How is the aging resistance of TPE elastomer during long-term use?
Publish Time: 2025-02-18
TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) is a polymer material widely used in many industries. TPE, as a bridge between rubber and resin, combines the advantages of both, with rubber-like elasticity and resin processing convenience. However, any material will be affected by environmental factors during long-term use, resulting in aging, and TPE elastomer is no exception.1. Aging performance of TPE elastomerAging is a complex physical and chemical process that will lead to a gradual decline in material performance. For TPE elastomer, aging is mainly manifested in loss of gloss, surface powdering, discoloration, hardness changes, and degradation of mechanical properties (such as tensile strength, elongation at break, and rebound rate). These changes not only affect the appearance of TPE products, but more importantly, weaken their performance and shorten their service life.2. Factors affecting the aging resistance of TPE elastomerThe aging resistance of TPE elastomer is affected by many factors, mainly including the following aspects:Structure of the material itself: The molecular chain structure, cross-linking density, and type and content of additives of TPE's basic materials, such as SEBS/SBS, will directly affect its aging resistance.Processing conditions: If the temperature, time, pressure and other parameters in the processing process are not properly controlled, they may cause defects inside the TPE material, thereby accelerating the aging process.Use environment: The environment in which TPE products are located, such as temperature, humidity, light (especially ultraviolet rays), chemicals and microorganisms, will affect their aging resistance. For example, TPE products exposed to outdoor environments for a long time will be affected by radiation, ozone and ultraviolet rays for a long time, thereby accelerating aging.Use of additives: The addition of additives such as antioxidants, light stabilizers, and antiozonants can effectively improve the aging resistance of TPE. However, the type and amount of additives and their compatibility with the TPE substrate will affect the final effect.3. Measures to improve the aging resistance of TPE elastomerIn view of the aging problem of TPE elastomer, the following measures can be taken to improve its aging resistance:Optimize material formula: By adjusting the base material, cross-linking density, and the type and content of additives of TPE, its aging resistance can be optimized. For example, choose SEBS/SBS base materials with higher aging resistance, or add appropriate amounts of antioxidants and light stabilizers.Improve processing technology: Strictly control parameters such as temperature, time, and pressure during processing to avoid internal defects, thereby improving the aging resistance of TPE products.Improve the use environment: For TPE products exposed to outdoor environments for a long time, measures such as sunshade and rain shelter can be taken to reduce the impact of ultraviolet rays and humidity. In addition, TPE materials with higher aging resistance can also be selected to adapt to harsh use environments.Regular maintenance and inspection: For TPE products that have been put into use, regular maintenance and inspection should be carried out to promptly discover and deal with aging problems to extend their service life.In summary, the aging resistance of TPE elastomer is a complex and important issue. By optimizing material formulation, improving processing technology, improving the use environment, and regular maintenance and inspection, we can effectively improve the aging resistance of TPE products, thereby extending their service life and meeting various application requirements.
