TPS: Thermoplastic Styrene Elastomer

General Properties

Short Name:

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TPS

Thermoplastic Styrene Elastomer

TPS is a tri-block copolymer with two styrene blocks (hard segments) on each end and an elastomeric block (soft segments, polydiene or hydrogenated polydiene) in the center. Characteristic properties of both hard and soft segments are also observed in the DSC curves.

Structural Formula

Properties

Glass Transition TemperatureThe glass transition is one of the most important properties of amorphous and semi-crystalline materials, e.g., inorganic glasses, amorphous metals, polymers, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients, etc., and describes the temperature region where the mechanical properties of the materials change from hard and brittle to more soft, deformable or rubbery.Glass Transition Temperature	-80 to -50 (butadiene), 85 to 100 (styrene) °C
Melting Temperatures and EnthalpiesThe enthalpy of fusion of a substance, also known as latent heat, is a measure of the energy input, typically heat, which is necessary to convert a substance from solid to liquid state. The melting point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes state from solid (crystalline) to liquid (isotropic melt).Melting Temperature	150 to 160 (PP) °C
Melting Temperatures and EnthalpiesThe enthalpy of fusion of a substance, also known as latent heat, is a measure of the energy input, typically heat, which is necessary to convert a substance from solid to liquid state. The melting point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes state from solid (crystalline) to liquid (isotropic melt).Melting Enthalpy	20 J/g
Decomposition reactionA decomposition reaction is a thermally induced reaction of a chemical compound forming solid and/or gaseous products. Decomposition Temperature	440 to 455°C
Young's Modulus	10 to 200 MPa
Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (CLTE/CTE)The coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) describes the length change of a material as a function of the temperature.Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion	-
Specific Heat Capacity	-
Thermal ConductivityThermal conductivity (λ with the unit W/(m•K)) describes the transport of energy – in the form of heat – through a body of mass as the result of a temperature gradient (see fig. 1). According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat always flows in the direction of the lower temperature.Thermal Conductivity	-
DensityThe mass density is defined as the ratio between mass and volume. Density	0.88 to 1.30 g/cm³
Morphology	Thermoplastic elastomer, copolymer with hard and soft segments
General properties	Good hydrolysis resistance. High thermal resistance. Good aging resistance
Processing	Injection molding, extrusion, blow molding
Applications	Shoe industry (soles). Medical products. Screwdrivers, handles, electric tools (multi-component injection molding with hard and soft segments, whereas TPS represents the soft component)

NETZSCH Measurement

Instrument	DSC 204 `F1` `Phoenix^®`
Sample Mass	15.25 mg
IsothermalTests at controlled and constant temperature are called isothermal.Isothermal Phase	8 min
Heating/Colling Rates	10 K/min
Crucible	Al, pierced lid
Atmosphere	N₂ (40 ml/min)

Evaluation

The present material is a blend from the tri-block copolymer and PP. In the 2^nd heating (red), a Glass Transition TemperatureThe glass transition is one of the most important properties of amorphous and semi-crystalline materials, e.g., inorganic glasses, amorphous metals, polymers, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients, etc., and describes the temperature region where the mechanical properties of the materials change from hard and brittle to more soft, deformable or rubbery.glass transition can be seen at -68°C (midpoint), followed by a broad, endothermal effect (peak temperature -14°C), both of which are related to the butadiene component. A small Glass Transition TemperatureThe glass transition is one of the most important properties of amorphous and semi-crystalline materials, e.g., inorganic glasses, amorphous metals, polymers, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients, etc., and describes the temperature region where the mechanical properties of the materials change from hard and brittle to more soft, deformable or rubbery.glass transition for the polystyrene component can be seen at approx. 85°C (midpoint). This is followed by two endothermal effects with a total melting enthalpy of approx. 15 J/g; a smaller one at 115°C and a larger one at 154°C (peak temperature). The main peak is attributable to the melting of PP. The smaller peak at 115°C may be due to the presence of some PE. The DSC curves from the 1^st and 2^nd heatings are nearly identical.