Category overview
Vulcanized olefinic thermoplastic elastomer appears as opaque, flexible pellets or granules typically in natural or black color with a rubber-like feel. Key features include excellent elastic recovery, good compression set resistance, high UV and ozone resistance, broad temperature performance range, and the ability to be reprocessed. Vulcanized olefinic TPEs are primarily used in automotive seals and weatherstripping, consumer goods, wire and cable insulation, and industrial components. <
Alternatives include styrenic block copolymers (TPE-S), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), and copolyester elastomers (COPE). The market trend shows increasing adoption in automotive applications as manufacturers seek weight reduction and recyclability benefits. Sub-types include variations with different elastomer content, oil-extended grades, flame-retardant formulations, and specialty grades for UV stability or paintability.
