A Preliminary Introduction about TPU

Polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer (TPU), also known as polyurethane rubber. 

TPU is a class of elastic polymer materials containing more urethane groups (-NHCOO-) in the molecular chain. It is reacted from oligomerized diisocyanate, polyether with terminal hydroxyl, or polyester polyol, and low molecular weight diol chain extender.

Polyurethane elastomer is a block polymer, which generally consists of a flexible long chain of polyols to form a soft segment, and a diisocyanate and a chain extender to form a hard segment.

The hard segments are alternately arranged in an orderly manner, forming a repeating structure crystalline unit, giving the elastomer high strength, rigidity and high melting point and other properties; the soft segments are arranged in disorder and curling to form an amorphous region, giving the elastomer flexibility, elasticity, and moisture absorption and low temperature resistance.

The molecular chain of polyurethane elastomer contains a large number of urethane groups and ether, ester and urea groups, which are combined with strong hydrogen bonds. Formulations from a wide variety of ethers and esters yield polyurethane elastomer varieties with very different properties. These structural features give polyurethane elastomers excellent abrasion resistance, toughness and high elasticity, and are also easily compatible with other polymers.