A review covering thermoplastic elastomers that have the elastic behaviour of rubber and the processability of thermoplastics, includes comparisons between the two material types.

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have the elastic behaviour of rubber and the processability of thermoplastics. The Freedonia Group has forecast that demand will expand by 6.4% per year to around 2.15 million tons in 2006. There is potential for these new, exciting materials to expand into the much larger thermoset rubber markets.

This latest Rapra Review Report, Developments in Thermoplastic Elastomers, includes comparisons between the two material types.

The review covers the structure, chemistry, performance and application of TPEs for the most recent 8 year history since the previous Rapra Review Report by J.A.

Brydson was published.

There are three major types of TPE: block copolymers, rubber/plastic blends and dynamically vulcanised rubber/plastic alloys known as thermoplastic vulcanisates.

The chemistry of these materials and how their unique properties are achieved are discussed in this review.

There are many developments taking place in this field.

These are discussed in the review.

Specialist grades are being introduced for specific applications and with unique properties, such as softness or processability.

New types of styrene block copolymers have improved high temperature ageing, fluid resistance, elastic recovery and set.

New block copolyester TPEs have better blow moulding processability, softness and high dynamic flexing fatigue performance.

One of the advantages of TPEs over thermoset rubbers is that they can be processed by standard plastics processing methods.

This review considers rheology, injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, thermoforming and other secondary processes.

There are a variety of factors to consider when designing with TPEs, which are discussed here.

One particular advantage is in combining components of a product as TPEs can be co-injected or used in overmoulding, reducing assembly steps.

Developments in thermoplastic elastomers will be of interest to producers of TPEs, designers and manufacturers.

The review is accompanied by around 400 abstracts from papers and books in the Rapra Polymer Library database, to facilitate further reading on this subject.

A subject index and a company index are included.

The author of the review, Ken Kear, has worked as a Senior Applications Specialist with Advanced Elastomer Systems.

He has over 20 years of extensive experience in developing and working with thermoplastic elastomers.

He is a member of the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE).