TPE/TPR thermoplastic elastomers possess high elasticity, high strength, and high resilience similar to rubber. They can melt at high temperatures, do not require vulcanization, are easy to process, and have high adjustability. They can be coated and bonded with base materials such as PP, PE, PC, PS, and ABS, or can be molded independently to meet customer needs.
Due to the ability to be directly injection molded, the processing time is short and efficiency is high. The materials can be reused, and waste can be recycled for secondary processing, which not only avoids resource waste but also reduces costs. The materials also have environmentally friendly characteristics, as the production process does not produce any polluting odors or harmful substances, making the process easy and the quality stable.
The physical, chemical, and mechanical stability of TPE is superior, and it also has electrical insulation properties, making its range of applications very broad, including in daily necessities, automotive electronics, sports equipment, baby products, and more.
Reasons why TPE can replace PVC:
1. Environmental safety: PVC contains halogens, plasticizers, and heavy metals, and burning PVC can easily release toxic substances, which have adverse effects on the environment.
2. Cold resistance: PVC tends to harden and lose elasticity at temperatures between -10°C and -5°C; TPE can maintain its elasticity and not harden even at ultra-low temperatures of -50°C.
In most cases, TPE can completely replace PVC, becoming a safer alternative to PVC in medical device products due to its excellent biocompatibility, stability, physical properties, and processing performance. Under such market demand, TPE is widely used in the medical field for pharmaceutical packaging, liquid and blood storage and infusion, as well as various catheters and medical device accessories.