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Glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane (GF-TPU) combines TPU’s elasticity with the rigidity of short glass fibers, resulting in improved modulus, tensile strength, tear resistance, heat resistance, and dimensional stability while retaining flexibility. Research shows that fiber type, length, and content significantly influence dispersion, anisotropy, wear performance, and impact resistance. Optimal designs balance stiffness and toughness for specific applications. GF-TPU composites—processible by injection molding, extrusion, and calendering—are already used in automotive and industrial parts, with aramid fiber variants offering alternative reinforcement options.
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Masterbatch is a pigment or dye concentrate encapsulated in a carrier resin, offering superior dispersion, stability, color consistency, safety, and cleanliness compared to direct pigment powder coloring in plastics. It ensures precise dosing, protects pigments from moisture and oxidation, and eliminates dust hazards. Made from pigments, carrier resin, dispersing agents, and optional additives, masterbatch comes in various resin types, grades, and applications, with specialized types providing the best compatibility. It can also deliver functional properties such as UV resistance or flame retardancy, maintains heat stability under normal processing, and is produced through methods like ink dispersion, flushing, or kneading using single- or twin-screw extruders.
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This article explores the blending modification of TPU and PVC to improve material performance and reduce costs. PVC/TPU blends show excellent oil resistance and enhanced flame retardancy, although higher TPU content can reduce solvent resistance. Adding chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) as a third component further improves tear strength, thermal stability, and processability while helping maintain TPU’s flexibility at low temperatures. The blending ratio significantly affects mechanical and shape memory properties, with ratios like TPU/PVC 90/10 offering optimal performance. Combining TPU, PVC, and copolyester (COP) can also produce melt-processable rubber that combines toughness, cost efficiency, and low-temperature flexibility.
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This article explores the blend modification of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to reduce costs and enhance performance. Blending TPU with PVC improves flame retardancy, hardness, processability, and weather resistance while lowering production expenses. Compatibility between TPU and PVC is driven by their similar polarity and molecular interactions, especially hydrogen bonding. Polyester-based TPU shows better compatibility than polyether-based TPU. Optimal TPU/PVC ratios balance tensile strength, tear strength, and hardness, with a 90/10 blend ratio often delivering the best mechanical properties. Overall, TPU/PVC blends combine cost-effectiveness with improved functional performance, making them suitable for applications like synthetic leather and flexible plastic products.
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Masterbatch is a concentrated blend of colorants, special effect pigments, and functional additives dispersed in a carrier resin. Supplied mainly as pellets, it’s added during plastic manufacturing to provide consistent color, unique finishes, and improved material properties. Masterbatch is widely used in processes like injection molding, extrusion, and blow molding across industries from packaging to automotive. It offers benefits over liquid colors and powders by ensuring cleaner production, precise dosing, and reduced waste. It can also be tailored for recycled polymers and combined with additives like UV stabilizers for enhanced performance. The production process involves blending, extrusion, cooling, and pelletizing to create ready-to-use masterbatch pellets.
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This article explains how blending SBS (styrene–butadiene–styrene) with PE (polyethylene) or PS (polystyrene) improves its properties. Adding PE enhances SBS’s abrasion resistance, hardness, weatherability, and tear strength, while maintaining good tensile strength and elongation. Blending with PS increases hardness and melt flow rate but may reduce tensile strength and elongation due to phase separation at higher PS content. Proper oil extension and using grafted compatibilizers can further improve processing and compatibility. These blending techniques help produce TPE/TPR materials and impact modifiers suitable for footwear, automotive parts, and plastic toughening applications.
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Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) is a thermoplastic elastomer formed by copolymerizing ethylene and vinyl acetate (VAc). Its properties vary with VAc content—lower content results in plastic-like characteristics, while higher content brings more rubber-like elasticity. EVA is widely used in injection molding, extrusion, and foam applications such as shoe soles, cable insulation, and packaging films. It improves flexibility, toughness, and compatibility when blended with PE or PP and can be modified for enhanced wear and tear resistance.
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This article provides an overview of rubber and plastic material blending and modification techniques used to enhance overall performance. It details common thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) blends such as TPS, TPU, and TPEE with plastics like PP, PE, ABS, and PVC. Each blend is chosen to improve specific properties like hardness, elasticity, processability, or flame resistance. The article also introduces typical processing equipment like twin-screw extruders and mixers, emphasizing their role in efficient material compounding.
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This article explains how to properly design and operate pneumatic conveying and feeding systems for powdered calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) in plastic compounding. It highlights the challenges caused by particle interactions and varying material properties, emphasizing the need for customized systems. Key considerations include material flow behavior, equipment selection (such as rotary valves, hoppers, and feeders), and process optimization to ensure stable performance, accurate dosing, and efficient plant operation.
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This article explains how to choose suitable carrier resins for color masterbatches in TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) pelletizing based on application scenarios. It emphasizes key selection criteria such as compatibility, processing temperature, performance impact, and cost-efficiency. Specific carriers like LDPE, PP, PS, EVA, and SEBS are recommended for different TPE uses—ranging from toys and automotive parts to medical tubing and food-grade products. It also highlights considerations for pigment-carrier matching, masterbatch concentration, and processing optimization.