How TPE Materials Can Improve Your Application
If you're looking for solutions that optimize creativity in your applications, you need thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). However, not all TPE materials are the same — and Americhem makes all the difference in terms of breadth and flexibility. What is TPE exactly? How do different TPEs compare? And what sets Americhem apart as a top TPE manufacturer? Read on to find the answers to all of this and more.
What is TPE?
TPE stands for thermoplastic elastomer. In broad terms, thermoplastic elastomers are polymer compounds that merge the economical processing of thermoplastics with properties of thermoset rubbers — the appearance, the feel and some of the mechanics. In other words, TPE materials act like thermoset rubber, but they can be melted or softened at high temperatures for reprocessing and remolding, giving designers more freedom. TPEs also have a low temperature resistance of about -60°C, and can have service temperatures of >100°C.
At Americhem, our thermoplastic elastomers are customizable, offering elastomeric performance and structural stiffness when used with 2-shot molding and overmolding.
Advantages of TPE Plastic Products
TPE materials have excellent physical properties, including:
- A great appearance for various applications
- A customizable feel
- Strong stability
- Ability to add color
- A wide hardness range of SHORE 15A ~ SHORE 90A
- Insulation
- Weather resistance
TPE plastic also resists common chemicals and is:
- Non-toxic
- Non-irritating
- Non-polluting during production
- Environmentally friendly
- Safe for people
The mechanical stability of thermoplastic elastomers means they:
- Can be used with compression molding, blow molding, extrusion and injection molding machines
- Have straightforward production processes that are short and efficient
- Have high tensile strength resistance
- Can be combined with general plastic blending to create alloy materials
High-Quality TPS vs. TPV Thermoplastic Elastomers
TPVs are other types of thermoplastic elastomers known as thermoplastic vulcanizates due to the dynamic vulcanization process that creates them. While these traditional materials have their place, they can't really compare to high-quality TPSs like Americhem's Sevrene® series.
High-quality Sevrene TPS (Styrenic Block Copolymer) materials offer the following crucial advantages over TPVs:
- Better processing, especially during injection molding
- Improved appearance because of the fully thermoplastic system
- Enhanced tear resistance at lower durometers (55 Shore A and below)
- Easier to alter haptics to get a less "grippy" surface feeling
These benefits, combined with the Americhem difference, are sure to improve your application.
How Americhem's TPE Materials Differ
If you're looking to improve your productivity and part performance and require solutions tailored specifically for your application, Americhem's TPE materials are what you need. Find out why we should be your thermoplastic elastomer supplier by reading about our product lines below.
For both weather-resistant exterior applications and decorative interior applications, Americhem can produce a vast array of colors for TPE plastic using our color technology leadership. We have many years of experience producing parts that excel in both appearance and productivity. Our Sevrene line of TPE materials was developed using our expertise — with an eye toward getting you the best solutions at competitive prices.
For both weather-resistant exterior applications and decorative interior applications, Americhem can produce a vast array of colors for TPE plastic using our color technology leadership. We have many years of experience producing parts that excel in both appearance and productivity. Our Sevrene line of TPE materials was developed using our expertise — with an eye toward getting you the best solutions at competitive prices.
Sevrene 4000 Series
The TPEs in the Sevrene 4000 Series were intended to reduce your application costs per cubic inch. We like to think of these TPE materials as the workhorses — cost-effective ways to get the job done for most applications.
Sevrene 4500 Series
The 4500 Series expands on the ability to adjust the haptics, reduce the friction and improve the scratch resistance of your TPEs, allowing you to get the exact surface feel your application requires. Whether you want something entirely slippery or more grippy, the 4500 Series can be altered to get you what you need — even a lower specific gravity. These TPE materials can also match the shrink rate of other thermoplastic elastomers.
Sevrene 8000 Series
If you need better elevated temperature compression set resistance, the Sevrene 8000 Series is for you. It's suitable for extrusion and injection molding applications, including 2-shot molding.
Use Americhem TPE Materials for Your Application
Performance. Solutions. Trust. You can always count on those with Americhem, but there are plenty of other reasons our thermoplastic elastomers are the best in the industry. We bring the Americhem color and additives — things that no one else can match. Along with that, you'll get our technical expertise, best-in-class service and a willingness to cater our TPE materials to the needs of our customers' applications. We'll get you the aesthetics you want in a cost-effective way, and we'll meet or exceed quality standards while we do it. What is TPE without Americhem? Not what it could be. Contact us to see the difference today.
Certifications should be one of the first questions you ask your masterbatch, compounder, or composite manufacturer. Here at Americhem we take pride in our certifications and the ability to handle high profile projects due to our extensive training.
Americhem teamed up with a marker manufacturer to design fluorescent marker caps. A common problem with molding fluorescent colors is that they stain the mold; otherwise known as ‘plate-out.’ This causes the customer to have a lot of machine down time, which in turn is a loss of money.