thermoplastic vulcanisates

Thermoplastic vulcanisates represent a fascinating class of materials. They are a kind of hybrid between cross-linked elastomers and thermoplastic polymers, which means that despite their cross-linking they can still be processed thermoplastically. Their base often consists of olefins, which gives them a certain flexibility and versatility.

In contrast to their thermoset counterparts, thermoplastic vulcanisates retain their ability to be shaped even after they have been heated and deformed. This enables straightforward processing by injection moulding, extrusion or other shaping processes. Yet despite these shared processing characteristics, they also exhibit marked differences in their material properties.

The uniqueness of this material class lies in its ability to combine the best properties of elastomers and thermoplastics. This makes them extremely attractive for applications in which flexibility, strength and processability are equally in demand.