TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) and silicone (silicone polymer) are two common engineering materials that have some differences in properties and applications.
TPE is a thermoplastic elastomer with good softness, elasticity and wear resistance. Compared to silicone, TPE has a wider range of hardness, from ultra-soft to ultra-hard. The cost of TPE material is low, and it can be processed by injection molding and other processes, and the production efficiency is high. TPEs are widely used in the automotive industry to manufacture seals, hoses, suspension systems and other components, as well as in furniture, electronics and other fields.
Silicone is a silicone polymer material with excellent temperature resistance, corrosion resistance and electrical insulating properties. Silicone also has good softness and antioxidant properties, and is non-toxic and odorless to the human body. Silicone has been widely used in the medical device and food industries, such as making surgical gloves, latex pacifiers, baking molds, etc. Silicone has excellent high temperature resistance and oxidation resistance, so it is also widely used in aerospace, automotive and electronics.
Overall, TPE and silicone are two engineering materials with different properties and applications. TPE has good softness and elasticity, low cost, and is suitable for automobiles, furniture and other fields. Silica gel has excellent high temperature resistance and oxidation resistance, and is widely used in medical devices and food-grade containers.
Silicone and TPE are two common materials, they have their own advantages and disadvantages, and which one is better should be decided according to actual needs. Next, I will analyze the difference between silicone and TPE from the aspects of material performance, temperature resistance, aging resistance, use, processing method and cost.
Material properties: Silicone has excellent heat and cold resistance, and is able to maintain good elasticity between -50 and 250. At the same time, silica gel also has excellent chemical stability and corrosion resistance, and has good corrosion resistance to most oils, solvents, chemicals, etc. In addition, silicone also has the characteristics of low surface energy and high air permeability. TPE is a thermoplastic elastomer material with excellent elasticity and resilience, and is able to maintain good elasticity between -50 and 120. TPE also has good processing performance and environmental performance, and can be processed and molded by injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, etc., and is non-toxic and tasteless.
Temperature resistance: Silica gel has better temperature resistance than TPE, and can maintain better performance at high temperatures. The temperature resistance of ordinary TPE is generally around 80 -120, while silicone can be used for a long time at a high temperature of 200 -250. Therefore, for applications that require high temperature resistance, silicone is more suitable.
Aging resistance: Silicone has better aging resistance than TPE, and can maintain stable performance during long-term use. Silica gel is not easy to age in the natural environment, will not crack, pulverization and other phenomena, and has a long service life. However, TPE may undergo oxidation, hydrolysis and other aging phenomena during long-term use, resulting in deterioration of performance.
Uses: Silica gel and TPE have certain differences in use. Silicone is mainly used to make seals, shock absorbers, insulating materials, etc., and is also used in food contact materials, medical supplies and other fields. TPE, on the other hand, is mainly used to make elastic materials in shoe soles, toys, auto parts, wires and cables, etc.
Processing method: The processing method of silicone and TPE is also different. Silicone is processed with high-temperature vulcanization, while TPE can be directly thermoplasticized. Therefore, during processing, silicone requires more processing equipment and time, while TPE can be quickly formed.
Cost: The cost of silicone and TPE is also different. Since the raw material cost of silicone is higher, the overall cost is also higher. Whereas, the raw material cost of TPE is lower, so the overall cost is also lower. However, in some applications, the cost of silicone may be compensated for by its excellent properties.
To sum up, silicone and TPE have their own advantages and disadvantages, and which one is better should be decided according to actual needs. If you need a material with high temperature resistance and good aging resistance, you can choose silicone;If you need a material that is easy to process and inexpensive, you can choose TPE. When choosing materials, it is also necessary to take into account factors such as use, environmental requirements, etc.