Thermoplastic elastomers

Since the first time they were marketed in the ‘50s, thermoplastic elastomers have become one of the most used materials in many different industrial fields such as the healthcare or the household products ones.

The production of finished goods that have all the useful characteristics that lead people to chose them among other products is achieved through a simple but yet meticulous process called extrusion, which sees the thermoplastic elastomers shaped through a mold and then cut according to measure.

One of the most well-known factories in the northern part of Italy that works with thermoplastic elastomers is Plastcol. Since its establishment in 1959, the firm has offered its clients many different products made of plastic polymers.

Here’s how Plasticol’s employees handle the thermoplastic elastomer extrusion process and what this type of rubber actually is.

Thermoplastic elastomers: what are they and their characteristics

Thermoplastic elastomers, also known as thermoplastic rubbers, are a product that comes from the mixing of plastic and rubber. Their nature confers them both elastomeric and thermoplastic properties. Some peculiar characteristics of this material are its ability to bear deformation and its longevity.

The way the polymeric chains are linked together is what determines the defining characteristics of the thermoplastic elastomers: they can be moulded or extruded, they’re recyclable, they can be dyed (dying is one of Plasticol additional services), they are quite flexible even at low temperatures, they hold pretty well in the humid environment and they also perform greatly at high temperatures.

Thermoplastic elastomers have also amazing practical qualities that make them perfect for the most mundane aspects of our everyday life, given that they’re eco-friendly and health-friendly.

Extrusion seems the best way to process thermoplastic elastomers given their malleability when they reach high temperatures and their capability of returning to a solid state at room temperature.

Thermoplastic rubbers: when are they used?

Thermoplastic elastomers seem overall a great material but in which fields are they used the most? The sectors in which they are more commonly employed are the automotive one (especially for the manufacturing of suspensions) and the home appliance one. Thermoplastic rubbers are also used to manufacture pipes, catheters and many other objects common in the healthcare field. In the construction sector, they became handy as electric cables, whilst as a further proof of their presence in our everyday life, we can find them in items such as ear-buds.

To learn more about thermoplastic elastomers get in contact with Plasticol.

Location:
Via San Carlo 35
21017- Samarate (VA)
Phone: (+39) 0331 234 212
Fax: (+39) 0331 235 108
Email: info@plasticol.it