The difference between the tpr and tpe machine

Both TPE and TPR extruder machine belong to the family of thermoplastic elastomers. Although at least there is no clear industry standard to distinguish between them, it is obvious where the confusion lies. Today we will talk about the difference between them.

 

The following knowledge points are listed below:

l  The basic difference between tpr and tpe

l  What is TPR

l  What is TPE

l  Differences in manufacturing

 The basic difference between tpr and tpe

Thermoplastic elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers do have some differences, which are actually due to their basic materials. Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is modified from SEBS matrix material, and TPR is usually modified from SBS.

In order to better understand the difference between the manufacturing process behind TPE and TPR granules making extruder, we must first decompose the meaning of SEBS substrate and SBS.

l  What is SEBS and SBS?

Styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) is the product of hydrogenated SBS. But what exactly is SBS? This is a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, which provides a soft touch characteristic widely used by designers, especially in hand tools.

l  What does this mean for SEBS?

It is the act of introducing hydrogen molecules into unsaturated molecules under special reaction conditions. This is done to ensure that the molecular structure becomes saturated, which provides anti-aging properties, as well as anti-yellowing properties. In addition, it also ensures higher heat resistance and corrosion resistance than SBS, so TPE has a higher performance output than TPR.

What is TPR?

TPR has the characteristics of combining the characteristics of rubber with the molding ability of thermoplastics. For example, think of a customized floor mat on a car. TPR is also the standard material for truck mattresses.

Features of TPR:

l  Keep its shape

l  It has varying degrees of flexibility

l  Elasticity can be increased by adding more rubber to chemical cosmetics

l  Can be formulated into rubber with no obvious smell

l  Lightweight

l  Can be colored according to your requirements

TPR is used for applications that require bonding, such as footwear and toys, while TPE does not respond well to adhesives. You can also find TPR in the following locations:

l  Tubing

l  Wire and Cable

l  Sealants

l  Asphalt additives

l  Automotive interior

l  washer

l  package

l  Film and sheet

Similar to thermoplastic elastomers, TPR combines the flexibility of rubber and plastics. Compared with TPE, TPR emits denser and darker smoke when burned. When using a thermoplastic elastomer, engineers can stretch it to a moderate stretch. They can then be restored to their original shape; the purpose of this is to provide a longer life. In addition, TPR offers a better physical range than other materials, which is also a big attraction.

What is TPE

Thermoplastic elastomer is a multiphase solid material composed of soft domains and hard domains. Some engineers may wonder why they are rubber-there is a good reason.

The temperature range and unique design of a thermoplastic elastomer depends on its glass transition temperature in the rubber stage, and its melting temperature or glass transition temperature in the hard stage of its manufacture.

Containing more than one type of polymer-an elastomer that gives the material elastic properties-TPE composites, or sometimes called TPE-S, can be used in various applications in the engineering field. Some TPEs applications include:

l  Food

Since any food contact product requires food contact approval in the country of use and sale, food contact approved thermoplastic elastomers are ideal for manufacturing baby food ingredients. Think of a small spoon or a toddler cup mouth.

l  O-ring

Traditionally, thermoplastic elastomer sealing rings made of thermosetting rubber can be colored or white. They can be molded together to make the two components sealed, and they are more effective in terms of their manufacturing. They are also environmentally friendly because they consume less energy than thermoset rubber and can be manufactured in a shorter time.

l  Medical insurance

We all know that healthcare applications must meet strict management standards. This is where thermoplastic elastomers come in because they can be sterilized with ethylene oxide, autoclave or gamma radiation. In other places, they can be manufactured with high purity and biocompatibility, and can also be used as a substitute for silicone, polyvinyl chloride, rubber or latex.

l  Lid and closure liner

The inner lining of the bottle cap is usually made of polyvinyl chloride, which conveniently serves as a seal between the contents of the bottle and the external environment, and is used for metal crowbars and plastic bottle caps. In other words, the thermoplastic elastomer lining has many advantages over polyvinyl chloride. One of them is that they can prevent the spread of oxygen. It is worth mentioning that thermoplastic elastomers plastic extruder can be designed for everything from milk bottle caps and sealing liners to carbonated soft drinks.

Differences in manufacturing

Thermoplastic elastomers can provide significant cost savings because they can be processed on plastic machinery, thus reducing the overall price of each item. Thermoplastic elastomer combines the aesthetics of traditional thermoplastic rubber with the ease of processing in the manufacturing process, and is suitable for mass injection molding.

As the processing time decreases, TPE-like TPR-is also 100% recyclable. Although the different levels may be different, each of them can be used up to five times. This consistency ensures that engineers can rely on TPE in their projects. Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is lightweight and can be blow molded or thermoformed.

Generally, the cost can be attributed to the number of cavities that can be manufactured at each stage of the manufacturing process. The thermoplastic elastomer process requires about four cavity molds in a 30-second molding cycle. A 30-second cycle requires four cavities, and 8 parts per minute means 480 parts per hour.

Need twice as much rubber cavity. But it is recommended that engineers not delay. The reason is that the thermoplastic elastomer process may still bring cost benefits.

TPRs combine the appearance, feel and elasticity of thermoset rubber with the processing properties of plastics. This brings us back to our starting point-the common ground of TPR and TPE. TPR can also be used for injection molding. It can also be blow molded and thermoformed. Because of its strong plasticity, it is an ideal material for custom molding materials.

It is believed that rubber materials have higher tensile strength, while thermoplastic elastomer materials are still regarded as "inferior" in terms of physical properties. You should judge the project and its components based on their merits, use the right tools and toolkits for the job, and ensure that you have sufficient forward planning.

That’s all about the difference between TPR and TPE extruder with side feeder.