Thermoplastic Polyurethane

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a melt-processable thermoplastic elastomer with high durability and flexibility.TPU provides a large number of physical and chemical property combinations for the most demanding applications such as automotive, wires and cables, breathable films for leisure, sports and textile coatings, weatherable, non-yellowing films etc.

It has properties between the characteristics of plastic and rubber. Thanks to its thermoplastic nature, it has several benefits over other elastomers are unable to match, such as:

Excellent tensile strength,

High elongation at break, and

Good load bearing capacity

Manufacturing process

TPU is produced when a polyaddition reaction occurs between a diisocyanate and one or more diols in a specific way. The three basic raw materials required to produce a TPU are:

A polyol or long-chain diol

A chain extender or short-chain diol

A diisocyanate

It is a linear segmented block copolymer composed of hard and soft segments.

Soft Segment (polyether or polyester): It is built out of a polyol and an isocyanate which provides flexibility and elastomeric character of a TPU.

Hard Segment (aromatic or aliphatic): It is constructed from a chain extender and isocyanate giving TPU its toughness and physical performance properties.

Automotive: Seals, Gaskets, Bushings, Grommets, Tambour Doors, Convertible Windows, Instrument Panel Skins

Agriculture: Farm Implements, Animal Identification Tags

Electronics: Cell Phone and Smart Pad Components and Covers

Consumer Products: Lawn and Garden Tools, Power Tools, Shoes

Sports and Recreation: Golf Discs, Golf Balls, Wheels, Shoes, ATV Components

Energy: Geophysical Cables

Industrial: Caster Wheels, Marine Products, Mining Screens, Pads

Extruded Tubing, Wire/Cable, Fire Hose, Belting, Film

FDA Food Contact and Medical Component Parts