Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is an exceptionally useful material with many uses- Suzhou Shincell New Material Co., Ltd.

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is an exceptionally useful material with many uses. Constructed from short and long-chain polyols, diisocyanates, and additives, its ratio of hard segments to soft segments can be altered, leading to different mechanical properties and a wide variety in mechanical performance. Furthermore, TPU offers flame retardancy properties as well as antimicrobial, fluid-resistant qualities and easy cleaning; its smooth surface allows it to be cleaned without leaving marks. TPU foam sheets can easily molded into various shapes making it perfect for packaging cushioning or thermal insulation applications.

Pre-polymerized thermoplastic polyurethane foams with various amounts of hard segments were synthesized using the pre-polymerization method and have been evaluated according to Shore hardness, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, wide angle X-ray diffraction and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. After being blown using one-step gas dissolution foaming process they have also been examined for relative density, average cell size and cell nucleation density analysis.

Five ETPU foam samples sized 20 mm x 90 mm x 3 mm were prepared and put through tensile testing at an extension ratio of 10:1. SEM micrographs of these samples were obtained using a JEOL JSM-820 microscope while their cellular structure was observed via computerized image analysis program.

At 170 deg C and 25 MPa pressure for 1 hour at 170 deg C, optimal conditions were found to produce TPU foams with the lowest relative density (7.74), lowest average cell size (4 microns) and increased cell nucleation density (8 x 109 cells/cm3). This indicated that compression molding can produce TPU foams under conditions that lie just below their melting points for success.

TPU foams produced in this study feature high resilience, due to their low specific density and large expansion ratio. Unfortunately, however, their poor ball rebound properties likely result from their low energy absorption capabilities. According to this research, their ball rebound properties may be improved by selecting isocyanates and polyols appropriate for TPU synthesis as well as altering compositional elements within their processing window to produce TPU foams with greater ball rebound properties.

Huntsman IROGRAN(r) TPU grade is ideal for meeting these objectives as its development was tailored towards attaining higher resilience and lower abrasion through increasing its proportion of HS content. IROGRAN(r) TPU offers high production yield and excellent water vapour resistance, free from toxic or volatile chemicals and formaldehyde - ideal for manufacturing footwear, elastomeric binders and coatings. TPU material with good abrasion resistance is ideal for making sports shoes, hiking boots and protective clothing, furniture upholstery and automotive upholstery applications. Furthermore, its excellent abrasion resistance makes it a suitable material for furniture upholstery as well as protective clothing applications. This new TPU grade should increase efficiency within the shoe industry and reduce energy consumption to reduce production costs and production expenses.