Thermoplastic Elastomer

Thermoplastic elastomers combine the high elasticity, aging resistance, and oil resistance of traditional cross-linked vulcanized rubber with the ease of processing of regular plastic. They are mainly divided into chemically synthesized types and rubber-plastic compounded types, based on different processes.

The former appear in polymer form and include main chain copolymers, graft copolymers, and ionomers. The latter are compounds of rubber and resin, including dynamically vulcanized rubber (TPE-TPV) and interpenetrating polymer networks (TPE-IPN).

The production process involves metering, compounding, melting, extruding, and pelletizing the main materials and additives using a twin-screw extruder.

Polymer Reaction Elastomer (TPU)

Rubber-Plastic Blended Elastomer (TPE)

Dynamically Vulcanized Elastomer (TPV)

The upstream section uses a "five-component liquid quantitative mixing unit," which contains one polyol (POLYOL1/B) tank, one diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI/A1) tank, one hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI/A2) tank, one chain extender (BDO/C1) tank, and one additive (C2) tank. The unit employs servo speed controllers combined with respective flow meters to regulate the output flow rate of the metering pumps, specifically designed for TPU elastomers.

The downstream section utilizes an underwater pelletizing unit, including a screen changer, start-up valve, underwater pelletizer, and centrifugal dewatering and drying, to complete TPU pelletizing.

Flowchart