TPE vs. Metals: An Analysis of Properties and Substitution Feasibility
Time of issue:2025-08-09
Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) and metals belong to different industries and are made of different materials, so they are not inherently comparable. However, with the rapid development of TPE elastomers in the market, their applications have become increasingly widespread, coupled with the growing number of cases where plastics replace metals. As a result, many people want to understand whether there is comparability or substitution potential between the two. Here, Superb provides a brief analysis:
(1) Lightweight products: The specific gravity of plastics generally ranges from 0.83 to 2.2, which is only 1/9 to 1/4 of that of steel and about 1/2 of that of aluminum. Some plastics, such as polypropylene, are even much lighter than water. This characteristic of plastics is particularly significant for mechanical equipment requiring weight reduction, such as vehicles, ships, and aircraft.
(2) High specific strength: In terms of equal volume, the strength of plastics is generally lower than that of metals. However, since plastics are much lighter than metals, when compared by equal weight, some plastics have much higher strength than ordinary metals, making them among the highest-strength structural materials available. For example, glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin has a tensile strength per unit weight approximately twice that of ordinary steel.
(3) Good chemical stability: Plastics generally have excellent corrosion resistance to chemicals such as acids and alkalis, which is a notable advantage. Among them, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyether chloride have extremely outstanding corrosion resistance, showing broad prospects for application in chemical anti-corrosion equipment and other fields.
(4) Excellent electrical performance: Almost all plastics have superior electrical insulation properties, minimal dielectric loss, and excellent arc resistance, comparable to insulating materials such as ceramics and rubber. Therefore, plastics have extremely broad prospects in applications in the electrical, electronics, and motor industries.
(5) Excellent friction and wear resistance: Utilizing this characteristic, plastics can be used to manufacture various self-lubricating bearings, gears, and sealing rings. Plastics also have good (the ability to embed foreign particles), which is beneficial in harsh conditions where abrasive particles or impurities are present.
(6) Excellent shock absorption and noise reduction: Machinery equipped with plastic bearings and gears can reduce vibration, weaken noise, or even achieve noise elimination. For example, the original 45# carbon structural steel used for automobile tie rod ball sockets had a short service life and high noise; after switching to nylon, the service life was extended by approximately twice, and the noise was significantly reduced.
(7) Convenient molding and processing: Plastic products can often be formed in one step, whereas metal products typically require several, dozens, or even dozens of processes to complete processing. This characteristic of plastics is highly significant for saving working hours and improving labor productivity. Mechanical processing of plastics is also relatively easy.
Due to these many advantages in physical and mechanical properties, thermoplastic elastomers are increasingly widely used in industry, which in turn promotes the leapfrog development of the rubber and plastic industry. As for whether TPE materials can replace metal materials in certain industries, there is no need to dwell on this—any material that meets industry requirements can be chosen. Superb has focused on TPE thermoplastic elastomers for many years; friends in need are welcome to call for detailed discussions.
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