Comparison of TPE, TPV, and TPU:

1. Transparency: TPU outperforms TPE, and TPE outperforms TPV. Currently, no transparent TPV products are available on the market; however, it is reported that several major overseas companies have already developed such products.

2. In terms of weather resistance, TPV is superior to TPE, and TPE is superior to TPU.

3. Specific gravity: The specific gravity of TPE varies widely, ranging from 0.89 to 1.3; that of TPV is around 0.98; and that of TPU falls between 1.0 and 1.4 (for reference, the specific gravity of water is 1).

4. In terms of abrasion resistance, TPU is superior to TPV, and TPV is superior to TPE. Currently, there are also high-abrasion-resistant TPEs available, though they still fall slightly short of TPU’s performance.

5. Oil resistance: TPU (good) is superior to TPV (moderate); TPE is not oil-resistant.

6. Acid and alkali resistance (weak acids and weak bases): TPV outperforms TPE, while TPU is not resistant to acids and alkalis.

7. Temperature resistance, TPE Yes -60 Celsius ~90 Celsius, TPV Yes -60 Celsius ~130 Celsius, TPU Yes -60 Celsius ~80 Celsius.

Scope of application:

  TPU Application areas:

1. Automotive Industry: Due to TPU’s excellent mechanical properties, as well as its resistance to oils, fats, and high and low temperatures, and its elasticity and wear resistance, it is now being increasingly applied in the automotive industry—for example, in brake lines, fuel lines, airbags, and interior trim components.

2. Cables: TPU offers characteristics such as tear resistance, abrasion resistance, and flexibility. Its ability to withstand both high and low temperatures is particularly critical for cable performance. Moreover, TPU exhibits excellent chemical resistance, hydrolysis resistance, and resistance to microbial degradation, and it is easy to process and dye. As a result, high-grade cables—such as control cables and power cables—are increasingly using TPU as the protective jacket material for complex cable designs, and its applications are becoming ever more widespread.

3. Tubing: TPU exhibits excellent flexibility and crack resistance over a wide temperature range, boasts good memory properties, is resistant to kinking, and easily returns to its original shape. It is fusion-weldable, oil- and chemical-resistant, and possesses characteristics such as resistance to lipids. These features make it the latest-generation high-end tubing material, suitable for manufacturing oil hoses, water pipes, compressed-air hoses, pneumatic component air lines, and more.

4. Footwear and Sports Equipment: TPU is the fourth-generation material for shoe soles, following rubber, PVC, and SBS. It boasts greater elasticity and superior mechanical strength, as well as enhanced wear resistance, crack resistance, flexibility, and frictional properties. As a result, TPU has become the preferred material for high-performance specialized footwear—such as soccer shoes, ice skates, hiking boots, and work shoes—as well as upper materials for these shoes. Additionally, TPU can be used as the surface material for soccer balls, handballs, basketballs, and volleyballs, and as auxiliary materials for various sports equipment.

5. Special-shaped materials: Since TPU material can be processed into various shapes using plastic processing methods such as injection molding, extrusion, and calendering, it is particularly well-suited for producing high-end decorative trims that exhibit excellent oil resistance, high-temperature resistance, aging resistance, and superior mechanical properties—areas where TPU and TPE materials truly shine. In particular, the high elasticity of thermoplastic elastomers, coupled with their resilience to oils, high-temperature water, and harsh environmental conditions, has made them the preferred material for high-end decorative trims, sealing strips, and soft-hard combination decorative trims.

TPV’s Performance and Application Fields

The structural characteristics of TPV not only ensure its excellent thermoplastic rheological properties, making it easy to mold and process—allowing for molding methods such as injection molding, extrusion, and calendering—but also guarantee its high elasticity at room temperature. As a result, TPV is well-suited for manufacturing seals, shock-absorbing components, protective baffles, and various specialized tubing and fittings for industrial equipment.

TPE’s Performance and Application Fields

TPE combines the ozone resistance and weathering durability of PVC with the cross-linkability of NBR (nitrile rubber), while also improving its tensile strength, set stress, tear resistance, heat resistance, and flame retardancy. Additionally, it boasts comprehensive properties such as oil resistance, fuel resistance, chemical resistance, and ease of coloration. Moreover, the primary material—PVC—is abundant and inexpensive, making TPE widely applicable across numerous fields.

1. Wires and cables

TPE can be applied in the wire and cable industry and is competitive with TPU and TPV even in specialized cable applications such as specialty cables, drag-chain cables, and submarine cables.

2. Hose

TPE can be used as a material for rubber hoses, particularly oil-resistant and gas hoses. It can be directly extruded into shape at high speed with minimal expansion, resulting in products with a smooth, glossy black surface. The hose billets exhibit excellent rigidity, and dimensions are easy to control. After undergoing customer testing and practical use, the products have generally received positive feedback.

3. Rubber roller

A rubber roller is a metal core that has undergone specific processing and then coated with rubber. Thanks to the slight elastic deformation of the rubber layer on the roller’s surface, the product can withstand a certain amount of pressure, meeting the requirements of various manufacturing processes without generating excessive shear stress that might damage the product. As a result, rubber rollers have found wide-ranging applications. For a long time, rubber has been the primary material used for coating the outer surface of rollers. However, TPE is now increasingly being used in place of rubber to manufacture rollers—particularly those requiring light colors or vibrant hues. This makes TPE especially suitable for rollers used in industries such as latex glove production, printing, dyeing, and textile manufacturing.

4. Sole material

Like TPU, TPE is a next-generation sole material. It not only boasts excellent performance in oil resistance, solvent resistance, resistance to flexural cracking, and abrasion resistance, but also comes at a lower price than TPU, making it a cost-effective sole material with an outstanding performance-to-price ratio.

In addition, TPE can also be used in the production of foam plastics, protective coatings, flame-retardant conveyor belts, various shaped profiles, and composite decorative elements that combine soft and rigid materials, as well as high-end decorative trims.