TPE vs. PVC: Safety, Environmental Impact, and Applications
Time of issue:2024-11-26
### TPE Material: International Certifications and Environmental Benefits
TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) materials are made from green and environmentally friendly raw materials, making them the preferred choice for exports to Europe and America. TPE materials do not contain halogen elements such as F, Cl, Br, I, or heavy metals such as Cr, Cd, Hg, Pb. They have passed the following international environmental certifications: ROHS, REACH, PAHS, FDA, and LFGB, meeting the low-toxicity and environmental protection requirements of Europe and America.
### PVC Material: Environmental Concerns
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) is a chlorine-containing hydrocarbon compound. Both the product and the production process can generate harmful substances, making it less environmentally friendly.
### Superior Physical Properties of TPE Material
- **Touch and Feel:** Soft to the touch, high elasticity, gentle texture, adjustable surface gloss and matte finish.
- **Environmental Properties:** Low smoke, halogen-free, scale-free, excellent resistance to oil, weather, aging, flexing, ozone, and chemicals.
### PVC Material: Processing and Environmental Impact
- **Processing:** Requires injection molding machines and contains plasticizers like DOP. The processing produces a foul odor and can pollute the environment, requiring strict waste disposal methods.
- **Chemical Resistance:** High resistance to chemicals and corrosion but not to ozone. Can be corroded by strong oxidizing agents like concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated nitric acid, and is not suitable for contact with aromatic hydrocarbons or chlorinated hydrocarbons.
### Simple and Environmentally Friendly Processing of TPE
- **Processing:** TPE materials are thermoplastic, so they do not require vulcanization equipment or processes. During production, no irritating gases are produced, and they do not pose a risk to human health. The sprues from injection-molded products can be reused, eliminating the need for vulcanization and saving energy and costs for businesses.
### Comparison of TPE, PVC, and Silicon Rubber
- **Low-Temperature Limit:**
- **TPE:** -50°C, excellent weather and low-temperature resistance.
- **PVC:** -10°C.
- **Silicon Rubber:** Can be used at -50°C indefinitely.
- **Density:**
- **TPE:** 0.9～1.1 g/cm³.
- **PVC:** 1.3～1.4 g/cm³.
- **Hardness:**
- **TPE:** 0A～98A.
- **PVC:** 40A～98A.
- **Other Properties:**
- **TPE:** Non-toxic, low pollution, excellent environmental impact.
- **PVC:** Restricted in European countries.
### Silicon Rubber: Additional Properties
- **Ozone Resistance:** Not affected by ozone, and its properties change minimally over time even under UV and other climatic conditions.
- **Permeability:** Silicon rubber films have better permeability than plastic wax films.
- **Radiation Resistance:** Silicon rubbers containing phenyl groups have significantly improved radiation resistance.
### Applications of TPE Material
1. **Wires and Cables:** High-end headphone wires, data cables, video cables, medical cables, high-voltage cables, special wires and cables, outer sheathing materials, and plug materials. Cable jackets, phone charger cables, computer ribbon cables, sockets and switches, USB cables, antennas, audio and video cables, gaming console cables, mouse cables, computer ribbon cables, submersible cables, cable connectors, and flexible insulated wires.
2. **Overmolding:** Overmolding for tool handles, hand grips, ABS products, PP materials, and PC materials.
3. **Independent Molding:** Automotive vibration dampers, car carpets, toy figurines, and adult products.
### Summary
**TPE vs. PVC: Safety, Environmental Impact, and Applications**
TPE materials are preferred for their safety, environmental friendliness, and superior physical properties. They are widely used in a variety of applications, from high-end electronics to automotive and consumer goods. In contrast, PVC materials have significant environmental concerns and are restricted in many European countries. TPE's thermoplastic nature and reusability make it a cost-effective and eco-friendly choice for modern manufacturing.
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