Many thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) processed products require high heat resistance due to the usage environment or testing requirements (such as boiling water and high-temperature sterilization).

How does the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) withstand high temperatures? (Note: For the purpose of problem-solving, the TPE mentioned in this article is not limited to styrenic TPE-S, but also includes TPE-V from the PP+EPDM system.)

1. Styrenic thermoplastic elastomers (TPE-S) exhibit high heat resistance (high-temperature resistance).

Due to TPE being a copolymerized modified material with numerous performance uncertainties, there is currently no standardized test for its heat resistance. In the industry, the measurement of TPE material's heat resistance typically involves evaluating the material's resistance to deformation under heat in a certain test temperature environment after 48 or 168 hours. The heat-resistant temperature of styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPES) is 60~100℃, meaning the material will not soften and deform within this temperature range.

Why is the heat resistance temperature of TPES materials a range?

This is related to the material blending system. Generally, the higher the hardness of the material (the higher the content of the reinforcing resin), the better its heat resistance. Additionally, the SEBS base material has superior high-temperature resistance compared to the SBS base material.

2. PP+EPDM thermoplastic elastomer TPEV high-temperature resistance (heat resistance)

In fact, in many cases, the heat resistance of TPES materials at 100℃ does not meet the requirements of product applications. In such instances, it is necessary to opt for TPEV materials with superior high-temperature resistance properties.

TPEV materials have a high-temperature resistance of approximately 120~150°C; the higher the hardness, the better the high-temperature resistance. The available hardness range for TPEV materials is 50~95A.

However, the current environmental grade of TPEV materials on the market does not meet the food contact level, so they are generally used in applications that do not come into contact with food.

If a higher thermal resistance is required, such as 180℃ or even above 200℃, silicone may be considered. However, silicone is not a thermoplastic material, and its processing equipment and technology are different.