Can TPU Wire And TPE Wire Replace Each Other?

TPE and TPU are both formed by extrusion. TPE has better feel and flexibility than TPU and is cheaper than TPU. In terms of hardness, TPE can reach 0A-100A, while TPU can only reach a minimum of 55A. Although they are both thermoplastic elastomer plastics, TPU has a higher bending modulus than TPE.

The characteristics of TPU are high strength and good wear resistance, which are irreplaceable by other TPE materials! TPU's wear resistance and strength performance are much better than TPE, but the feel is not as good as TPE. Currently, the softest hardness of TPU is about 55A or above.

The main characteristics of TPU are: wide hardness range, and as the hardness increases, its products still maintain good elasticity and wear resistance, high mechanical strength, outstanding cold resistance, good processing performance, oil resistance, water resistance, mildew resistance, and good recyclability. Compared with TPU, TPE has a greater loss of elasticity at high hardness.

TPE is the abbreviation of Thermoplastic Elastomer, which means thermoplastic elastomer. It is a special functional material with plastic plasticity and rubber elasticity. TPE is the general name of thermoplastic elastomer. According to the different structural units of the material, TPE elastomers are mainly divided into polystyrene elastomer TPS, thermoplastic polyurethane TPU, PP and EPDM blended modified thermoplastic dynamic vulcanized elastomer TPV, thermoplastic polyester elastomer TPEE. Among these types of thermoplastic elastomers, TPS thermoplastic elastomer is the most common, widely used and used in the largest amount.

Simple method to distinguish and identify TPU, TPV and TPEE.

1. TPU is generally transparent and wear-resistant. It smells like apple or Chinese medicine when burned.

2. TPV is opaque. It is said that there are transparent ones, but I have never seen them. It smells like paraffin when burned.

3. TPEE materials are relatively hard, generally above 30D, and have excellent temperature resistance.

4. The materials can be simply identified based on the different properties of combustion.

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