Rubber is a polymer organic material with the following unique properties:
Maintains high elasticity over a wide temperature range (-50-150°C).
It has a much lower modulus of elasticity than ordinary materials.
Large deformations can be achieved with elongation up to 1000%.
It is exothermic during stretching, which is contrary to the endothermic properties of general materials.
Elasticity increases with increasing temperature, in contrast to most materials.
Elastomer is a polymer material that can withstand large deformations at room temperature and significantly return to its original shape after removing external forces. They include both natural rubber and synthetic rubber and have the following characteristics:
It is a polymer material.
It is easy to deform when it is subjected to external force, and the amount of deformation is large.
After the removal of external forces, most of the deformations can be restored, and only a few or very few are permanently deformed.
While elastomers share many of the same properties as rubber, they also have key differences:
Rubber is cross-linked (vulcanized) to exert its superior properties, while some elastomers do not.
Some elastomers can be manufactured using plastic processing methods without compounding, compounding, and vulcanization.
Thermoplastic elastomers are elastic materials that can be formed by heat and have the following properties:
It can be used 100%** after heating.
It can be used for bonding with hard plastics such as PP, PC, ABS, etc.
Although it has some functions of traditional rubber, it is inferior to the latter in terms of mechanical properties and anti-aging.
It is a linear structure, relies on physical cross-linking, and is malleable at high temperatures.
There is a wide range of hardness, between rubber and plastic.
It is usually processed by plastic processing methods such as injection molding and extrusion.
Versatility without the need for additives and vulcanization like rubber.
Traditional rubber: unsaturated rubber: natural rubber (NR), isoprene rubber (IR), polybutadiene rubber (BR), etc.
Saturated rubber: e.g. ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPM), fluoroelastomer (FKM), etc.
Thermoplastic elastomers:
Thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (TPE-O), thermoplastic styrene elastomers (TPE-S), etc.
Polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers (TPU), polyester thermoplastic elastomers (TPE-E), etc.
Different types of elastomers are processed in different ways and used for different purposes. Conventional rubber is typically processed using thermoset equipment, while thermoplastic elastomers are suitable for processing with thermoplastic equipment, and the two have significantly different characteristics and application areas.
Although rubber and elastomers are similar in nature, they play different roles in practical applications. Rubber is often used in applications that require high durability and long-term performance, such as:
Car tires. Seals and gaskets.
Vibration suppression components.
Conveyor belts and hoses.
Thermoplastic elastomers are often used in the following fields due to their ability to perform and ease of molding
Interior and exterior trim parts for automobiles.
Household items. Sports equipment.
Children's toys. Thermoplastic elastomers have a clear advantage in terms of environmental sustainability due to their exploitable properties. They can be reused by processing leftover and ** materials, thereby reducing waste. In contrast, conventional rubber, due to its thermosetting properties, is difficult to reuse once it has been formed and cross-linked.
In recent years, with the continuous research and development of new materials and technological progress, the performance of thermoplastic elastomers is increasingly close to that of traditional rubber, especially in the ability to resist wear and environmental aging. This enables thermoplastic elastomers to replace traditional rubber in a wider range of applications, while offering more sustainability benefits.
While rubber and elastomers share fundamental properties, their chemical structure and processing methods determine their unique location in a variety of products and applications. Understanding the difference between the two is essential for R&D, production, and applications in the chemical industry and materials science. With technological advancements and concerns about environmental impact, the development of thermoplastic elastomers could have a profound impact on the traditional rubber industry.