What is the meaning of "replacing silicone grade TPE raw materials with silicone"
Source：德创化工Time：2020-03-24Hits：2122
TPE, as a new type of environmentally friendly polymer material, is often compared with silica gel. Which material is better? In fact, this should be analyzed according to specific applications. Some products and fields have strict standard requirements, just like tableware, daily necessities and other products have clear food-grade requirements.
A few years ago, silica gel was widely used in smart wear, medical supplies, food and tableware, daily products and handicrafts. However, no matter how good the material is, it cannot withstand human being's pickiness and pursuit of perfection. The molding silica gel has a long vulcanization processing cycle, and the materials are difficult to recycle after the silica gel is vulcanized into products. It is precisely because of these deficiencies that the application and expansion of silica gel are limited, and TPE elastomer materials just perfect these shortcomings of silica gel.
Thermoplastic elastomer TPE (modified by blending based on SEBS) has soft hardness and elasticity similar to silica gel, and its hand feel and environmental protection performance can be comparable to silica gel. More importantly, TPE elastomer material can be directly and rapidly injected or extruded, and TPE material can be 100% recycled, while the material cost is equivalent to or slightly cheaper than silica gel. TPE materials conform to the EU environmental protection standards, pass FDA food-grade certification, and are safe and nontoxic. Therefore, in recent years, TPE elastomer materials have replaced silica gel and been widely used in food, tableware, daily products, adult products, smart wearing electronic products, medical products and other industries.
Which applications can TPE materials replace silica gel?
Products with good handfeel: such as handles and grips. You can try to replace silica gel with TPE, of course this requires TPE suppliers to provide special TPE formula solutions.
Products of electronic accessories: mobile phone case, smart wrist strap, smart watch strap, etc. TPE can replace silica gel, TPE can be molded faster than silica gel, the yield is higher, and the cost can be reduced.
Adult products: TPE has basically received market approval for replacing silica gel in adult sex products industry. Because the industry mainly considers the soft touch of materials. However, TPE is superior to silica gel in soft touch, and its hardness and physical properties are easy to adjust, which can better meet different requirements of customers.
Food cutlery: Food cutlery such as ice cube, lunch box, nipple, kitchen utensils handle, etc. The main material in contact with food can be replaced by TPE, because TPE material can pass FDA food-grade certification, conform to EU environmental protection standards, and the processing method is simple and easy to control.
