The unique combination of flexibility, durability, and adaptability of Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) silicone is making the greatest difference across many industries. The material is already used in the latest medical devices, consumer goods, and advanced manufacturing processes, and it has been a topic on many blogs covering these materials. TPE silicone, on the one hand, could be the material that shows no apparent differences between plastic and rubber. So, what is the magic behind its ultra-versatility and how it is being called upon to solve the R&D demands of the contemporary world? The following article is a technical discussion of TPE silicone, providing a comprehensive overview of its latest properties and applications. The area covered will range from discussing the chemical composition of the new class of TPE materials to their use in sustainable manufacturing, where we shall unravel the reasons why Thermoplastic Elastomer Silicone is not just another material but, if you like, the new material.
Introduction to TPE and Silicone
1Do you know what TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) is?
TPE, also known as Thermoplastic Elastomer, is a category of materials that combines rubber’s elastic properties with the processing efficiency of plastics. This particular blend of properties yields a novel material that is both tough and ductile, making it suitable for several industries and applications. TPE possesses a very positive initial feature, like the case of metals, a property related to elasticity that later is named resilience, it can take up a large amount of mechanical energy before it breaks and, in some conditions, the deformation follows without crack. Moreover, the ease of forming TPE, together with its great potential for reuse and extrusion, makes it one of the most popular materials in the green industry. TPE still must be optimized to a great extent, and the three main activities to achieve this goal are material handling, machinery design, and processing performance control. Consequently, TPE has become a new force in the world of plastics in the past two decades. The versatile material found its use in the automobile industry, fashion and aggressive sports areas, consumer electronics, and diverse range of medical products. The places where TPE for materials can be consumed have expanded and now represent a meaningful part of the market, but this significance may differ across companies.
2A complete guide to silicone and the various types of it
Silicone is a remarkable, highly versatile synthetic polymer composed primarily of silicon, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. Given its extraordinary robustness, excellent heat resistance, and noteworthy flexibleness, silicone is now recognized as a top material for most industries. The peculiarities of this material – being chemically inert, resistant to water, and suitable for health, etc. – have extended its range of applications from a part of life-saving medical devices to large-scale architectural construction as well.
Silicone is flexible and diverse in its type and use, for which the categorization as:
- Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR): LSR is a highly-purified and flexible silicone yet in liquid form usually manufactured at high temperature with the use of injection molding. It is most famous for producing sophisticated and long-standing products like medical implants, baby products, and electrical components, and all thanks to the inclusive and non-allergic and heat-resistant character of this material.
- High-Temperature Vulcanized (HTV) Silicone: This type of silicone is solid at room temperature and processed at high heat. HTV silicone is frequently used for products that will be exposed to harsh conditions, such as car pieces, thermal protection, and industrial tools.
- Room Temperature Vulcanized (RTV) Silicone: RTV silicone hardens at room temperature without heat. It is widely used as an adhesive, sealant, and coating, delivering excellent performance in construction, electronics, and household applications.
- Silicone Fluids: These are silicones characterized by low viscosity and that act as lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or cosmetic ingredients. Their stability even in the rarest of temperatures makes them perfect for sectors like the space ones, the personal care industry, and mechanical systems.
- Specialized Silicones: These are silicones that are specially made with some unique properties to serve a specific small market, such as foamed silicones for cushioning or electrically conductive silicones for electronics.
Silicone’s adaptability and reliability, along with its consistent quality, keep it among the most innovative materials, enabling its application across sectors such as medical, electronics, and renewable energy. Performance in disrespect of environment and safety regulations is the feature that makes silicone very important in modern production and design.
3Comparing TPE and Silicone: Main Differences
Temperature performance is a significant consideration. A general description of the temperature range is that TPE handles much higher temperatures (between -30°C and 120°C) than silicone, which can cope with a much wider range (-60°C to 230°C) without exhibiting substantial signs of degradation. Thus, it leads to Silicone being considered the best option for situations where the highest temperatures are needed. For example, it is used in baking molds or in industrial seals in a factory environment with dramatic temperature fluctuations. On top of that, silicone is seen to last longer in such harsh conditions and require fewer replacements than TPE.
Material Characteristics of TPE and Silicone
Physical Properties of TPE
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are a type of material with a wide range of uses and a key characteristic: a blend of elasticity and workability, that is, both rubber-like and moldable properties. A main advantage of TPEs over regular thermoplastics is that they retain the latter property while gaining the former. The physical aspect of TPE materials offers an extensive range of hardness, from quite soft and highly elastic up to tough and rigid, a fact, as a consequence, TPEs can be used in a great number of applications. They are also very tough and can come back, meaning they can restore their original shape if they get deformed. Another thing that is characteristic to TPE is that it has a robust structure and tensile properties, but it is easily pulled with little effort. They have the lowest specific weight of all rubber-like substances and are made with ease, a feature that benefits the user’s productivity. Consequently, TPE is widely used alongside various additives and fillers, and its applications can be quite specific depending on the customer’s request. Overall, the versatility of TPE material is the main reason why it is highly adopted by various industries including automotive, consumer goods, and medical devices.
Unique Features of Silicone
Silicone is truly a super material because of nature, it can take on any form and can endure a lot. Nevertheless, one of its most striking features is the amazing stability over a wide range of temperatures allowing it to work in extreme cold and also in the hottest of places. Besides the amazing feature of the excellent thermal stability of Silicone, another well-known advantage is that of its UV resistance. Its resistance to several other weathering agents and compounds which are harmful to most materials makes it one of the best choices for outdoor as well as for indoor applications. Its elasticity and flexibility are also excellent and it does not loose any of these properties even after applications in very rough and severe environments. Silicones biocompatibility makes it a material that can help infection control which is vital in hospitals. The substance is a rubber-like polymer and is very lack of chemical reactivity and health hazard, so the material cannot trigger any sensitization. The softness, color, and variety of other physical properties of silicone can be easily and efficiently modified thus the products containing this versatile material can be very easily fine-tuned for different applications in the industrial sectors like electronics, aerospace, and consumer products. Silicone having all these traits makes it extremely versatile and very popular in many industries.
Biocompatibility and Safety of Materials
Biocompatibility and safety are the two most important factors one should keep in mind when choosing materials for medical or consumer applications. The latest materials, for instance, medical-grade silicone, are the subjects of very elaborate examination to make sure they meet very strict requirements for human tissue direct contacting. These requirements refer to various things such as cytotoxicity, irritation potential, and long-term stability in biological systems. An implantation, prosthetics, and wearable devices are examples of the applications where the inert nature and resistance to microbial growth of silicone are valuable properties.
Moreover, the rise of new technologies in the field of materials testing has been an indispensable factor for the introduction of biocompatible and hypoallergenic choices which reduce negative reactions to a minimum. Certifications like the ISO 10993 regulatory norm for the biological evaluation of medical devices also serve the case of safety by offering a detailed schedule of material testing. The use of these standards by manufacturers to fulfill the needs of customers and the users through product stability and safety is a growing trend, which also means that they are confident in taking the applications from the medical to the consumer sectors.
Manufacturing Processes: Molding and Injection
Learning the Molding Process of TPE
TPE is well known for its flexibility mainly in moulding and injection methods. The process starts by warming up the material and turning it into a melting state. After that, it can be then injected into the precision-designed mold cavities. This creates an opportunity for the manufacturers to have products with very complex shapes and with the same quality, hence serving both purposes of function and beauty at once.
One of the core benefits of TPE is that it can restores all of its flexibility and durability even after being molded again and again. Temperature controls that have been improved greatly are some of the main modern equipment that will leave no one indifferent to their effectiveness and for their use in molding one needs to be a part of the whole. Moreover, the use of TPE in overmoulding has been made possible, in which the material is added as a second layer on rigid substrates such as plastic or metal. This is a unique property that makes it possible for manufacturers to come up with products made of different materials that provide additional functionalities, better grip, and more comfort.
During the manufacture of TPE, it is a must that the settings are strictly monitored and controlled, by means of such elements as temperature, pressure, and the rate of cooling, so as to eliminate any faults related to warping and flow marks. The robotics and monitoring technology has seen quite advanced so that now the works are operated very fast with less waste and better output quality. The conclusion is that the production of the soft rubber material TPE is an efficient and practical scenario where the results from the innovation on the technical side and the material properties make manufacturers of today’s economically competitive.
Injection Molding for Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR)
Molding via the injection of Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) has become one of the key processes in the production of parts that are in the market as high-performance, multi-purpose in industries like pharmaceutical, automobile, electronics, etc. LSR is a product of the main but not the only reasons attributed to its so special and widely regarded properties, such as the high bending modulus and low creep values of the rubber and also high temperature-resistant character, which in combination with cost-saving and reliability brings about its use in the above-mentioned fields as well.
The process is fed by the delivery of LSR in a liquid state through a special pumping system that secures the flow and material mixing properly and consistently. All the same, the manufacturers employing the precision-controlled molds available for injection molding can make the most of the intricate designs with close tolerances and smooth finishing and thus they can satisfy the stringent requirements coming from the high-quality production standards. What is more, technological progress in the area of the molding equipment, involving the automated systems and the monitoring technologies that are integrated, has also greatly contributed to the reduction of both the cost of manual labor and the amount of material wasted during manufacture.
The major benefit of LSR injection molding is the ability to fabricate the biocompatible and hypoallergenic parts that are of particular use in the medical sector, mainly for items like seals, implants, and wearable devices. An additional advantage is that the process can handle large quantities of production that is the perfect match for the industries looking to have the scalability without any drop in the consistency or quality of the product.
Blending innovation processing methods and material’s natural strengths LSR injection molding the limits of manufacturability challenges in the modern world still and comes up with performance and sustainability balance solutions that make business right.
Advantages of Different Molding Techniques
Molding technologies have been revolutionized, thus providing to the manufacturers a plethora of choices that can be tailored according to the specific production requirements. The methods–each with unique advantages–are the mainstay of the respective materials, applications, and industry needs. Here are a few popular molding techniques that offer the maximum benefits:
Injection Molding
The efficiency of injection molding in producing large quantities of intricate and accurate components is a fact. The process of injection molding is greatly versatile and can deal with just about any kind of material – thermoplastics, thermosets, and liquid silicone rubber (LSR). The significant advantages of this technique are reduction of manufacturing time, zero waste due to very accurate utilization of raw materials, and last but not the least constant repeatability ensuring the same perfect product every time.
Compression Molding
Compression molding is a method used to mold large and less complex parts from the materials such as rubber and composite resins. The technique of compression molding offers huge cost effectiveness and reduced material loss when used in the production of heavy-duty products. Additionally, its direct application ensures that the parts have ideal qualities since pressure is distributed evenly.
Blow Molding
Blowing the most suitable method for the creation of hollow parts, like bottles and containers, is highly efficient when using it in mass production. The material saved, extremely fast bills of the cycle, and so on are some of the plus points of the method. On the other hand, there is a need for less material, and that is what makes the containers even lighter and at the same time stronger. Furthermore, the molds’ elimination allows cushioning and saves energy by the plastics.
Rotational Molding
Rotating parts in a large oven results in perfectly round and even hollow bodies. This technique is especially good for the production of large scale objects of uniform thickness with good strength and cracking resistance. The process is safe and slow with no waste and a completely green method.
Transfer Molding
A hybrid form of molding called compression transfer adds the features of both compression and injection molding, giving designers greater freedom and letting individual devices be more closely associated with one another. One of the main benefits is seen when working with thermosetting materials, this process can provide high precision, free of flash and trimming with low requirements for both.
Manufacturers could optimize their production efficiency, material usage, and product quality by choosing the most suitable molding technique, which would at the same time enable them to meet the needs of a variety of industries and to compete in a rapidly changing market with the help of the same technique.
Applications of TPE and Silicone in Various Industries
The usage of TPE in Medical Devices
Popular elastomers Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are now an indispensable part of the medical industry thanks to their extremely wide range of applications, biocompatibility, and processability. They are main principles where production of medical tubings, syringe plungers, seals, gaskets, and many other products taking the advantage of the said quality is a must. It is possible to change the physical properties of the TPE materials such that the application and regulatory needs are met in an effortless manner, besides making the use of these products in the health-care environment a great idea. The sterilization processes such as heat, radiation, or chemicals can also be applied to the material for maintenance of hygiene and safety thus the standards of medical settings are met now and again.
With progress in the field of material science, the new TPE formulations are now able to resist chemical attacks and at the same time be hypoallergenic, thus improving patients’ safety and comfort. Also, when it comes to other types of plastics, hard plastic particularly, they can all be co-injected molded with the TPE type to produce medical devices with a mix of both properties. The co-molded medical devices can be said to have the right balance and are also user-friendly and efficient. Since the adoption of this combination of the three before-mentioned advantages, elasticized plastic has been one of the key motivators of the medical device market and is catering to the trends of the industry where the materials are becoming the governing factor by addressing the applications where high-performance, reliable materials are called for.
Silicone in Consumer Products
Silicone became the main material for consumer goods; thanks to its extreme adaptability and excellent performance, it is hard to replace it by another polymer. Resistance to hot temperatures, long life, and the fact that it is poison-free are some of the reasons why. This material is so widely used that pots, pans, and cake molds together with baby products like pacifiers and bottle nipples are just some of the items where silicone offers a safe and convenient option for everyday use. In addition, the nature of the material, which is hypoallergenic, allows for it to be used in all sorts of things, including cosmetic applications and care-tools. Moreover, the ability of the material to keep its flexibility unchanged through extreme temperatures further encourages its use in products like ice cube trays and spatulas. Combined with its green possibility as a durable, and recyclable material, silicone still remains instrumental in the development of consumer product design coming from the side of sustainability.
Application Suitability Comparative Analysis
Silicone is particularly appreciated as a material thanks to its explicit combination of strength, flexibility, and safety, thus standing out against all the materials that come to mind at once. Heat-proofness is a virtue of silicone over any other material in which it goes further to accredit its reliability, for, in addition to being non-porous and thus quite also surpassing rubber, it is the best in terms of hygiene and the growth of bacteriaBesides, even though metals are strong and conductive, being light and flexible is what makes silicone the preferred material for products that are user-friendly and are carried around a lot like electronics for personal use wearables and personal gadgets.
Additionally, silicone is compared favorably to single-use plastics in terms of environmental impact. Its reusability and longevity result in less waste, thereby meeting the sustainability and eco-conscious preferences of consumers. The above-mentioned characteristics are a proof of the wide range of silicone’s applications and the aptness of its use in them, as it is the best material for purposes that require durability, safety, and environmental responsibility.
Maintenance and Sterilization of Silicone Parts
Best Practices for Cleaning TPE Products
When it comes to cleaning TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) products, my main goal is to make sure that they last long and are safe for usage. Indeed, TPE is a versatile and resilient material, but it needs to be handled in a way that will not result in any destruction or impairment. The best way to start is with mild soap or a gentle detergent in combination with warm water. The danger of material breakdown and textural or color effects of harsh chemicals and rough scrubbing is something that I always avoid. With that, it is a soft cloth or sponge that would be able to do the trick in dirt and residue removal to perfection.
In case the TPE product finds its way into high-touch or sensitive applications, where medical or hygiene goods are the main case, contamination has to be completely eradicated. Unlike silicone, TPE is not very good withstanding heat, but I wipe it with an alcohol wipe or use a diluted isopropyl alcohol solution to get rid of almost all the germs without the compromise on the material part. Later, the item has to be washed out thoroughly of any chemicals with water and then, of course, air dried thoroughly. Sunlight or heat sources can disfigure or degrade TPE, so it should be dried in a shaded and well-ventilated area to prevent this from happening.
If it is intended to be maintained for a long time, storing TPE products in a clean, and dry place, away from sharp objects and extremely hot or cold environments, is what I recommend. I also chalk on the top to prevent adhesion, especially for products that are a little sticky in surface feel (tacky). I use these simple but powerful cleaning methods to keep my TPE products in great shape, making sure that they will last for a long time while they are still in good operational and sanitary conditions.
Sterilization Techniques for Silicone Components
Sterilization techniques for silicone components are the solutions that make me use only the ones so strong and at the same time gentle to significantly save the material’s integrity. Silicone being so durable and heat resistant, it can take various sterilization means. The easiest and most accessible way to sterilize silicone, in my opinion, is by boiling. I place the silicone components into the boiling water of a pot, which I immediately cover with the lid for about 5-10 minutes, making sure that the whole components are under water. I then very carefully take out and put the items on a clean towel and let them air dry completely. This method is not only simple but also free from any chemical, which means the material is safe for being used repeatedly.
If it is regarding the sterilization of items for medical or food-grade applications, only one method comes to my mind, which is the steam sterilization, where I use a sterilizer or an autoclave. This kind of sterilization consists of high temperatures and pressure and it is a very demanding one on the materials. Silicone, however, is able to withstand these conditions excellently without any degradation hence becoming an easy choice for such applications. For the same purpose, I sometime use a diluted bleach solution if I do not have the boiling or steam sterilization possibility. To make the solution, I mix a teaspoon of unscented bleach with a gallon of water and then I immerse the silicone parts into the solution for about two to three minutes. The next step is to wash them thoroughly with clean water so as to get rid of any bleach that could still be present.
Yet, once in a while, when other techniques fail to handle dirtiness in a jiffy, I’m applying isopropyl alcohol wipes. The less effective usage but still the simplest one is on silicones being too small; merely giving the alcohol from a cloth or immersing for scant time, and then letting the item dry in the air. Alcohol disinfection is harsh but it is very much so and I do use it to maintain the general quality of the items in spite of the dangers of alcohol. Using the methods one and the other depending on the state, I will be able to always provide the silicone component with cleanliness and durability.
Longevity and Durability of TPE vs Silicone
So far, I have seen that both TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) and silicone have their own areas of a strong suit and at the same time, shortcomings when it comes to longevity and durability. Silicone is one of the best choices for the items which are often used and require extended durability and time-wear resistance, as with it, we find these two qualities in a well-balanced and long-lasting combination. Not only is it saving them from wear but also it is keeping them free from the surface damages during the use of the product. In my experiments, silicone has been outstanding where reliability is an essential aspect of performance, especially when the product has to go through aggressive cleaning or the use of harsh detergents.
Conversely, TPE provides more flexibility and feels softer, which can be benefіciаl for some cases. Although, I have noticed that durability is one of the aspects where this to other materials can be found. ТРЕ usually loses theorthotic very quickly if it is exposed to stress, increased temperature, or washing often, and mostly when strong cleaning or strong chemical agents are used. In such cases, it has to be replaced much sooner than if compared to silicon made the product. Neverthеless, ТРЕ is not only cheаp but also easily recyclable, which makes it a very reasonable option for the needs of shorter servicе life or рroducts, for rarefied use.
On a personal level, when the choice of material is left to me, I would be more inclined using silicone for an item that is durable and tough, and TPE for one that is cost-effective and very flexible being the chief concerns. By being aware of the very distinct characteristics of each material, I can make better decisions that can accommodate the intended use and the working environment very well.
Reference Sources
TPE vs. Silicone: Key Differences and Applications – TechSci Research
This article highlights the differences between TPE and silicone, focusing on their properties and applications.
TPE: What it is, Properties, Importance, Uses and Solutions – RT Prototype
A detailed overview of TPE, including its characteristics, benefits, and industrial applications.
TPE and Silicone Compared for Product Designers – Kraiburg TPE
This source compares TPE and silicone, discussing their similarities, differences, and suitability for various designs.
Thermoplastic Elastomers vs. Liquid Silicone Rubber – Simtec Silicone
A technical comparison of TPE and liquid silicone rubber, focusing on their performance in industrial applications.
TPE vs. Silicone | Comparing Elastomers for Medical Parts – Protolabs
This article explores the use of TPE and silicone in medical device development, emphasizing their biocompatibility and versatility.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you give me some characteristics of TPE materials and analyze their differences to silicon rubber?
Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) are a combination of rubber and plastic that offer the advantages of plastics without losing the elastic nature of rubber. They also have a wide range of hardness from very soft to hard with the hard grades being tough, variously. Because of the material characteristics, in such a range of durometers, TPEs are usually preferable for specific applications in comparison with silicones. The broad thermal and chemical strengths of the most TPEs are significantly lower than those of silicones. As a result, the material type for a component has to be decided by the application temperature ranges and chemical resistance. What is more, TPEs can be processed and melted from pellet form, as they are thermoplastics, unlike the silicones which, when being cured by a chemical reaction, form a cross-link structure to become solid. On the other hand, the medical-grade TPE materials are also present if one is looking for healthcare uses and they might even be more preferable than silicones or medical-grade silicone elastomers as the main material for biocompatible applications. The best choice of material can thus be determined by the properties and processing behaviours, recyclability, and whether the application is at extremely high temperatures or needs good resistance to chemicals.
Understand the differences & similarities between TPE and Silicone Rubber？
The difference lies in the fact that one is a polymer structure composed of a thermoplastic material and the other is a thermoset that cross-links during a cure and retains its shape under certain temperatures. The general heat resistance of the silicone materials is much better than that of the TPE and high-grade silicone rubber is extremely tough even in the face of the most severe temperatures. Gasket and seal parts made from silicone rubbers exhibit much better long-term compression set performance over the materials use from TPEs. Besides, TPEs are possibly the right choice for overmolding and among other things have processing issues that are a bit less critical due to their wide flexibility in the injection molding process, and they are typically more economical, especially pellets and conventional injection molding equipment are used. In the event that the synthetic rubber alternative is already a chemically resistant or medical-grade material, silicones and silicone elastomers come into the picture as, and quite often outperform in various aspects. One should assess the hardness of a material being used, how it melts, and whether it needs a catalyst to cure or not in order to make the proper decision on the materials.
How does the injection molding process differ for silicone and TPES?
The process of plastic injection molding for thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and many other materials belonging to the TPE(thermoplastic elastomers) category involves extrusion and injection processing of the pellets of the materials through the molds and thereby resulting in products made from those materials. In contrast, silicone rubber material is cast into a mold which is heated up until the rubber cures to form the desired product. The whole process of this casting into a heated mold, especially in the case of liquid silicone rubber (LSR), is done very quickly, and the mold is usually under pressure to be pressed tightly around the rubber to ensure the quality of the finished product. The use of the silicone mat is just one of them; the moulding of the organosilicon also has its partial curing and final curing stages which are similarly through a chemical means and heat or both, although the rubber mold has got the best heat flow rate among the three aforementioned cases. In both cases, pressurized liquid monomers or prepolymers are injected into a heated and water-cooled mold where they are cured to produce molded parts. Thus, irrespective of the process technique and the used material, the intentions remain that the tool should be around the principle of being used for quite a good number of times (servicing) and the material should remain unchanged during that time, with no modification of its properties. Underlying this is the marked difference of one material always requiring heat, pressure, and chemical addition (vulcanization or curing) at the same time and the other one not.
When should I choose silicone and thermoplastic combinations for overmolding or gaskets?
The best choice is a combination of silicone with thermoplastic because you can enjoy a soft touch, a silicone elastomer, and, at the same time, the strength of a plastic material along with the cost-effectiveness of processing plastic. Overmolding is the technique implemented when we want to add gaskets or to mold soft sealing lips over a rigid insert. This is done by using tpe materials and liquid silicone rubber parts, so as to achieve a chemical bond and adhesion. If the application involves high or very low temperatures, then silicone is the material of choice because of its heat resistance and stability, while the thermoplastic parts can be the answer in terms of the dimensional stability and cost aspect. This is the point where you have to take into account also the material properties, the compatibility for the chemical bonding, and the need for additives or primers to assist the adhesion during the injection molding process. For medical-grade parts, make sure the two materials are biocompatible and meet the requirements of the medical and health regulatory before going for silicone and thermoplastic duets.
Are silicone elastomers or tpe materials better for medical-grade and health applications?
Silicone grade for medical use is very accepted because it is friendly to the human body, resists the action of many chemicals, and is stable across certain temperature ranges, hence, the favorite for implantable and patient-contact devices. Several tpe materials and thermoplastic polyurethane grades have been designed for medical application purposes and exhibit great flexibility and reprocess benefits, but they may not equal silicone’s long-term insensitivity to heat or chemicals. While selecting the material for medical and health devices, the characteristics and processing behaviors should be studied, e.g., sterilization compatibility, compression set, and the possibility of leaching of additives. Liquid injection-molded silicone rubber parts and devices/medical-grade silicone allow the best applications for housing complex devices requiring the utmost safety. The use of various materials from the group of thermoplastic elastomers with good biostability for the manufacture of certain parts is promising. Always determine the best choice by testing samples under real sterilization and service conditions to ensure safety and performance.
What are the environmental and recycling implications of tpes versus silicone and impacting them?
Thermoplastic elastomers in comparison to silicone elastomers may be less challenging to recycle. Among the very making of plastics, one of the most critical activities is the separation of thermoplastic polymers by types which are then melted to a liquid, and a need to achieve this is because of the thermoplastic feature of the polymer. Silicone begins its journey to becoming a hardened product even in the processor through cross-linking, and it hardens into a finished product that cannot be remelted. Besides these types of elastomers, other polymeric materials and elastomers are also recyclable through various processes. Surprisingly, the recycling methods of the non-thermoset elastomers (plastics) are the same as they are for thermoplastic polymers and thermoplastic elastomers, etc. It is prevalent to find elastomers as second or third type elastomer in products manufacture, thus increasing the difficulty of non-elastomer, -plastic, etc. identification of the former type of elastomer with close to, or even other, propertiesa034a.
