs, TPO products are composed of hard and soft segments. TPO compounds include fillers, reinforcements. 

These materials have the functional requirements of elastomers (extensibUity and rapid retraction) but processability similar to that of rigid thermoplastics. The principal advantages of the TPEs compared to vulcanized rubber are (1) reduction in compounding requirements, (2) easier and more efficient processing cycles, (3) scrap recycling, and (4) availability of thermoplastic processing methods. Generic classes of TPEs include... 

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