Thermoplastic elastomer TPE formation principle: thermoplastic elastomer TPE performance is determined by its composition, and its composition is different for different purposes.

Phase structure and phase properties of TPE

1.1 Phase structure
   Almost all TPE have a common characteristic, namely, phase separation system, one phase is a hard polymer at room temperature, the other phase is a rubber phase. For most TPE, the two phases are linked by chemical bonds through block or graft copolymerization, and some TPE require only one polymer to form a very small dispersed phase in another polymer. The hard phase gives TPE strength. When heated or under the action of solvent, the hard phase can flow freely and facilitate processing. When cooled or solvent evaporates, the hard phase solidifies and the elastomer returns to elasticity.
1.2 Phase properties
   Since most TPE systems are phase separation systems, they exhibit many of the characteristics of their constituent polymers, such as a glass transition temperature (Tg) for each phase. The physical properties of TPE are closely related to the melting point (Tm) of the hard segment and the Tg of the soft segment. TPE rubber elasticity is developed when the temperature is Tm ~ Tg, and is formed by TPE melt flow at the temperature above Tm and brittle below Tg.
2 How TPE is formed
   No matter what kind of TPE, its molecular structure is composed of soft segment and hard segment. The soft segment is a long linear chain of soft molecules, which makes TPE have certain elastic deformation. The hard segment refers to the shorter rigid chain, which makes TPE somewhat rigid and heat resistant. So TPE is a polymer material between vulcanized rubber and thermoplastics. Taking polyurethane TPE, polyolefin TPE and polyether ester TPE as examples, the formation mechanism of TPE is briefly introduced.