Thermoplastic Elastomers

Thermoplastic elastomers are true quick-change artists and adaptation wonders. The group of thermoplastic elastomers is chemically very heterogeneous. As a result, they are highly adaptable to a wide variety of tasks and applications. For example, the ideal plastic with the right hardness and elasticity can be found for almost any project. By changing the chemical starting materials, the thermoplastic forming temperature can also be specifically influenced, so that plastics can be manufactured for almost any temperature range.

Other outstanding properties of this group of plastics include:

• extreme moldability
• good recyclability
• food-safe properties
  In addition to the wide variety of thermoplastic elastomers that can already be achieved during synthesis, TPEs can also be processed, modified and shaped in many different ways after their synthesis.

Freshly synthesized polymer is usually supplied as plastic granules. This is usually already individually colored according to your wishes. Like classic thermoplastics, this raw material can also be processed using classic molding methods. These include:

• Injection molding
• extrusion
• Blow molding
  Like most classic elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers can also be processed using 3D printers. This process is now particularly important in prototype construction.

But thermoplastic elastomers are not only to be found in this special field. In fact, it is hard to imagine a branch of industry without these special plastics.

Thermoplastic elastomers are convincing due to their high quality at comparatively low prices. That is why they are in high demand for a wide variety of applications. Examples of products made from TPE include gloves, dolls and yoga mats. For all products, a certain elasticity in the finished state and good moldability in the production process are important. Particularly in the case of toys such as dolls, health safety plays an outstanding role.