Is the hardness of TPE material different from that of silica gel?
Source：德创化工Time：2020-03-12Hits：2401
TPE is a general term for elastomer materials that have rubber elasticity at normal temperature and can melt and flow at high temperature. Silica gel is a special kind of rubber, which has good mechanical strength, wear resistance and high temperature resistance after crosslinking. It belongs to thermosetting rubber. It will not melt when heated after vulcanization. When the temperature is too high, it will burn. Water and silica will completely burn.
The general hardness of TPE plastic materials is 0A-100A, the softest is up to 000 degrees or 0000 degrees, and the general hardness of silica gel is between 0A and 70A, so TPE materials are softer.
In the sex toy industry, silica gel and TPE materials are commonly used. Generally speaking, the experience of silica gel is better than that of TPE.
Silica gel is a thermosetting elastomer, which is safe, insoluble in water and any solvent, odorless, and stable in chemical properties. It does not react with any substance except strong alkali and hydrofluoric acid, and has high adsorption, good thermal stability and chemical stability. It was first applied to sex toys and food products.
TPE plastic material is a kind of thermoplastic elastomer, which is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, smooth and soft. Its hardness ranges from 0A to 100A. It is easy to process and form, does not need vulcanization, can be recycled, and reduces the cost. It can be bonded with PP, PE, PC, PS, ABS and other plastic materials (secondary injection) or formed separately. TPE plastic materials are less elastic than silica gel. The elastic deformation of silicone rubber vulcanizing system can be restored to 100% after external force is removed after stretching to a certain extent, while the elastic deformation of TPE exceeds a certain external force or tensile elongation, and its elastic recovery cannot be completely restored.
TPE raw materials have slightly weaker hand feeling than silica gel, silica gel has soft and smooth hand feeling, TPE has the same excellent soft hand feeling, but it is difficult to obtain excellent slip effect comparable to silica gel. The slip performance of TPE can be improved by adjusting TPE formula, but the cost will be increased accordingly.
