TPE Alphabet Soup: TPO, TPV, SBC, TPU, COPE, COPA: Perhaps you know TPEs. But did you know that there are actually six distinct TPE chemical families? The right chemistry depends on the application, and the design goals.   What’s more, with the right knowledge, teams can design to the advantages of a Styrenic Block Copolymer Compound (SBC or TPE-S) or a Polyolefinic Rubber Blend (TPO or TPE-O) or a Thermoplastic Vulcanizate (TPV or TPV-V). Some families are highly elastic. Some take color extremely well. Some are better suited for outdoor applications. Some retain their properties at extreme temperatures. Each project is unique, and there are key performance requirements that define what TPE family is ideal for the application. Then within each TPE family, there are almost limitless possibilities – for hardness, temperature tolerances, surface haptics, chemical resistance and other attributes. Ultimately, there may be several suitable TPE grades for any one application. Design engineers and compounders work together to evaluate or test subtle trade-offs, and select the optimal material. Want to increase your fluency in TPE chemistries? Browse our Thermoplastic Elastomer Family tutorial. To learn more about Teknor Apex visit: https://www.teknorapex.com/thermoplastic-elastomer-division

1. Everything You Need To Know About
TPE Compounds, Chemistry, and
Capabilities
An Overview of Thermoplastic Elastomer Families

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Polymers
Thermoplastics
Thermoset
Rubber
Thermosets
PP, PE, PET, PA, … EPDM, NBR, SBR, … Epoxy, MDF, …
Thermoplastic
Elastomers
TPEs are soft and flexible like
thermoset rubber, yet can be
melt-processed & re-processed
like a thermoplastic.
Polymer Classifications

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Thermoplastic
Elastomers
TPE-U TPE-S TPE-O TPE-V TPE-A TPE-E
Styrenic Block
Copolymers
Polyolefinic
Rubber Blends
Thermoplastic
Vulcanizates
Thermoplastic
Polyetheramide
Thermoplastic
Polyetherester
Thermoplastic
Polyurethane
Teknor Apex TPEs
TPE Classifications

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TPE-O
(TPO)
TPE-V
(TPV)
TPE-S
(SBC)
TPE-U
(TPU)
TPE-E
(COPE)
TPE-A
(COPA)
Density (g/cm3) 0.9-1.15 0.9-1.0 0.9-1.3 1.1-1.34 1.05-1.4 1.0-1.2
Shore Hardness 65A-70D 25A-55D 5A-70D 70A-70D 35D-70D 65A-70D
Low Temperature Limit (oC) -60 -60 -70 -50 -65 -40
High Temperature Limit (oC) 110 115 100 135 150 170
Compression Set at 100oC Poor
Good /
Excellent
Good /
Excellent
Fair /
Good
Fair Good
Resistance to Hydrocarbon Fluids Poor
Fair /
Good
Poor Fair
Good /
Excellent
Good /
Excellent
Resistance to Aqueous Fluids
Good /
Excellent
Good /
Excellent
Good /
Excellent
Fair /
Good
Poor /
Fair
Fair /
Good
Property Comparison: TPEs

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TPEs are Hard Phase/Soft Phase Systems,
that can be divided into 2 categories:
Block Copolymers
Rubber
Thermoplastic
Blend
Mechanical mixture of semi-crystalline
and amorphous polymers
Block Copolymer
Composed of discrete blocks of
crystalline and amorphous domains
within the same polymer chain
TPE Structure
Elastomeric Blends

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Teknor Apex TPE Technologies
Thermoplastic
Elastomers
TPE-U TPE-S TPE-O TPE-V TPE-A TPE-E
Styrenic Block
Copolymers
Polyolefinic
Rubber Blends
Thermoplastic
Vulcanizates

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Physical Blends of Polyolefin,
SBC, Oil, and Additives
 Numerous formulations are possible
by varying the ratios and types of
these ingredients; thus a wide range of
hardnesses and properties are
achievable
SBC: 2 Phase Structure
 Styrene end blocks act as physical
“cross-links” provide strength &
hardness properties
 The rubber mid-block provides elastic
properties
Rubber Matrix
Polystyrene Domain
TPE-S: Styrenic Block Copolymer Compounds

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Advantages
• Compounding versatility
• Clear, translucent, and
opaque grades
• Matte to glossy finish
• Broad hardness Range: soft
gel to Shore D
• Good processability
• Excellent colorability
• Low odor
• Good elasticity, tear strength
and compression set at low
to medium temperature
ranges
• Bondability to many
substrates
Disadvantages
• Poor high temperature
performance
• Poor oil resistance
Typical Applications
• Over-molded grips and
handles from toothbrushes
to power tools
• Medical tubing, films, and
bags
• Footwear
• Food contact & housewares
• Personal Electronics
TPE-S: Styrenic Block Copolymer Compounds

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Elastomer-modified polyolefins
Small amount of finely dispersed regularly shaped rubber particles in a thermoplastic matrix
TPE-O: Polyolefinic Rubber Blends
Plastic
Example: PP
Rubber
Example: EPDM

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TPE-O: Polyolefinic Rubber Blends
Advantages
• Low cost
• Good processability
• Good UV resistance
• Good heat aging properties
• Good dimensional stability
• Good impact strength
Disadvantages
• Poor high temperature
resistance
• Hardness on the higher end
• Poor elastic properties
• High compression and
tension set
• Poor adhesion to polar
substrates
• Poor scratch resistance
Typical Applications
• Used where there is a
requirement for increased
toughness and durability over
conventional PP copolymers

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TPE-VTPE-O
TPE-V: Thermoplastic Vulcanizates
2 Phase Composition of PP and EPDM
Large amount of less spherical, cross-linked rubber domains in a continuous PP matrix
Plastic
Dynamic Vulcanization: Rubber is vulcanized during compounding process
Rubber

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TPE-V: Thermoplastic Vulcanizates
Advantages
• Good elastic properties (i.e.
low compression and
tension set)
• Good processability
• Good chemical and fluid
resistance
• UV resistant
• Good heat aging properties
• Good flex fatigue
• Broad end use temperature
and hardness ranges
Disadvantages
• Poor tensile and tear
strength at low hardness
• Poor abrasion and scratch
resistance
• Low resilience
• Poor colorability vs. SBC’s
Typical Applications
• Used where elasticity and
flex fatigue is required:
automotive sealing systems,
weather stripping, industrial
seals and gaskets

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TPE-S (SBC) TPE-O (TPO) TPE-V (TPV)
Density (g/cm3) 0.9-1.15 0.9-1.15 0.9-1.0
Shore Hardness 5A-70D 65A-70D 25A-55D
Low Temperature Limit (oC) -70 -60 -60
High Temperature Limit (oC) 100 110 115
Compression Set at 100oC Good/ Excellent Poor Good/ Excellent
Resistance to Hydro Carbon
Fluids
Poor Poor Fair/Good
Resistance to Aqueous Fluids Good/ Excellent Good/ Excellent Good/ Excellent
Advantages • Compounding versatility:
• Clear, translucent, and opaque grades
• Matte to glossy finish
• Broad hardness Range: soft gel to
Shore D
• Good processability
• Excellent colorability
• Low odor
• Good elasticity, tear strength and compression set
at low to medium temperature ranges
• Bondability to many substrates
• Low cost
• Good processability
• Good UV resistance
• Good heat aging properties
• Good dimensional stability
• Good impact strength
• Good elastic properties (i.e. low
compression and tension set)
• Good processability
• Good chemical and fluid
resistance
• UV resistant
• Good heat aging properties
• Good flex fatigue
• Broad end use temperature and
hardness ranges
Disadvantages • Poor high temperature performance
• Poor oil resistance
• Poor high temperature resistance
• Hardness on the higher end
• Poor elastic properties
• High compression and tension set
• Poor adhesion to polar substrates
• Poor scratch resistance
• Poor tensile and tear strength at
low hardness
• Poor abrasion and scratch
resistance
• Low resilience
• Poor colorability vs. SBC’s
Typical Applications • Over-molded grips and handles from toothbrushes
to power tools
• Medical tubing, films, and bags
• Footwear
• Food contact & housewares
• Personal Electronics
• Used where there is a requirement
for increased toughness and
durability over conventional PP
copolymers
• Used where elasticity and flex
fatigue is required: automotive
sealing systems, weather
stripping, industrial seals and
gaskets
Teknor Apex TPE Technical Specifications Comparison

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