TPE vs. EPDM: A Comparison of Performance, Advantages, Disadvantages, and Processing
Time of issue:2025-08-09
TPE vs. EPDM: A Comparison of Performance, Advantages, Disadvantages, and Processing
TPE rubber is a widely used material in our daily lives. So, what are the differences in performance between TPE and EPDM materials, and how do their advantages and disadvantages compare? What are the performance differences between TPE materials and EPDM?
1. Thermoplastic Elastomer TPE
Domestically, it is generally called "TPE" material, which basically belongs to styrenic thermoplastic elastomers. Styrenic TPE (referred to as TPS abroad) is a block copolymer of butadiene or isoprene and styrene, with performance close to SBR rubber.
Advantages: It has the high elasticity of rubber and the characteristics of being processable by injection molding; it is environmentally friendly, non-toxic and safe, with excellent colorability, soft touch, weather resistance, fatigue resistance and temperature resistance. It has superior processing performance, does not require vulcanization, can be recycled to reduce costs, and can either be formed by secondary injection molding, coating and bonding with base materials such as PP, PE, PC, PS, and ABS, or be molded independently.
Disadvantages: The biggest problem with SBS and SIS is poor heat resistance; the service temperature generally cannot exceed 80℃. At the same time, their tensile strength, elongation, weather resistance, oil resistance, wear resistance, etc., are also unable to compare with rubber.
2. Comparison of Processing Technologies
Thermoplastic elastomers have good processing performance and can be extruded, injection molded, and blow molded into various products, but the processing methods of EPDM are relatively much simpler. Taking extrusion as an example, the processing technologies of TPE and EPDM are quite different:
2.1 Thermoplastic Elastomer TPE:
Plastic extruder is heated to the set temperature → feeding and extrusion → cooling and shaping in a cooling water tank → traction and cutting by a tractor → finished product.
The entire operation is completed by 1-2 people, with a short cycle and low energy consumption.
2.2 EPDM:
Rubber cutting machine cuts rubber → batching and weighing → internal mixer for rough mixing → open mill for fine mixing (adding vulcanizing agents and sulfur additives) → sheet discharge and storage (usually for 24 hours) → re-mixing and strip cutting → cooling → feeding into the extruder for extrusion → entering the microwave vulcanization section and hot air thermostat box for vulcanization → traction and cutting → finished product.
In terms of processing equipment investment, thermoplastic elastomer TPE has low equipment investment, can be processed using ordinary plastic processing equipment, and has low processing costs.
TEL: +86-0752-6768128 FAX: +86-0752-6768088 MAIL: sales@tpe-sp.com WEB: en.tpe-sp.com
ADD: Huangxi Industrial Park, Shiwan Town, Boluo County, Huizhou City, Guangdong Province，China