Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) are group of materials which bridge the gap between thermoplastics and thermo set rubber1 TPEs are sold a ready to use materials in free flowing pellets and are available in hardness ranges from 35 shore A to 50 Shore D.
These materials exhibit significant higher average growth rates since their introduction in the late 1970's, early 1980's. According to a market research study conducted by the international Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers in 1996, the consumption of TPEs in 2005 will be close to 2000 KMT worldwide.
Various engineering applications like blow moulded rack and pinion boots, airducts, injection moulded seals and gaskets, plugs and grommets and car body sealing systems - weatherseals are ideally suited to be designed around and manufactured with high performance thermoplastic elastomers.
New requirements of automotive industry Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), like weight reduction, system cost reduction, design flexibility, colourability, aesthetics and recyclability, favour the use of TPEs instead of traditional thermoset rubber.