Both thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) are excellent alternatives to natural rubber latex, silicone, and other compounds for extrusion and injection molding applications. Many key industry sectors rely on TPE and TPU for critical applications, from surgical tubing to automotive components.
Learn more about the similarities and differences between TPE and TPU, their properties, and their most common uses:
What is TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer)?
Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) offers many of the properties of natural rubber latex combined with the processing efficiency of plastics. With desirable properties such as flexibility, dimensional stability, and chemical inertness, among others, TPE is a top choice for the medical and food and beverage industries.
What is TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)?
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a subset of TPE. TPU is a soft polyether type polyurethane that is available in a range of hardness grades. TPU is an ideal compound choice for applications requiring high abrasion resistance, excellent chemical resistance, and clarity, such as outdoor and medical products.