Thermoplastic elastomers for automotive applications - Past, present, and future

摘要

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) were first introduced into the automotive market in the 1960s, and since that time have become a major class of elastomeric materials sultable for use im motor vehicles worldwide. The development of engineered, higher performance TPEs has resulted in the replacement of thermoset rubber in a wide variety of automotive applications. The growth of TPEs within the automotive market has been the result of new product development by TPE suppliers along with the combined efforts of the TPE suppliers, original equipment manufactures (OEMs) and tier suppliers to commerclalize a broader base of applications using TPEs. The catalyst for this growth has been the automotive community's desire to reduce cost and improve product performance. TPEs have been able to satlsfy these desires. This paper reflects on past developments, examines present developments, and looks to future TPE developments within the automotive market.