thermoplastic rubber or elastomer (TPE), sometimes referred to as thermoplastic rubbers, are a class of copolymers or a sical mix of polymers (usually a plastic and a rubber) that consist of materials with both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties.
While most elastomers are thermosets, thermoplastics are in contrast relatively easy to use in manufacturing, for example, by injection molding. Thermoplastic elastomers show advantages typical of both rubbery materials and plastic materials. The benefit of using thermoplastic elastomers is the ability to stretch to moderate elongations and return to its near original shape creating a longer life and better sical range than other materials.The principal difference between thermoset elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers is the type of cross-linking bond in their structures. In fact, crosslinking is a critical structural factor which imparts high elastic properties.
