TPE vs. Silicone Rubber: Differences in Properties and Applications
Time of issue:2025-08-09
TPE vs. Silicone Rubber: Differences in Properties and Applications
Both TPE materials and silicone rubber are widely used in our daily lives. For example, TPE materials are widely applied in sports goods, food and medical care, construction and transportation, household appliances, and other fields. Silicone rubber, in addition to traditional fields such as construction, electric power, mechanical processing, textiles, leather, daily necessities, personal care products, and medicine, has also continuously expanded its applications in industries such as solar energy, wind power, high-speed rail, automobiles, electronic information technology, medical and health care, high-end manufacturing, and energy conservation and environmental protection in recent years. It can be said that the application fields of both materials are very extensive. However, there are certain differences between them. What are the differences between TPE materials and silicone rubber? Let's find out with Suobo.
What are the differences between TPE materials and silicone rubber?
Silicone rubber refers to a type of rubber where the main chain is alternately composed of silicon and oxygen atoms, and silicon atoms are usually attached to two organic groups. Ordinary silicone rubber is mainly composed of siloxane units containing methyl and a small amount of vinyl groups. The introduction of phenyl groups can improve the high and low-temperature resistance of silicone rubber, while the introduction of trifluoropropyl and cyano groups can enhance its temperature resistance and oil resistance. Silicone rubber has good low-temperature resistance and can generally work at -55°C. After introducing phenyl groups, it can withstand temperatures as low as -73°C. Silicone rubber also has outstanding heat resistance: it can work continuously at 180°C, can withstand temperatures slightly above 200°C for weeks or longer while remaining elastic, and can 瞬时 withstand high temperatures above 300°C. Silicone rubber has good air permeability, and its oxygen transmission rate is the highest among synthetic polymers. In addition, silicone rubber has the prominent characteristics of physiological inertness and not causing blood coagulation, so it is widely used in the medical field.
TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer), on the other hand, is a thermoplastic elastomer material with high strength, high resilience, and the characteristic of being processable by injection molding. It has a wide range of applications, is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and safe, and has excellent colorability. It can be used for reinforcing and toughening modification of plastics. It has high self-reinforcing properties, simplifies formulations, and the influence of additives on polymers is less restrictive, making it easier to control quality and performance. However, the heat resistance of TPE is not as good as that of rubber; its physical properties decrease significantly as the temperature rises, thus limiting its application range. At the same time, its compression set, elastic recovery, and durability are relatively poor compared to rubber, and its price is often higher than that of similar rubber. Nevertheless, the advantages of TPE are still very prominent, and various new TPE products are constantly being developed. As an energy-saving and environmentally friendly new rubber raw material, it has a very promising development prospect. Currently, it is generally used in high-end, highly transparent toys, adult products, suction cup materials, sports equipment, and sealing rings, etc. Its application in the medical industry is still relatively limited.
What are the differences between TPE materials and silicone rubber? The application fields of TPE are more inclined to food-grade products, sports equipment, and wires/cables, while silicone rubber is more widely used in the medical industry. Although their application fields have many similarities, they each have their own advantages in different fields. Suobo also believes that with the development of science and technology, the application fields and effects of these two materials will become even better.
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