Ⅰ.What Is TPU Material? What Does TPU Mean! What Does TPU Stand For?
TPU material is a special high-performance thermoplastic elastomer with high elasticity. It has the properties of both plastic and rubber, and has excellent comprehensive properties such as high strength, high toughness, wear resistance, and oil resistance. At the same time, TPU material is a very environmentally friendly material that can be recycled and biodegradable in the natural environment. It is widely used in many fields.
TPU is the abbreviation of thermoplastic polyurethane, T is Thermoplastic, and PU is PolyUrethane. Unlike traditional plastics, TPU has excellent elasticity and flexibility, and can be reshaped after heating without losing its original properties.
The uniqueness of TPU thermoplastic polyurethane material lies in its thermoplasticity. It can soften and shape after heating to a certain temperature while maintaining the properties of the elastomer. The thermoplasticity of TPU material enables it to undergo various processing, such as injection molding, extrusion, and blow molding, so it is widely used in many industries such as cables, automobiles, electronics, medical and consumer products.
Thermoplastic polyurethane materials have become the most widely used materials in the world due to their many excellent properties.
TPU Plastics Have The Following Main Properties:
The elasticity of TPU materials gives it rubber-like properties, which can deform (stretch or compress) under external forces, but can quickly return to its original shape after the external force is removed. This "memory" effect makes TPU perform well in many applications that require repeated bending, stretching or compression.
The flexibility of tpu thermoplastic polyurethane material means that it can remain soft at low temperatures and is not easy to break under repeated bending and stretching. Even in severe cold environments, TPU can maintain high flexibility without becoming brittle. The flexibility of TPU is reflected in the following aspects:
· Low temperature flexibility: TPU can still maintain a certain degree of softness in low temperature environments, unlike some plastic materials that become brittle and hard at low temperatures. It can still maintain flexibility at low temperatures of -30℃ to -40℃, so it is suitable for protective housings of electronic products and automotive parts in cold areas.
· Fatigue resistance: TPU materials can withstand multiple stretching, bending and extrusion without easily breaking or deforming the material. Its fatigue resistance makes it particularly suitable for applications that need to withstand repeated stress, such as the soles of sports shoes, sports equipment, hoses, etc.
The wear resistance of TPU materials is manifested in the following aspects:
· Durability in high friction environments
TPU can withstand frequent friction and contact, and the surface of TPU materials is not easy to wear, and it can maintain a long service life even in the case of multiple friction.
· Scratch resistance
TPU is not only wear-resistant, but also has good scratch resistance. In mechanical parts, the scratch resistance of TPU effectively prevents surface damage caused by friction in the working environment.
Mechanical strength usually includes the tensile strength, compressive strength, impact resistance, etc. of the material, which determines the ability of TPU to withstand external forces in various applications. The mechanical strength of TPU is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
·High tensile strength, which is usually between 20-60 MPa, depending on the hardness grade and formula of TPU.
·High compressive strength
TPU can effectively maintain the integrity of the structure when subjected to external compression. This makes TPU perform well in applications that need to resist long-term pressure and extrusion.
·Good impact resistance
TPU can absorb external impact force and disperse energy when subjected to impact, reducing the possibility of breakage.
TPU has good tolerance to oils, fats, solvents and many chemicals.
TPU can still maintain softness and elasticity in low temperature environments, especially in applications in cold areas. In addition, TPU can withstand higher temperatures, has excellent thermal stability, and is suitable for high temperature conditions.
The density of TPU is usually between 1.1 and 1.2 g/cm³, which is moderate compared to other plastic materials. This means that it has good mechanical strength and can maintain a light weight, which is particularly important for some applications that need to consider weight, such as aviation and automotive industries.
TPU material is a material formed by the reaction of polyurethane (Polyurethane) with polyols and isocyanates, which can show the dual characteristics of plastic and rubber. TPU materials can be divided into the following types according to different chemical structures and functional requirements:
The hardness of TPU can be controlled by adjusting its chemical structure.
Hard TPU is mainly used in applications that require high strength and rigidity, such as engineering parts;
Soft TPU is suitable for applications that require high flexibility and elasticity, such as soles and seals.
TPU foam material is both foamed thermoplastic polyurethane, also called E-TPU (Expanded-Thermoplastic polyurethanes), and is prepared using the principle of gas phase differential.
Low smoke halogen-free TPU is a thermoplastic polyurethane material with flame retardants added and halogen removed.
TPU is different from ordinary polyurethane (PU). Ordinary PU is generally a harder material, while TPU is a thermoplastic elastomer with rubber properties, which is both soft and thermoplastic.
TPU is convenient for a variety of processing methods due to its thermoplastic properties, including injection molding, extrusion and blow molding.
Thermoplastic polyurethane resin can be molded by injection molding and is widely used to manufacture various precision parts such as cable connectors, medical devices and automotive accessories. TPU's low melting point and good fluidity make it suitable for high-precision injection molding.
TPU plastic can also be manufactured into molded strips, pipes, films, cables and other products by extrusion. Due to the thermoplasticity of TPU, it can be heated at high temperatures and molded through molds, which provides flexibility for the production of parts with complex shapes.
TPU plastics are suitable for blow molding processes to produce products such as airbags and foam materials. By adjusting the formula, TPU foam materials with different densities and hardness can be obtained, which are widely used in packaging, protective materials and other fields.
TPU plastics can also be hot pressed and heat sealed to manufacture products such as shoe uppers and clothing accessories. The thermoplasticity of TPU enables it to maintain good processability and molding capabilities in these applications.
TPU is widely used in many fields due to its versatility and high performance:
In the field of wires and cables, TPU materials are often used to produce automotive cables, charging pile cables, optical cables and marine cables.
In the automotive industry, TPU materials are often used to manufacture automotive parts such as sealing strips, interior trims, oil pipes, hoses, etc. Due to its wear resistance, oil resistance and high temperature resistance, TPU has become one of the important materials in the automotive industry.
TPU is also widely used in consumer electronics, especially in mobile phone cases, headphone cables, computer keyboards and other products. TPU has excellent scratch resistance and impact resistance, making it an ideal material for protecting electronic devices.
TPU materials have good biocompatibility and can withstand high temperature sterilization, so they are widely used in medical devices such as catheters, hoses, artificial joints, medical packaging, etc. TPU can also provide softness and durability, which is very suitable for medical devices that need to be in contact with the human body for a long time.
TPU is widely used in the soles, uppers, sports protection equipment and other fields of sports shoes. Due to the elasticity and wear resistance of TPU, it can effectively improve the comfort and durability of sports shoes. In addition, TPU is also often used in the details of sportswear, such as zippers, ropes and decorative parts.
TPU is also used to manufacture various industrial products, such as seals, gaskets, protective films, etc. In the construction industry, TPU is often used in flexible pipes and waterproof materials, and is particularly suitable for corrosive environments due to its excellent chemical resistance and durability.
TPU material has many unique advantages, making it an ideal choice in many fields:
TPU can withstand a variety of chemicals, including oils, solvents, acids and alkalis, and is particularly suitable for applications that need to resist corrosion, such as seals and chemical containers.
As a thermoplastic material, TPU is highly recyclable and can be repeatedly processed and reused without compromising performance. This makes TPU an environmentally friendly choice that meets the needs of sustainable development in modern industry.
TPU is a non-toxic material that meets many international environmental and safety standards, so it has been widely used in medical, baby products and food contact materials.
TPU has good impact resistance, UV resistance, high temperature resistance and wear resistance, which enable it to maintain a long service life in harsh environments.
| Comprehensive introduction to thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials | ||
| TPU Properties | High elasticity | |
| Flexibility | Low temperature flexibility | |
| Fatigue resistance | ||
| Excellent wear resistance | Durability in high friction environments | |
| Scratch resistance | ||
| Excellent mechanical strength | High tensile strength | |
| High compressive strength | ||
| Good impact resistance | ||
| Chemical resistance | ||
| Low temperature performance and thermal stability | ||
| Wide density range | ||
| Types of Thermoplastic Polyurethane | Hard TPU | |
| Soft TPU | ||
| Low smoke halogen-free TPU | ||
| TPU rubber | ||
| Anti-fungal TPU | ||
| Foamed TPU | ||
| TPU-based thermoplastic silicone elastomer | ||
| Application fields of TPU materials | Wire and cable | |
| Automotive industry | ||
| Electronics | ||
| Medical equipment | ||
| Sports footwear and apparel | ||
| Industrial and construction applications | ||
| TPU thermoplastic polyurethane material properties | Chemical resistance | |
| Environmentally friendly and recyclable | ||
| Safe and non-toxic | ||
| Excellent mechanical properties | ||
Thermoplastic polyurethane materials have many advantages over other materials. You can enter the following article to see the comparison between TPU and corresponding materials.
1. Thermoplastic Polyurethane vs Silicone
2. TPU vs PVC
3. TPU vs TPE
4. TPU vs PU
