TPU: Thermoplastic Polyurethanes

TPU: Thermoplastic Polyurethanes

Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPU) are versatile elastomers created through a chemical reaction involving diisocyanate, polyol, and a dihydric alcohol as a chain extender. This reaction results in a linear segmented block copolymer with distinct soft and hard segments. After the reaction, TPUs are pelletized using an underwater pelletizing machine to form TPU granules. These eco-friendly polymers contain no plasticizers and can be processed using various conventional plastic thermal processing techniques such as injection molding, extrusion, film blowing, and spinning.

Injection molding and extrusion are the most prevalent processing methods, accounting for over 70% of the TPU finished product market. Injection molding is primarily used for manufacturing items like O-rings, shoe soles, and heel bands, where temperature, pressure, and molding cycle are crucial. Extrusion is commonly used for TPU pipes and films due to the required durability, wear resistance, and pliability. Unlike thermoset polyurethane, TPU waste can be easily reprocessed and reused, making TPUs highly sustainable and applicable across various industries.

TPU Material Characteristics and Advantages

TPUs offer a unique combination of rubber and plastic properties, showcasing excellent physical properties such as tensile strength and elongation. The soft segments in TPU provide high flexibility, load-bearing capacity, and temperature tolerance, while the hard segments contribute to low temperature tolerance, hydrolysis resistance, toughness, and resilience. Compared to other thermoplastics, polyether based TPU combines good chemical resistance with outstanding weathering characteristics and flexibility. UV-stabilized TPU is particularly suitable for paint production and outdoor goods. Key properties of TPU include:

Decent toughness and impact resistance
High abrasion and tear resistance
Excellent cold resistance (flexible even below -35℃)
Superior high-temperature performance (withstands temperatures above 120℃)
Easy processing
Oxidation resistance
Good oil and water resistance
High load-bearing capacity
High elasticity across the entire hardness range

TPU Material Applications

TPUs are widely used in the following fields and applications:

Apparel: Waterproof and breathable coatings for down jackets, raincoats, and windbreakers.
Footwear: Upper and vamp linings for climbing boots, skating shoes, snow boots, and shoe soles.
Automotive: Charging cables, car seats, insulated panels, and tires.
Medical: Wound dressings, tubes, surgical gowns, gloves, and operating bed airbags.
Defense: Aircraft fuel tanks, military water bags, and life vests.
Industrial: High-pressure air hoses, braided tubes, machine transmission belts, waterproof strips, acoustic panels, and asbestos replacements.
Outdoor: Camping tents and garden hoses.

TPU Foam (ETPU)

TPU Foam, also known as Expanded TPU (ETPU) or TPU Popcorn, is a supercritical CO2 foamed TPU that combines light density with high elasticity. During ETPU manufacturing, supercritical CO2 fluid is injected and mixed with molten TPU via high-division distributive mixers, minimizing viscous heating. The chemical structure of ETPU allows it to withstand prolonged and repeated compression without permanent deformation, even at low temperatures. ETPU provides an excellent combination of elasticity, rebound, soft texture abrasion resistance, and low compression set, making it ideal for shoe soles and foamed sports goods.

High-Quality TPU Products from TPUCO
At TPUCO, we are dedicated to producing high-quality injection molding TPU granules, extrusion molding TPU pellets, film blowing TPU granules, calendaring TPU pellets, ETPU beads, ETPU finished products, TPU tubes, high-pressure hoses, TPU transmission belts, and customized TPU injection molding parts. TPUCO use only the highest quality 100% virgin TPU raw materials in production, ensuring that products offer exceptional mechanical properties such as tensile strength, abrasion resistance and flexibility with a wide range of hardness options. Whether polyester- or polyether-based, TPUCO can recommend the best TPU for your specific application.

For more information, please contact our sales representative at pu@taiwanpu.com.

Link to TPUCO products: https://www.taiwanpu.com/en/product/TPU-Granules

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