Riteflex® TPE-E

Structure
Riteflex TPE-E is Ticona's trade name for a series of thermoplastic polyester elastomers (TPE-E). These combine the favorable characteristics of vulcanized rubber products with the easy processability of thermoplastics. The molecular structure is made up of soft polyether components that alternate with hard polyester components. The degree of hardness is controlled through the relative proportion of the soft phase to the hard phase.

Properties
Typical characteristics of Riteflex TPE-E products are:

• excellent toughness and reverse bending resistance at room temperature as well as low temperatures
• high energy absorption capacity
• high wear-resistance
• good resiliance
• high chemical and ageing resistance
• high surface gloss and good paintability
• easy and economical thermoplastic processability

Chemical bonding of hard, crystalline segments with soft, amorphous segments in the polymer molecule results in a block polymer. Therefore no softening additives of any kind are needed. In this way a modification of properties through the displacement of softeners is avoided. The thermoplastic polyester elastomeres allow an application at higher temperatures than that of TPE on the basis of polyolefines, polystyrene and polyurethane.

Grades
Ticona offers a number of basic grades of varying hardness (Shore hardness D).

Applications
Besides applications in the automotive industry, such as body parts, shock absorbers, radiator grilles, bellows, and hoses, possibilities exist for seals, collars, and flexible couplings in machine and plant construction. Riteflex TPE-E can also be used for the modification of other polymers. Another area of application is the coating of steel components for the purpose of noise reduction.


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