In recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis on using inexpensive product materials to keep manufacturing costs low. This is why many products are made using plastics and one of the polymer used in a dazzling array of products is TPU film. It is one of the plastic films that is widely available and used in many applications. In this bog we will look what makes this polymer film so unique and the better choice of plastic film in numerous applications.
Abrasion Resistance: TPU is a polymer that is can withstand a lot friction and also has a hardness. This makes it tough and impact resistant. The result is a material that has a long usage life and does not need much maintenance even when it is exposed to harsh environment.
Water resistance: TPU has another property that makes it tough and adaptable and that is its water-resistance. This quality makes it really suitable use in manufacture of moisture-resistant clothing like sportswear.
Highly Elastic: TPU is a stretchable polymer that can return to its original shape after it is extended. This elastic quality gives it impact resistance for applications that involve load-bearing capacity like sports products and electronic gadgets.
Oxidation Resistant: Over time, plastics can become yellowed due to oxidation, but TPU is not susceptible to this yellowing, and therefore it retains its visual aesthetic. This increases various product resale prices, and TPU is suitable for making fashion accessories as it loses beauty with wear.
Corrosion Resistant: This polymer is resistant to oils, fat, and chemicals. This makes it ideal for use in the kitchen and healthcare as it is easily cleaned and maintains user safety.
Thermal Resistant: TPU is thermally stable from -40 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees and stays solid within this range. This is makes it compatible for environments where temperatures fluctuate greatly particularly in electronic and automotive parts. Easy to manufacture: TPU can be molded, extruded, and 3D printed which means it can take on many shapes and forms making it a very versatile material.
Easy to Manufacture: TOU can be molded, extruded and 3D printed and this means that it can be shaped in numerous ways making it a very adaptable material.
Flexibility: Although plasticizers can add flexibility to PVC it does not cmpare to TPU in terms of natural stretchiness. Moreover PVC loses its elasticity overtime particularly if used in colder environments.
Toughness: Although both types of polymers are break resistant but TPU is more resistant to damage as it is not punctures or torn easily. It is also more thermally stable than PVC and remaind solid over a larger range of temperatures.
Abrasion Resistance: TPU has the edge over PVC since it has better abrasion resistance compared to PVC and is the better option for applications that involve friction exposure.
Polyethylene is another common plastic that is preferred for its tough structure and corrosion resistance.
Flexibility: In contrast to TPU polyethylene is not as stretchable. It is does not retain its shape when extended which limits its application.
Toughness: Although both polymers are puncutr-resistant and do not get torn easily and have the same structural strength what makes TPU better is that it also remains stable over a wider range of temperatures.
Abrasion Resistance: Compared to polyethylene, TPU has better abrasion resistance. In uses where friction is a factor, TPU is preferred over polyethylene.
TOU injection molding is the most common process that is used to make TPU products. Let us look briefly at the TPU injection molding process.
Material Preparation: TPU resin is poured into the injection molding machine. The resin is in the form of pellets or grains.
Melting: After pouring the resisn is subjected to heat until it melts. A rotating screw mixes the molten TPU so that it achieves a uniform consistency.
Injection: The mold is filled with TPU and the injecting is done at high pressure.
Cooling: The product in the mold cools of and solidifies. The cooling time varies as different products have different size dimensions and the thickness also depends on nature of application.
Product removal: The solidified TPU is ejected from the mold.
Automotive applications: Many parts of vehicle like seat covers, hoses and interior parts are made from TPU to reduce weight of the vehicle.
Electronics: Machine casings, and many electronic components used in gadgets are made with PU since this material is flexible.
Textiles: Synthetic fabrics like sportswear are made from TPU.
Smartphone Cases: Smartphone cases should be tough for protection and TPU standard material that is used in manufacture of cases because the TPU is impact-resistant and also protects smartphones from scratches.
Sports Shoes: TPU is strong and long-lasting, so it's often used in joggers and sneakers that handle rough use. Wearable TPU film is also used in sportswear and shoe insoles because it's soft, flexible, and comfortable on the skin.
In manufacturing to keep costs low a diverse material is required and, Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) stands out from other plastic variants due to its properties. Its combination of flexibility, durability, and abrasion resistance makes it the ultimate choice in plastics. Moreover, it is a very versatile material that can be shaped to make any product. TPU is particularly well suited for demanding applications (i.e., automotive, electronics, medical, industrial, etc.), and as such, is a valuable material for manufacturers designing high-performance parts.
From soft-touch components, to wear-resistant components, or complex overmolded assemblies, TPU is reliable and flexible enough to offer possibilities for innovation.TPU is likely to play an increasing role in modern manufacturing in the present and future since it enhances the user-experience in every way.
TPU know with its chemical name of Thermoplastic Polyurethane, is a
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