Hardness of fire-retardant TPE raw materials 45A-90A
At present, many daily necessities used in our daily life have been applied to TPE materials, but in the sales process, there are still many friends who do not know what TPE is and stay in a state of incomprehension and confusion! Today, Xiaobian will use a simple and straightforward way to explain "what TPE materials" and "what TPE materials can bring you" and other puzzles.
First, what is TPE material
TPE(Thermoplastic Elastomer) is a thermoplastic elastomer material, thermoplastic elastomer TPE/TPR, also known as artificial rubber or synthetic rubber. The product not only has the excellent properties of high elasticity, aging resistance and oil resistance of traditional crosslinked vulcanized rubber, but also has the characteristics of convenient processing and wide processing mode of common plastics. It can be produced by injection molding, extrusion, blow molding and other processing methods. After the corner of the nozzle is pulverized, it can be directly reused 100%. It not only simplifies the processing process, but also reduces the processing cost. Therefore, thermoplastic elastomer TPE/TPR material has become the latest material to replace traditional rubber. Its environmental protection, non-toxicity, comfortable hand feel and exquisite appearance make the product more creative. Therefore, it is also a new type of synthetic material with more humanization and high grade, and it is also a world standard environmental protection material.
What is the difference between TPE and TPR
TPE and TPR are both thermoplastic elastomers. Currently, there is no defined standard in the elastomer industry. Broadly speaking, TPE and TPR are both generic terms for elastomers, making no difference. However, from the narrow sense of TPE industry, TPE and TPR are still different.
TPE is the abbreviation of its English name Thermoplastic Elastomer, which means thermoplastic elastomer. TPR is the abbreviation of its English name Thermoplastic rubber, which means thermoplastic rubber.
TPE is generally modified with SEBS as the base material, while TPR is generally modified with SBS as the base material.
SEBS is the product of SBS hydrogenation (hydrogenation refers to the introduction of hydrogen atoms into unsaturated molecules under special reaction conditions, thus making the molecular structure reach a saturated state). SEBS has a saturated molecular structure, and its aging resistance, yellowing resistance, temperature resistance and corrosion resistance are superior to SBS. The same TPE's related properties are superior to TPR. Their differences are:
1. TPR particles are brighter than TPE particles
2. TPE feels comfortable and smooth
3. TPR is a bit sticky
4, some products that need to be bonded with glue, such as shoe materials, handicrafts, toy figurines, etc., generally use TPR materials, because TPR and glue are bonded firmly, while TPE materials and glue are almost non-sticky. In addition, TPR is easy to match colors, and is suitable for making products with bright colors and bright surfaces. TPE and TPR both have plasticity of plastic and elasticity of rubber, while TPR molecule has unsaturated molecular structure similar to rubber, so it has more hand feeling and resilience of rubber.
5. The difference between TPE and TPR combustion: TPE combustion produces light smoke, while TPR combustion produces dark smoke. TPR is more difficult to plasticize and process than TPE.
What are the application fields of TPE materials?
1. Toy industry: can make toy figurines, soft rubber toys, toy tires and other products;
2. Application of encapsulation (secondary molding): TPE can be used wherever encapsulation is needed. The common handle covers, such as toothbrush handle covers, electric tool handle covers, art knife covers, tape covers, etc.
3. Water pipe industry: it can be used as hose, garden expansion hose, etc.
4. Glasses industry: can make glasses frames, glasses foot covers, nose pads, diving glasses, etc.;
5. wire and cable industry: it can be used as sheath material, outer covering material, antenna, telephone line, etc. for wire and cable, reaching flame retardant HB-V0 grade;
6. Shoe Material Industry: It can be used as sole, insole, heel, etc.
7. Adult products industry: simulation entity dolls, airplane cups, men's and women's sex toys, etc.
8. Sports equipment: It can be used as tension tube, yoga mat, finger press plate, bicycle handlebar cover, frog shoe, etc.
9. Smart Wear: It can be used as a smart wristband/smart watch wristband. Friends who have paid attention to electronic technology may be familiar with it, and it is also one of the popular TPE applications in recent years.
10. Automobile industry: It can make many automobile accessories, such as automobile sealing strip, automobile foot pad, automobile dust cover, automobile corrugated pipe, etc.
11. Medical supplies industry: can be used as infusion tubes, tourniquets, infusion sets, medical catheters, etc.;
12. Electronic wire: It can be used as earphone wire, data wire, mobile phone shell, plug material, etc.
13. wire and cable industry: it can be used as sheath material, outer covering material, antenna, telephone line, etc. for wire and cable, reaching flame retardant HB-V0 grade;
14. Contact with food grade: products that can be used as kitchen utensils, such as chopping boards, knives and forks, food packaging, and rubber coating for handles of kitchen utensils.
Four, TPE materials and which materials are similar?
1. Advantages of PVC: Soft PVC has good elasticity; Excellent aging resistance, acid and alkali resistance; And the cost of PVC is relatively low; Can be rapidly injection molded.
The deficiency of PVC: it contains toxic halogen element chlorine and has strong smell. May contain toxic plasticizer and heavy metals; Burning may release carcinogenic substance dioxin; Low temperature easily brittle, poor elasticity; There is permanent deformation.
2. Advantages of silica gel: high temperature resistance (200 ~ 250℃); Feel smooth and smooth; High elasticity and small permanent deformation; No smell, environmental protection and no toxicity; Aging resistance, weak acid and alkali resistance; It is easier to pass the food-grade LFGB olive oil test and FDA177.2600 n-hexane test.
Lack of silica gel: long molding period; Materials cannot be recycled for reuse. The overmolding is poor.
3. Advantages of rubber: high wear resistance; Resilience, good tear resistance; Small permanent deformation; Good mechanical properties; High temperature resistance; Corrosion resistance. Inadequacies of rubber: many processing procedures and long production cycle; Materials cannot be recycled. The material smells great and its environmental protection is worrying.
4. TPE and TPU are both soft materials with good rubber elasticity. Compared with TPE, TPE is more excellent in tactile comfort and TPU is more excellent in elasticity and strength. For products with lower hardness (e.g. less than 30A), TPE should be selected to achieve the effect of skid resistance, shock absorption and rebound. For products with higher hardness (above 80A) and good elasticity, TPU can be competent.
