Thermoplastic Vulcanizate (TPV)

Properties and Applications

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs), also called vulcanized TPEs, are a special class of low-cost, high-volume elastomers that combine the advantages of thermoplastics with those of rubbers. They are produced by dynamic vulcanization or cross-linking of a rubber during blending and melt-processing with a thermoplastic at elevated temperature (reactive extrusion and injection molding). Most TPVs are binary blends of polyolefins and thermoplastic diene elastomers. The elastomeric component is typically ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) and the thermoplastic matrix polymer is predominantly crystalline isotactic polypropylene (i-PP).¹ Other elastomers sometimes used in TPVs include butyl rubber, natural rubber or nitrile rubber blended with iPP. However, these TPVs are produced on a much smaller scale.¹

TPVs are often a good alternative to more expensive elastomers. They provide excellent elastomeric performance including relatively high tensile strength and elongation at break, high elastic recovery as well as good dimensional stability in hot air and excellent resistance to UV ageing, ozone and weathering. However, they are more challenging to process than standard TPEs due to a relative high melt viscosity.

TPVs are used in many industries including automotive, industrial and consumer goods, electrical appliances, medical & healthcare, building & construction, and textiles. The automotive industry is currently the largest market for TPVs. Important applications include exterior and interior elastic components such as steering and suspension boots, electrical wires and cables, air duct systems, bumpers, tubes and connectors, inner and out belt line, tail gate trunk, windshield, mats, cup holders, handles and grips.

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