Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)/thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) combines the benefits of rubber with the processability of thermoplastics, making it an ideal material for a wide range of applications requiring flexibility, durability, and ease of use. Whether it’s used in medical devices, consumer products, or industrial components, TPE/TPV is a versatile resin that offers performance across a wide range of industries. These materials also play a vital role in additive manufacturing solutions, offering new opportunities for design innovation and efficiency.
TPE/TPV exhibits a wide range of characteristics that make it suitable for demanding applications across industries such as automotive, consumer goods, medical, and industrial manufacturing. Here are some of its key characteristics:
TPE/TPV is ideal for parts that need flexibility, such as gaskets, seals, and soft-touch grips. Its inherent softness and flexibility make it perfect for applications where comfort and movement are essential.
TPE/TPV maintains its flexibility across a wide range of temperatures, making it suitable for products that experience thermal expansion or contraction, such as automotive seals, medical devices, and wearable products.
TPE/TPV compounds can be engineered with varying levels of hardness and tactile feel, offering a “soft touch” surface that enhances comfort and ergonomics in consumer products. They are also available in a range of colors and finishes, enabling design flexibility.
TPE/TPV is highly resistant to wear and tear, making it an ideal choice for products exposed to constant movement or friction, such as gaskets, seals, wearable wristbands, tubing, catheters, surgical instruments, and more. Its durability ensures that parts maintain their performance even under repetitive stress. This quality is especially useful in metal additive manufacturing services, where durable material properties are crucial for longevity.
Thanks to its non-porous surface, TPE/TPV is easy to clean, making it ideal for applications that require regular sterilization or cleaning, such as medical tools and consumer product grips.
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Due to the characteristics outlined above, TPE/TPV has many use cases and is valuable in multiple high-performance industries and applications. Let's discuss some of its most common uses:
TPE/TPV materials are used in various medical components such as tubing, syringe plungers, seals, and grips. These materials are especially well-suited for medical injection molding processes, where precision, cleanliness, and repeatability are critical. Their biocompatibility, flexibility, and sterilizability make them suitable for both disposable and reusable medical devices. As a trusted additive manufacturing company, Aprios ensures these parts are produced with accuracy and reliability.
TPE/TPV is frequently used in the production of soft-touch grips for products like tools, electronics, and wearable accessories. Its ability to maintain a comfortable feel combined with excellent durability makes it ideal for consumer-facing applications.
TPE/TPV is used for seals and gaskets in industrial equipment that require flexibility and resistance to wear. It also finds application in automotive parts that need to maintain shape and flexibility under varying temperature conditions. Our additive manufacturing services offer precision production of such high-performance components.
TPVs are widely used in the automotive sector for parts exposed to heat, chemicals, and mechanical stress. Common applications include weather seals, air ducts, under-the-hood components, grommets, and vibration-damping mounts. Their durability and heat resistance make them ideal for long-term performance.
TPEs are used in outsoles, midsoles, cushioning pads, and grip components in shoes and athletic gear. They offer the right balance of comfort, shock absorption, and wear resistance, which is essential for performance and durability.
TPE/TPV materials are used in flexible closures, overcaps, and seals for packaging, particularly in food, beverage, and personal care products. Their sealing performance and tactile feel improve user experience and product integrity.
TPE/TPV can be modified with various additives to enhance specific properties. Glass fillers are commonly added to increase the strength and rigidity of TPE/TPV, making it more suitable for structural applications where additional load-bearing capacity is needed. Additionally, colorants and UV stabilizers can be added for applications requiring specific aesthetic finishes or protection from UV degradation—further expanding its utility in additive manufacturing solutions.
As with any material, TPE/TPV offers a number of benefits—but also comes with limitations. Understanding these drawbacks is essential when selecting materials for product design and manufacturing. While TPE/TPV materials provide versatility, ease of processing, and rubber-like properties, certain performance characteristics may not meet the demands of all applications.
TPE/TPV’s performance can degrade at temperatures above 180°F (82°C), limiting its use in environments exposed to extreme heat or for high-temperature components.
TPE/TPV may not provide the stiffness required for load-bearing components. In such cases, rigid thermoplastics or metal components via metal additive manufacturing services may be better suited.
While TPVs show improved chemical resistance over basic TPEs, both can be sensitive to certain solvents, oils, and fuels depending on the formulation. In harsh chemical environments, traditional rubber compounds or specialized thermosets may offer better long-term stability.
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TPE/TPV offers a combination of flexibility, durability, and ease of use. Its excellent wear resistance and moldability make it ideal for applications where both performance and hygiene are key. Whether you’re designing medical devices or consumer goods, or exploring new opportunities with additive manufacturing services, TPE/TPV delivers performance and reliability.