TPE is categoried as thermoplastic rubber which covers a wide range of polymers including thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), crosslinked thermoplastic elastomers (TPV), thermoplastic polyamine (TPA), thermoplastic copolyester (TPC), polyolefine elastomers (TPO), styrenic block copolymers (TPS). TPE is known for its elasticity, processability, recyclability, high melting temperature, and resistance to weathering. Thermoplastic elastomers widely be used in products required shock absorption or high impact strength. TPU offers superior load-bearing capacity, high elongation at break, and excellent tensile strength, chemicals resistance, oils resistance, and other common solvents resistance. Also, TPU is generally harder, more durable, and more shrink-resistant than most TPEs.

To help you identify the right materials for your product, you will need to know the environment in which your product will be used and what kind of properties you need for your products (e.g., stretchy, hard or soft, color) and what kind of processes (e.g., extrusion, injection molding, blow molding). In general, when you need a material that be easily manufactured, colored, toughness, recyclable, lightweight, chemical resistant or fire retardant, noise and vibration dampening you can consider to chose TPU. TPU is widely used in different industries such as automotive parts, electronic accessories and components, medical products, agriculture, textiles. When choose grades in the case of using TPU, One of the first things to consider is the necessary hardness and transparency requirement for your application.

Product or device made with TPU can’t stand for temperature over 80℃ for long time which you can do with Thermoset materials like natural rubber and silicone. So TPU is not suit for applications such as motor belt. As to increase the strong of rubber, it usually be mixed with carbon which make the rubber to be black color. Rubber is more widely used in industry products such as rubber coupling, rubber tire, rubber buffer etc.