Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE):a diverse family of rubber like materials that, unlike conventional vulcanized rubbers, can be processed and recycled like thermoplastic materials
Dynamic Vulcanization: the process of intimate melt mixing a thermoplastic polymer and a suitable reactive rubbery polymer to generate a thermoplastic elastomer with a chemically crosslinked rubbery phase, resulting in properties closer to those of a thermoset rubber when compared to the same uncrosslinked composition.
Thermoplastic Vulcanizate (TPV): a thermoplastic elastomer with a chemically crosslinked rubbery phase, produced by dynamic vulcanization.
TPEs provide functional performance and properties similar to conventional thermoset rubber products, but can be processed with the speed, efficiency and economy of thermoplastics.
In addition to simpler processing, principal advantages of TPEs compared to thermoset rubber products include easier recycling of scrap and closer, more economical control of dimensions and product quality.
TPEs are used in a variety of applications in the automotive, construction, medical, food and beverage, electrical, appliance and consumer electronic markets.
