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Top Ten Surprising - and Totally Appropriate - Applications for TPEs

Squats. Sports Woman In Fashion Clothes Squatting With Resistance Band, Exercising Home. High Resolution

Our design and product partners come to us with great requests. Because of the incredible range of design-friendly, high-performance thermoplastic elastomer compounds (TPEs) we offer, we are able to put TPEs to work for their products in some pretty innovative – and probably surprising – ways.

To inspire you, here’s a collection of some of the best applications of TPEs that have come through our lab recently:

Wearable fitness tracker with UV exposure monitoring and hydration tracking, slim and stylish, on a wrist, softly glowing green

10.  Wearables 

How’s your fitness tracker holding up? If you wear it on your wrist, it’s exposed daily to sweat, salt, water, soaps and household chemicals – not to mention the occasional inadvertent slam on the wall or catching in a zipper or button. Wearables made using TPEs - including personal electronics or fitness trackers -deliver long-term endurance properties despite perspiration, body oils and chemicals. They are highly resistant to scratches, marring and peeling, and don’t cause allergic reactions with constant skin contact. 

 

 

professional photography of colorful kids’ sneakers with playful patterns, side lighting, light green background, empty space for text at the top, energetic and sporty theme --chaos 20 --ar 16:9 --v 6.1 Job ID: 454067c3-75c5-4299-8fb8-849960cd1cf4

9.  Sneaker soles and shoe inserts

Here, TPEs play the role of the workhorse of your athletic shoe – the inside core layer between the sole and the top of the shoe that does all of the heavy lifting. You love the supportive feel – it’s squishy and bounces back, and provides comfortable support for high-impact and weight-bearing activity. Aesthetically, it can be clear or colored for seasonal trends.

Removable gel inserts for heel cupping, plantar fasciitis support or comfort are also ‘shoe-ins’ for this kind of TPE application.

 

 

Picture of adult woman practising yoga at home

8.  Yoga mats 

Yogis want to focus on stretching, contorting and enduring in difficult poses – not whether their mat will smell, slide or tear while they’re practicing yoga. TPEs in yoga mats ensure that they are durable, resistant to sweat and body oils, and most importantly – will maintain a secure grip to the floor. Hold that pose forever!

 

 

Jack Russell Terrier dog with toy bone

7.      Dog toys

They are literally designed for the worst kind of wear and tear from aggressively playful creatures with sharp teeth. Dog toys made with TPEs are tough but chewy; tear and abrasion resistant for longevity. Is “puppy breath” an embarrassing issue for your pooch? Canine toys made with TPEs can even be designed with added minty or vanilla fragrance!

 

 

Copy space image of a teething baby on a cotton bed with a teether and rattles showcasing a children s article

6.      Baby teethers

We all know that baby toys, pacifiers and teethers spend the majority of time in baby’s mouth. It’s the ideal application for TPEs: Babies love the softness and feel of it in their mouths, and moms love the FDA-compliant materials it’s made with. There’s no toxicity to or reactions with skin or mucus membranes, and always, BPA-free and phthalate-free. Want to toss it in the freezer for a cold soothing sensation on baby’s sore gums? No problem: Teethers made with TPE hold up nicely in low temperatures.

 

 

Swimming flippers on color background, top view. Space for text

5.      Swim fins

For fun in the pool or the ocean, these fins (literally) take a beating - on rocks, hard pool walls, from the sun’s UV rays, and from highly chlorinated or salty water environments. Plus, they need to have a comfortable but very secure grip on the foot. TPEs ensure the ideal combination of flexibility and hardness in various grades of thicknesses on the fin, to endure the rolling waves or the rigors of regular swim exercise.

 

 

Safety glasses for industrial workers on an isolated background.

4.      Safety glasses contacts

Having a securely fitting pair of safety glasses is critical when you’re working with power tools that can result in sharp pieces or sparks flying about. Safety glasses made with TPEs have a soft and slip-free seal on the nose-pinch for adhesion to the nose, and a secure but comfortable grip for the fittings around the ears.

 

 

synthetic wine corks, smooth coated wine corks in natural color and in colored option

3.      Synthetic wine corks

Do you care about “organoleptics?” Designers who use TPEs in food applications sure do – and can count on the materials in your wine cork NOT compromising customers’ experience of the taste, scent and texture of the wine. 

 

 

A pristine resort pool area features comfortable lounge chairs, umbrellas, and cabanas, framed by palm trees, under a clear blue sky, epitomizing luxury and relaxation.

2.   Coated fabrics

TPEs improve the durability and weatherability of common household items. Increasingly, TPEs are used in coated fabrics found in window shades, lawn furniture, and wall coverings.  TPEs provide resistance to wear, moisture, mold, and UV rays. 

Even better? In commercial buildings, the use of TPEs instead of PVC earns Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) points for sustainability.

 

 

Sports Woman Training In Fashion Black Sportswear, Workout With Fitness Ball On Grey Background. High Resolution

1.      Athletic wear

TPEs are used in athletic wear – like sports bras and yoga pants, providing excellent support and a comfortable fit over time. Since TPEs are highly elastic materials, these garments maintain their shape over time, even after repeated washings.  Better yet, athletic wear made with TPEs is breathable and moisture-wicking.

 

 

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