The processing of thermoplastic elastomers, TPE is characterized by the fact that the material becomes fluid when heating and then is going back to a solid phase when cooling. Thereby rubber-like products can be manufactured by the use of plastic processing equipment.
Almost all TPE materials are fully compounded by the supplier and delivered as granulate. Therefore no mixing procedure is needed. Neither is curing needed and the scrap can be reprocessed.
These differences lead to lower energy consumption and shorter cycle times for production ofTPE products in comparison with rubber products.
As machinery for thermoplastic materials differs from equipment for rubber materials, new investments normally is required when switching the material for a product from rubber to TPE.
The processes used for thermoplastic elastomers are the following. The two first are the most important.
- Extrusion
Injection moulding
Calendering
Blow moulding
Melt calendering
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