What is TPU?

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a thermoplastic elastomer commonly used in injection molding and 3D printing. It is a rubber-like material with a low Shore hardness of 85-95A, which means it is relatively hard but still flexible.

Features

Polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers have outstanding features such as excellent wear resistance, excellent ozone resistance, high hardness, high strength, good elasticity, low temperature resistance, good oil resistance, chemical resistance and environmental resistance. In humid environments, the hydrolysis stability of polyether esters is far greater than that of polyesters.

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a melt-processable thermoplastic elastomer with high durability and flexibility. It offers a variety of physical and chemical property combinations for demanding applications.

What are the properties of TPU?

A. Flexibility and elasticity: TPU is flexible and can bend before breaking.
B. Tensile strength: TPU has excellent tensile strength, which means it can withstand a lot of stretching or pulling.
C. Wear resistance: TPU has high wear resistance, which makes it ideal for applications involving a lot of friction and wear.
D. Impact resistance: TPU can absorb and dissipate impact energy, helping parts maintain structural integrity in harsh working conditions.
E. Chemical resistance: TPU is resistant to oils, greases, and many solvents, which helps it maintain its performance in automotive and manufacturing applications.
F. Cold flexibility: TPU can maintain its flexibility even at low temperatures, which means it does not become brittle in cold conditions.
G. Hydrolysis resistance: Some TPUs have good resistance to hydrolysis (the chemical reaction of water breaking down compounds), making them suitable for applications exposed to water or high humidity for a long time.
H. Electrical insulation: Some types of TPU have effective electrical insulation properties, making them suitable for use in electronic applications.

New technologies and new uses

TPU is a fast-growing industry. New technologies, new products and new uses related to it continue to emerge. The use of TPU extends to almost every industry. It has been widely used in many fields such as footwear, clothing, pipes, films and sheets, cables, automobiles, construction, medicine and health, national defense and sports and leisure. TPU is recognized as a new type of polymer material with green environmental protection and excellent performance. At present, TPU is mainly used for low-end consumption, and its high-end consumption field is basically dominated by some multinational companies, including Bayer and BASF in Germany, Lubrizol and Huntsman in the United States, etc. are increasing the research and development of new products. TPU products with high added value are constantly being developed and put on the market. TPU materials have become one of the fastest-growing thermoplastic materials.

A. Footwear: fabrics and lining materials for sports shoe logos, sports shoe air cushions, hiking shoes, snowshoes, golf shoes, skates.

B. Clothing: snowcoats, raincoats, windbreakers, cold-proof jackets, field uniforms, diapers, physiological pants, and other fabric composite materials (waterproof and breathable).

C. Medical: surgical gowns, caps, shoes, hospital mattresses, ice packs, bandages, plasma bags, surgical bandages, masks, and other fabrics and lining materials, surgical bed airbags.
D. National defense products: aircraft fuel tanks, weapons sealing films, tent windows, military water bags, life jackets, inflatable boats, etc., fabrics and lining materials, airbags.
E. Sports goods: football surface and liner, inflatable bed, drinking water bag, ski gloves (waterproof bag), diving suit, snow suit, swimsuit, snowboard, trademark, airbag, sports shirt, slimming clothes and other fabrics and lining materials.
F. Industrial products: speaker drum paper rubber edge, waterproof strip, sound insulation material, fireproof material, fireproof clothing, firefighting suit, fireproof cloth and other fabrics and lining composite materials, wire and cable outer sheath materials.
G. Other uses: mobile phone buttons, plastic inflatable toys, bed sheets, tablecloths, shower curtains, furniture fabrics, aprons, pianos, computer keyboards, coatings and other fabrics and lining materials.

Recyclability of TPU filaments

TPU, or thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, has good elasticity and wear resistance and is widely used in footwear, clothing, automobiles and other fields. So, can TPU filaments be recycled? The answer is yes. As a thermoplastic material, TPU can be reshaped by heating, thus achieving recycling. In practice, this usually involves cleaning the waste TPU products, breaking them into small pieces, and then reshaping them into a new form through a specific melting process.