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TPE (thermoplastic elastomer)
TPE, thermoplastic elastomer, is a family of rubber-like materials that melt and mold like plastics, including styrenic block copolymers (TPS) and vulcanizates (TPV). Hardness ranges from about 20 Shore A to 60 Shore D. TPEs overmold onto PP, ABS, PC and nylon for soft-touch grips and seals, cycle faster than rubber, and regrind. They take more compression set than cured rubber.
- ISO 18064
- TPS (styrenic), TPV (vulcanizate), TPU, TPC, TPA
- Trade names
- Santoprene (TPV); Versaflex, Dynaflex (TPS)
How does it compare?
Typical room-temperature values for TPE, against all 48 materials in the library.
- Tensile strength
- 7 MPa0th pct
- Density
- 1 g/cm³4th pct
- Max service temp
- 100 °C10th pct
- Elongation
- 450 %100th pct
- Relative cost
- $$$$$
Bars are relative to the strongest, densest or hottest material in the SSG library. Percentile vs all 48 materials.
- Density
- 1 g/cm³ · 0.0361 lb/in³
- Tensile strength
- 7 MPa · 1.0 ksi
- Elongation
- 450%
- Hardness
- Shore 20A–60D
- Max service temperature
- 100 °C · 212 °F
When should you use TPE?
Strengths
- Overmolds onto rigid plastics for one-piece soft-touch parts
- Injection molds at thermoplastic cycle times with no curing
- Sprues, runners and scrap can be reground
- Wide hardness range in clean, colorable compounds
- TPV grades resist weather and ozone for automotive and appliance seals
Watch for
- Higher compression set than cured rubber, especially above 150 °F (65 °C)
- Most grades are limited to under about 250 °F (120 °C); silicone or EPDM go hotter
- Bond strength depends on matching the TPE grade to the rigid substrate
- Soft grades can be tacky and attract dust
Typical parts
- Soft-touch grips on tools and handles
- Overmolded seals and gaskets
- Toothbrush and razor handles
- Appliance feet and bumpers
- Automotive weatherseals (TPV)
- Cable strain reliefs and grommets
How TPE is made into parts
Cost, finishes and design rules for each process in this material.
Injection molding in TPEMolten thermoplastic injected into a steel or aluminum mold. Lowest piece price for plastic parts at 5,000+ a year.
Rubber in TPESeals, gaskets, grommets, and profiles extruded or molded in EPDM, silicone, nitrile, neoprene, FKM, and TPE.
Offshore sourcing in TPEParts made by vetted overseas manufacturers, with landed-cost analysis, quality control, and logistics managed.
What does a part in TPE cost?
A representative part, injection molding. Raw material at about $5.00/kg is one line of it; process time and tooling usually matter more.
Housing · Injection molding
Order total $25,393
- Tooling
- $17,029
- one-time, spread over the order
- Piece price
- $0.80
- before setup + tooling
- Lead time
- 6–9 weeks
- to first production
Size
Drag a row to adjust · click to type
Length140140 mm
Width90.090.0 mm
Wall2.202.20 mm
Quantity
Price per part falls as volume rises
Exact quantity1000010000 pcs
Material
Design checks pass
Open in builderBudgetary estimate for a representative part. Firm quotes come from principals after drawing review.
TPE questions
TPE vs rubber?
TPE molds and regrinds like plastic, overmolds in one shot and cycles in seconds. Cured rubbers such as EPDM, silicone and FKM hold compression set, heat and chemical resistance better. Use TPE for grips and light seals; use rubber for static seals, heat and oils.
What is TPV?
TPV is a thermoplastic vulcanizate: cured EPDM rubber particles dispersed in polypropylene. It behaves closer to rubber than styrenic TPEs, with better compression set and heat resistance to about 275 °F (135 °C), and is used for automotive and appliance seals. Santoprene is the best-known trade name.
Will TPE bond to my plastic part?
Only if the grades are matched. Standard SEBS-based TPEs bond to PP; special grades bond to ABS, PC, PC/ABS and nylon. Tell the molder the substrate, and design mechanical interlocks as backup.
What does Shore A hardness mean?
Shore A is a durometer scale for soft materials, measured per ASTM D2240. A rubber band is about 25 Shore A, a pencil eraser about 40, and a tire tread about 70. Above about 90 Shore A, the Shore D scale is used.
Similar materials
Quote it in TPE.
Upload CAD or start from a template. The builder prices it in this material and the alternatives.