Thermoplastic Elastomers
The Clever Combination of Two Polymer Components
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) merge the properties of thermoplastics and elastomers. For example, TPE exhibits elastic behavior at room temperature (comparable to classic elastomers), but can be plastically deformed when heat is applied (thermoplastic behavior).
TPEs are copolymers consisting of a hard and soft segment, which are used either as a statistical or as a block copolymer. The properties of the thermoplastic elastomers can be specifically adjusted by the segments used and their quantity ratio to each other. As a result, they exhibit excellent mechanical properties with high flexibility and good chemical resistance.
A distinctive position among thermoplastic elastomers is held by TPE-U's (PUR cables), which have a particularly high tear resistance, very good low-temperature flexibility and good hydrolysis resistance. They are therefore ideal for use in moving applications.
The areas of application for TPE are wide-ranging:
- Robot cables
- Drag chain cables
- Railroad cables
- Special cables (hybrid cables)
- Military cables (navy/air force)
- Charging cables for e-vehicles
| Abbreviation | Chemical name | VDE Ref. | Continuous operating temperature 3000h [°C] | Continuous operating temperature 20,000h [°C] | Melting range [°C] | Tensile strength [Mpa] | Stretch [%] | Hardness | Volume resistivity at 20°C | Dielectric strength | Dielectric constant at 1MHz, 20°C | LOI | Flame retardancy | Halogen-free |
TPE-U | Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer | 11Y | 115 | -60 to 80 | 190 - 205 | 20 - 55 | >300 | 75A - 65D | >10^12 | 30 | 5,5 - 8,0 | <30 | Low to good | yes |
TPE-E | Thermoplastic polyester copolymer | 13Y / 12Y | 130 | -70 to 115 | 180 - 230 | >25 | >300 | 40D - 78D | >10^12 | 30 | 3,5 - 5,0 | <29 | Low to good | yes |
TPE-S | Thermoplastic styrene block copolymer | 17Y | 125 | -75 to 115 | >150 | 9 - 25 | >300 | 30A - 50D | 10^12 - 10^16 | 30 | 3,0 - 4,0 | 22 - 27 | Low | yes |
TPE-O | Thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer | 18Y | 120 | -50 to 90 | >135 | 3 - 20 | >300 | 47A - 50D | >10^14 | 30 | 3,0 | <25 | Low to good | yes |
TPE-V | Thermoplastic vulcanizate | - | 115 | -60 to 105 | 155 - 230 | 4 - 25 | >400 | 35A - 50D | - | 30 | 2,3 | <22 | Low to good | yes |
