Exploring TPE Formulation Design: Key Characteristics and Three Essential Design Processes
Time of issue:2025-05-15
Currently, the thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) industry is caught in a vicious cycle of market competition rather than market development. Many business owners, relying on their connections in the TPE industry to secure orders, simply purchase a few sets of equipment and start production. Since non-high-value-added formulations are easily obtainable in the market, and some formula sellers even provide "thoughtful" after-sales services, many small TPE manufacturers lack the motivation for independent formula research and development, resulting in insufficient competitiveness of their products in the market.
In fact, although formulation is the core technology of the TPE industry, it is not as complex as people imagine. Today, Subo TPE will explain some characteristics, design principles, and general processes of TPE formulation design. Of course, how much you can absorb from it depends on your own emphasis on product development.
Before introducing the characteristics of TPE formulation design, let's first popularize two concepts: factors and levels. A factor refers to an element that affects the performance indicators of the rubber compound, such as raw materials and processes; a level refers to the possible states of each factor, such as the grade and dosage of raw materials, as well as process treatment methods (such as drying).
I. Characteristics of TPE Formulation Design
- Multi-factor and unequal-level experimental problems: TPE formulation design involves numerous factors, and each factor may have a different number of levels, which increases the complexity of formulation design.
- Strong interactions between raw materials: There are many interactions between various raw materials in the formulation, and these interactions are often strong, having a significant impact on the performance of the rubber compound.
- Decisive role of process factors: In some cases, process factors play a decisive role in the performance of the formulation, and the influence of processes on the formulation cannot be ignored.
- Combination of experience and statistics: Formulation design needs to minimize errors, which requires combining formulation design experience with statistical methods to improve the accuracy and reliability of design.
During the formulation design process, scientific design methods should be used to grasp the internal laws of formulation raw materials with minimal material consumption, the shortest time, and the least workload, so that the designed formulation can achieve a comprehensive balance in performance, process, and cost.
II. TPE Formulation Design Processes
There are actually three types of formulation design processes:
- Basic formulation: Finished products are made based on some fixed basic formulations, with the ultimate goal of testing the physical properties of some raw materials. Many SEBS manufacturers use this method for measurement.
- Performance-based formulation: When customers require materials to achieve specific performance, formulations are developed according to these performance requirements.
- Practical formulation: Based on the characteristics of certain industries, such as the need for wear resistance in shoe materials and flame retardancy in cables, formulations are developed based on experience to meet product requirements.
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