The Sustainability of Thermoplastic Elastomers

To be perfectly honest, I did not have a clue what this was before I did research on the Fullerton Farm in my previous post. See, we learn something new everyday!

Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) are a blend of plastic and rubber (polymer blend) that consists of materials with thermoplastic (mouldable) and elastomeric (elastic) properties. TPEs are heated to process by means of injection molding or extrusion. This material acts like a rubber but is actually made from a thermoplastic. It is relatively easy to use in manufacturing due to the industry standard injection moulding technique. Due to the combination of materials, it takes the advantages of both rubbery materials and plastics but the main advantage may be that it is able to stretch to passable elongations and still revert to almost its original shape. This creates a longer life-span and a better physical arsenal than other materials with similar uses.

However, in order to qualify as a Thermoplastic Elastomer, a material must fulfil certain requirements. Firstly, it must be able to be stretched to average elongations and then return close to original shape upon the release of stress. Secondly, it must be able to be molten at high temperatures to mould into specific shapes. Lastly, it must be absent of the tendency for 'creep' which is when materials slowly move or deform under permanent addition of stress.

This new material has a wide variety of advantages. The production process demands less energy for a shorter and simpler moulding cycle. This simpler manufacturing course is more efficient and has shorter fabrication times compared to its competitors resulting in a significantly lower cost. Furthermore on the grounds of the production process, the quality control costs are lower leading to better quality control and therefore a higher standard for consumers. Outside of production, thermoplastic elastomers have even more advantages. They can be coloured easily by most dyes and can reuse scraps to regrind into new structures. The uses of the material are suitable for both indoor and outdoor activities ranging from activities such as ski boots to golf clubs or bicycle saddles.

In terms of sustainability, thermoplastic elastomers rank very highly. They are completely sustainable and generate less waste! There has been a growing interest to use renewable materials in the manufacturing industry and combining with thermoplastic elastomers has become very popular. Müller Kunststoffe developed an approach to combine TPEs with cork. They refined a product called Lifocork® which combined the low weight and durability of cork to the processing ability of a plastic. In a cost and energy efficient manner, they have managed to create this new material that can be used in a myriad of different ways. It is very lightweight and provides a good grip as well as being comfortable therefore making it an excellent tool for handles for sporting equipment. It is also used to create bowls, trays, toys, flowerpots and more. The adaptability of the material is extraordinary and is on part what lead to the worldwide growth of about 9% in the use of TPEs.

Lastly, I just wanted to mention another initiative I came across. The EU has a directive called "End of Life Vehicles" (ELV) and they intend to recycle as much material as possibly. After research, I saw that the automotive industry has developed certain types of TPEs due to an increase in demand for recyclable materials. A company that has started this is ELASTO UK who has developed a material that contains 65-80% recycled materials from plastic and rubber waste. They have taken advantage of the ELV directive and created a material that consists of recycled plastics and rubber from used tires. Not only has this company thought on their feet and gotten ahead of their competition in the sustainability department but they also have marketable advantages to its competitors. They have a superior UV protection and other weather properties as well as reducing the volume of sound produced. It is vital that firms begin to look into new materials and revitalise the manufacturing industry.

Drop your comments down below on your opinion on TPEs and if they are a long term solution!