Thermoplastic elastomer compounds have a soft touch that is appealing and beneficial for consumer goods. TPEs are also useful in seals or in bottle-cap liners. These 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). A thermoplastic elastomer supplier can give advice about which type of TPE bonds well to which type of substrate. 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.
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.