Properties and Characteristics
All grades of TPEEs are block copolymers consisting of a hard segment of PBT and a soft segment based on polyether glycols.
The polyether-ester block copolymers, also named polyester rubber, combine the desirable elasticity of rubber and the strength of engineering plastics. The soft segment features it elasticity, and makes it like rubber; the hard segment features its processing capability, and makes it like plastics. Compared with rubber, it has better processing capability and longer service life; compared with engineering plastics, TPEE has high strength, better flexibility and mechanical properties.
The available grades of TPEE are grouped into 4 categories by performance:
1. High-performance grades exhibit high structural strength, wide range of hardness, exceptional toughness and resilience; high resistance to creep, abrasion and flex fatigue; flexibility at low temperatures; and good retention of properties at elevated temperatures. In addition, they resist deterioration from many industrial chemicals, oils and solvents.
2. Extruding and blow molding grades provide excellent melt strength for making various kinds of covers and hoses coupled with the desirable characteristics of high-performance grades.
3. Flame retardant grades are used for applications requiring flame retardant.
4. Modified grades are used as an excellent plastic modifier for blending with POM and PBT to improve the impact resilience.