Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a special type of polyurethane material. Unlike polyurethane hard foam, which exhibits rigidity and soft foam, which exhibits resilience, TPU has both the elasticity of rubber and the strength of plastic. The raw materials for the synthesis of TPU include polyols, isocyanates, and small molecule chain extenders. Polyols give TPU its elasticity, and isocyanates give TPU its strength.
Because of the special type of TPU performance, it is widely used.
Shoe material: TPU is very wear-resistant and has good elasticity, suitable for the sole of sports shoes and casual shoes. Occupy a place in many sole materials such as EVA, rubber, PVC, etc. Nike added a transparent TPU air cushion to the midsole of the sports shoe sole to create more functional professional sports shoes. In addition to using the elasticity of TPU, the high transparency also makes the sole more beautiful and high-end. The heel of the shoe and the head of the shoe, which play a fixed and supporting role and have a certain hardness, are called Gangbao. Traditional Gangbao uses TPU sheets to cut, but today’s hot-melt glue-type Gangbao is more convenient to use and more efficient in shoemaking. Some colorful TPU trims and elastic TPU laces on the upper are also widely used in TPU.
Tubing: TPU has high physical strength, and TPU tubing is the best choice for pneumatic tubes. The pressure of pneumatic equipment and tools is usually around 8kg, while TPU pneumatic tubes can generally withstand a pressure of more than 30kg. In addition, TPU is resistant to oil and chemicals, and can be used as military field oil pipelines and oil bladders.
Wire and cable sheathing: Wire and cable sheathing protects wires from weather effects such as rain, sunlight, and physical damage such as scratches. Traditional wire and cable sheaths are made of PVC or rubber. Because of TPU’s tear resistance, wear resistance, high and low temperature resistance, it is replacing more and more PVC or rubber. Due to the high cost of TPU, TPU has been widely used in backbone wires at present.
Film: The biggest feature of TPU film is waterproof and breathable, and it is used in textiles and clothing. The fabric of jackets and outdoor sportswear is compounded with TPU film. The down jacket is made of TPU composite fabric, which is also puncture-resistant, and the down will not wear out. It is worth mentioning that TPU can be biodegraded, and it is far better than PE film, PP film, etc. in terms of environmental protection and recycling, and will not cause white pollution.
Medical: Key requirements for materials made by the medical industry include safety and no release of potentially hazardous substances. TPU is just right. The flexibility of TPU does not need to be obtained through plasticizers, and there is no risk of phthalates migrating from medical devices to medical fluids or the human body. Today, TPU has been applied to infusion tubes and medical equipment. Some leading TPU manufacturers are also conducting research on TPU used in human implant materials.
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