Characteristics and differences of PU, TPU and TPH

1. PU

Short for polyurethane, polyurethane, is a polymer compound, was made in 1937 by Otto Bayer et al.

In terms of raw materials, polyurethane can be divided into two major categories, polyester and polyether. It can be made into polyurethane plastic, polyurethane fiber (called spandex in China), polyurethane rubber and elastomer.

Characteristics of polyurethane:

(1)Flexible polyurethane

With thermoplastic linear structure, it has better stability, chemical resistance, resilience and mechanical properties than PVC foam materials, and has less compression deformability. Good thermal insulation, sound insulation, anti-seismic and anti-toxic performance.

Mainly used as packaging, sound insulation, filter materials.

(2)Rigid polyurethane

Light, sound insulation, thermal insulation performance, chemical resistance, good electrical performance, easy processing, low water absorption.

Mainly used in building, automobile, aviation industry, thermal insulation of the structural materials.

(3)Polyurethane elastomer

Performance between plastic and rubber, oil resistance, wear resistance, low temperature resistance, aging resistance, high hardness, elastic.

Mainly used in the shoe industry and medical industry.

Polyurethane can also be used to make adhesives, coatings, synthetic leather and so on.

Polyurethane main raw materials include diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), toluene diisocyanate (TDI), polypropylene glycol (PPG).



2. TPU

The full name is Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomer Rubber, it is a kind of polyurethane, belongs to polyurethane elastomer, is a small category of PU.

TPU, a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, has the elasticity of rubber at room temperature and plasticity at high temperature. It is a kind of plastic polymer material whose properties are between rubber and plastic.



3. TPH

Unknown product abbreviation, therefore product attribution cannot be determined, it may be TPU elastomer toughened PVC. In the garment industry, TPH is unofficially said it's PVC with toughener added.

Characterized in that it is itself PVC, that PVC undergoes oxygen contact and light, so that HCl is removed, aging resistance, yellowing resistance poor, there may be toughening agent out, harmful to the body.