TPE Compounds are the right touch for many products

Look in your toolbox, and you might find a hammer with a soft grip that reduces shock and is less likely to slip out of your hand. You might also have a toothbrush or a hairbrush with a soft grip that is more comfortable to hold. These soft grips could be made out of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compound. TPEs can be safe for food-contact applications, such as soft spoons for babies, and for healthcare applications, such as dental guards. TPEs also make good sealing materials, such as sealing rings in piping systems, or liners in bottle caps.  

 

A thermoplastic elastomer is a type of thermoplastic polymer.Thermoplastic elastomers are thermoplastics with an elastomeric component that makes them soft and flexible.TPE compounds are widely used as "soft touch" grips because the soft TPE can be easily molded or extruded onto a hard thermoplastic material using the same processing equipment. They also bond well to most rigid thermoplastic substrates, such as polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The softness of a TPE is measured by durometer on the Shore hardness scale. The lower the durometer, the softer the material. TPEs used for soft-touch grips typically have a durometer of around 60 to 75.

 

Used for food applications

Any plastic material--and all its ingredients--used in a product that comes into contact with food must have food-contact approval from the country where it will be used. Approval indicates that the material is safe for people in its intended use. Food-contact approved TPEs can be used to make soft baby spoons or toddler cup spouts, for example.

 

Ideal for medical and healthcare applications

TPEs for healthcare applications must meet the appropriate regulatory standards. TPEs can be sterilized using autoclaves, gamma irradiation, or ethylene oxide. TPEs can be designed to be biocompatible, have high purity, and have low levels of extractable and leachable substances. TPEs can be an alternative to latex, silicone, PVC, or rubber.    

 

Perfect for sealing rings

Sealing rings have traditionally been made out of thermoset rubbers, but TPE sealing rings can be colored (or white) and co-molded to make two-component seals. TPEs are more efficient to process—they use less energy and can be produced faster than thermoset rubbers.

 

Often found in cap and closure liners

Bottle cap liners act as a seal between the bottle contents and the external environment for both metal crowns and plastic caps. Some cap and closure liners are made out of PVC. TPE liners, however, have some advantages over PVC, including better protection against oxygen transmission.



Source:https://www.mexichemspecialtycompounds.com/blog/tpe-compounds-are-the-right-touch-for-many-products/3215/