Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are among the most widely used plastics on the market due to their excellent design and manufacturing flexibility. Combining the processing advantages of thermoplastics with the performance characteristics of elastomers, TPEs can be processed using relatively easy thermoplastic methods (such as extrusion and injection molding) without the need for time-consuming rubber processing methods. In particular, the properties of their vulcanized molecular structure endow TPEs with higher elasticity. All TPEs consist of crystalline and amorphous domains. They can be physical blends or alloys of crystalline and amorphous polymers, or block copolymers, which are chemical mixtures of crystalline and amorphous blocks within the polymer chain.
In the case of TPEs and blends, hard segments are responsible for the plastic properties of the final product, including processability and high-temperature resistance, as well as material properties such as tear and tensile strength or chemical resistance. Adhesion is also determined by these properties. Soft segments are responsible for elastic or resilient properties. They determine material properties such as hardness and flexibility, as well as the degree of permanent deformation.