Thermoplastic elastomers, key materials for automotive lightweighting!

As people have higher and higher requirements for the configuration of automobiles, such as power, comfort, and versatility, the equipment carried by automobiles also increases, resulting in increasing vehicle weight and fuel consumption.In recent years, reducing the fuel consumption of automobiles has become an important part of improving the global climate problem, and it is urgent to reduce the weight of automobiles.Lightweight vehicles have become the trend of the world's automotive technology development because they can reduce fuel consumption, reduce exhaust pollution, and protect occupant safety.Among them, thermoplastic elastomers, as the key materials for automotive lightweighting, have good application prospects in the automotive field.

thermoplastic elastomer

Elastomers are classified into two categories, thermoset and thermoplastic, according to whether they are plasticizable or not.Thermosetting elastomers are rubbers in the traditional sense; thermoplastic elastomers have both the plasticity of plastics and the elasticity of rubbers, and are a new type of polymer material that has developed rapidly recently.Thermoplastic elastomers are recyclable, have good mechanical properties, are easy to process, and have excellent weather resistance and aging resistance. According to their chemical composition, they can be divided into styrene, polyolefin, polyurethane, polyester, and polyamide.

Automotive Thermoplastic Elastomers

The lightweight of automobiles and the increasingly stringent fuel economy standards of automobiles worldwide are the main factors driving the growth of global TPE demand.

Styrenic thermoplastic elastomer

Styrene thermoplastic elastomer (Thermoplastic Elastic of Styrene, TPS) is the originator of TPE. Its hard end is composed of styrene and its soft end is composed of polybutadiene. Thermoplastic Elastomer.

TPS has excellent friction resistance and fatigue resistance, good tensile strength and elasticity and low price. TPS-SEBS made by saturated hydrogenation has excellent ozone resistance, oxidation resistance, ultraviolet resistance and outdoor weather resistance.Comparable to ethylene-propylene rubber in non-dynamic applications, this type of thermoplastic elastomer can be used in automotive parts such as weather strips, trim strips, brake handles, shift handle handballs, etc.

Thermoplastic Polyolefin Elastomer

Thermoplastic Polyolefin Stomer (TPO) is composed of rubber and polyolefin. The rubber components are EPDM, nitrile rubber and butyl rubber, and the polyolefin components are mainly polypropylene and polyethylene.Dynamic partial vulcanization thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer (Thermoplastic Polyolefin Elastomerof vulcanization, TPV) is EPDM random copolymer and polyolefin resin after adding vulcanizing agent (organic peroxide or combined with sulfur vulcanization system), in the internal mixer It is obtained by blending and partially cross-linking with the help of vulcanizing agents.

TPO/TPV has excellent properties such as wear resistance, weather resistance, tear resistance, impact resistance, ozone resistance, UV resistance, acid and alkali resistance, etc. The application field is the auto parts manufacturing industry, of which EPDM/PP and NBR/PP are the most used. kind.TPO/TPV can be manufactured into products with complex shapes by various means such as injection, extrusion, thermoforming, blow molding, and calendering; various pigments can also be added as needed to adjust the finished product into different colors; Antioxidants, softeners, fillers and other complexing agents can be added to improve the processing performance and performance of TPO/TPV and reduce costs.

In the automotive exterior trim system, TPO/TPV can be applied to bumpers, body outer panels, wheel guards, fenders, door sill panels, radiator grilles, license plates, side inserts, etc.; in the trim system.TPO/TPV is mainly used for surface panels, armrests, interior panel skins, airbag skins, etc. In automotive sealing systems, TPO/TPV applications include wiper strips, glass guide grooves, headlight seals, windshields Sealing strips, triangular window sealing strips, fuel tank cover sealing rings, etc.; in automobile engine systems, TPO/TPY can be used for air ducts, electrical wiring sleeves, fuel pipe shields, etc.; in addition, TPO/TPV can also be used in chassis and steering systems. For constant velocity joint guards, axle frame suspension guards, rack and pinion gears, guards, etc.

Polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer

Polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer (Thermoplastic Polyurethanes.TPU) is a block copolymer composed of isocyanate, polyether (or polyester) macromolecular polyol and small molecular chain extender; generally, the hard segment is composed of isocyanate and chain extender. The soft segment is composed of the flexible long chain of oligomer polyol, and the hard segment and the soft segment are alternately arranged to form a repeating structural unit.In addition to containing urethane groups, TPU can form hydrogen bonds within and between molecules, and hard and soft segments can form micro-phase regions and produce micro-phase separation. The unique molecular structure makes TPU a kind of rubber that maintains high elasticity. It is a polymer composite material with high hardness and high strength of plastic.

Excellent wear resistance makes TPU obtain the reputation of 'wear-resistant rubber. TPU also has sound insulation, oil resistance, water resistance, solvent resistance, flex resistance, aging resistance, high mechanical strength, good shock filtration, strong adhesion and hardness. Wide range and other excellent properties, but poor heat resistance and compression resistance, easy to yellow in appearance and easy to stick to molds.

TPU is widely used in various parts of automobiles, including tires, seats, floor mats, headrests, door panels, airbags, axle sleeves, dashboards, sun visors, shock pads, shift lever handle handballs, noise reduction and sealing Materials, etc.; glass fiber reinforced reinforced polyurethane elastomer can significantly improve the rigidity and impact of the material, used to make large parts such as car bumpers.

Polyester thermoplastic elastomer

Polyester thermoplastic elastomer (Thermoplastic Polyester Elastomer.TPEE) is a linear block copolymer, in addition to the unique properties of vulcanized rubber, it also has the processing characteristics of thermoplastics.

The modulus of TPEE is higher than other thermoplastic elastomers of the same hardness, the hardness range is adjustable, the heat resistance is different, and the cold resistance is also excellent.In addition, TPEE has high mechanical strength and excellent fatigue resistance, oil resistance, wear resistance, chemical resistance and other properties, but poor hot water resistance.

In the field of auto parts, TPEE is used for oil pipes, door locks, sealing rings, headlights, air intake hoses, airbags, gear belts, seat belt parts, steering knuckle dust covers, door handle sealing rings, satellite antennas Clamps etc.

With the continuous development and improvement of lightweight materials, the use of thermoplastic elastomers in the automotive field will further reduce system costs, improve component performance, reduce curb weight, etc., creating a better future for automotive lightweighting.