Thermoplastic elastomers description

Description of samples tested, specific test methods used, exposure medium notes, solubility parameters, and other important details are provided. Emphasis is on providing all relevant information so the most informed conclusions and decisions can be made by the user. Over 60,000 individual entries (specific tests) are covered in the database. Classes of materials covered include thermosets, thermosetting elastomers, thermoplastics, and thermoplastic elastomers. Approximately 700 different trade name and grade combinations representing over 130 families of materials are included. Over 3300 exposure environments are represented. 

This chapter addresses three basic classes of polymers and the approaches for processing them into compounds. These classes include thermoplastic polymers, and two types of elastomers -crosslinked elastomers, and thermoplastic elastomers. Compounds prepared from each class have a range of achievable properties, and each category of compounds may have overlapping properties. Each category is prepared by different technical approaches with varying controls, energy requirements, and limitations. A brief definition of each class follows. Also included, later in the chapter, is a detailed description of how additives influence the production process. 

General Description Elf Atochem Pebax Resins, breathable resins, are polyether block amides (PEBAs), thermoplastic elastomers made of a flexible polymer and a rigid polyamide. Extruded films made with Pebax are compact, thoroughly waterproof, and breathable. 

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... 

Discovery of thermoplastic elastomers and description of the corresponding morphologies. 

This brief description of the properties of unsaturated oligoesters indicates that they are promising starting materials for the production of free-foamed gas-filled polymeric materials. The very interesting possibilities of using composite foams based on OEM and commercial thermoplastics or elastomers should also be mentioned. 

Description For glass-reinforced thermosetting resins modified particle shapes offer choices of higher loadings, better processing (lower viscosity) and physical properties, smoother finish. Superfine grades for thermoplastic and elastomer cable compounds and mouldings ... 

Synthetic rubbers are produced as commodities. Polybutadiene, polybutylene, polychloroprene and polyepichlorohydrin are examples of elastomeric homopolymers. Copolymeric rubbers comprise poly-(butadiene-co-styrene), poly(butadiene-co-acryloni-trile), poly(ethylene-co-propylene-co-diene), and poly-(epichlorohydrin-co-ethylene oxide). The unsaturated group in the comonomer provides reactive sites for the crosslinking reactions. Copolymers combine resilience with resistance to chemical attack, or resilience in a larger temperature range, and thermoplastic-like properties. There are several studies in the literature describing the preparation of blends and composites of elastomers and conductive polymers. A description of some significant examples is given in this section. 

Pellethane thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers range from hard to soft and can be fabricated by a variety of methods, from injection molding to extrusion and blow molding. These elastomers offer a combination of properties rarely seen in an engineering thermoplastic. Table 16 gives descriptions and applications of Pellethane TPE-U products. 

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