What material is TPU

TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethanes) is named thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer rubber. It has a wide hardness range (60HA-85HD), wear resistance, oil resistance, transparency, and good elasticity. It is widely used in daily necessities, sporting goods, toys, decorative materials and other fields. Halogen free flame retardant TPU can also replace soft PVC to meet the environmental requirements of more and more fields.

The so-called elastomer refers to the polymer material with glass transition temperature lower than the room temperature, elongation at break>50%, and good resilience after removal of external force. Polyurethane elastomer is a special kind of elastomer, with a wide range of hardness and performance, so polyurethane elastomer is a kind of polymer material between rubber and plastic.

It can be plasticized by heating. There is little or no cross-linking in the chemical structure. Its molecules are basically linear, but there is some physical cross-linking. This type of polyurethane is called TPU.

There are two types of polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer: polyester type and polyether type. The white irregular spherical or columnar particles have a density of 1.10-1.25g/cm3. The relative density of polyether type is smaller than that of polyester type. The glass transition temperature of polyether type is 100.6~106.1 ℃, and that of polyester type is 108.9~122.8 ℃. The brittleness temperature of polyether type and polyester type is lower than - 62 ℃, and the low temperature resistance of polyether type is better than that of polyester type.

The outstanding characteristics of polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer are excellent wear resistance, excellent ozone resistance, high hardness, high strength, good elasticity, low temperature resistance, good oil resistance, chemical resistance and environmental resistance. The hydrolytic stability of polyether ester in humid environment is far more than that of polyester.

TPU is an industry with rapid development. New technologies, new products and new uses related to it are constantly emerging. The use of TPU almost extends to all industries. At present, it has been widely used in many fields, such as shoes, clothing, pipes, films and sheets, cables, automobiles, construction, medicine and health, national defense, sports and leisure. TPU is recognized as a new type of polymer material with green environmental protection and excellent performance. At present, TPU mainly focuses on low-end consumption, and its high-end consumption field is basically dominated by some multinational companies. TPU products with high added value are constantly being developed and put into the market, and TPU materials have become one of the fastest growing thermoplastic materials.

A. Footwear: sports shoes logo, sports shoes air cushion, mountaineering shoes, snowshoes, golf shoes, skating shoes, fabrics and interior fitting materials.

B. Readymade clothing: snow coat, raincoat, windbreaker, cold jacket, field clothes, diapers, physiological pants, and other fabric composite materials (waterproof and moisture permeable).

C. Medicine: surgical clothes, hats, shoes, hospital mattresses, ice bags, bandages, plasma bags, surgical bandages, masks, and other fabrics and lining materials, and operating table airbags.

D. National defense articles: aircraft fuel tank, weapons sealing film, tent window, military water bag, life jacket, inflatable boat and other fabrics and lining fabrics, air bag.

E. Sports articles: football surface and liner, inflatable bed, drinking bag, ski gloves (waterproof bag), diving suit, snowsuit, swimsuit, skis, trademarks, airbags, sportswear, thin clothes and other fabrics and lining materials.

F. Industrial supplies: horn drum paper rubber edge, waterproof strip, sound insulation material, fireproof material, fireproof clothing, fireproof clothing, fireproof cloth and other fabrics, interior composite materials, and outer sheath materials of wires and cables.

G. Other uses: mobile phone keys, plastic inflatable toys, bed sheets, table towels, shower curtains, furniture cloth, apron, piano, computer keyboard, film covering and other fabrics and lining materials.