Thermoplastic Polyurethane Film is composed of intercrossed soft segments and hard segments. The material properties of these two components determine the core performance of Polyurethane Film, and different combinations are suitable for diverse scenarios such as industrial and medical fields. The core selection points are as follows:
Classification and Selection of Soft Segments
- Polyester-based TPU: Oil-resistant, wear-resistant, and high in hardness; poor moisture resistance without special treatment, and prone to aging when in long-term contact with water. Suitable for durable industrial components such as industrial conveyor belts, casters, and fuel tank liners.
- Polyether-based TPU: Excellent water resistance, maintains toughness and good resilience at low temperatures, and is resistant to microbial erosion; its tensile and tear resistance is slightly inferior to that of polyester-based TPU. Suitable for underwater components, cable sheaths, outdoor wear, and medical catheters.
- Polycaprolactone-based TPU: Combines the toughness of polyester-based TPU with the low-temperature resistance and water resistance of polyether-based TPU, with stable and long-lasting elasticity; relatively high price, suitable for professional sealing scenarios and elastic-retaining seals and gaskets.
Classification and Selection of Hard Segments
- Aromatic: Common in the market, cost-effective, high strength and wear resistance; poor weather resistance, prone to discoloration under long-term exposure to sunlight, not suitable for transparent requirements. Suitable for automotive parts, industrial rollers, sneaker air cushions and other shoe components.
- Aliphatic: Can be made into Clear Polyurethane Film, featuring high transparency, stable color, resistance to sunlight and discoloration/aging; slightly lower strength than aromatic type, relatively high price. Suitable for screen protectors, medical device housings, automotive interiors and other transparent and light-colored scenarios.
Core Selection Summary
Choose polyester-based for oil resistance, polyether-based for water resistance and medical applications, aliphatic for transparency and sun resistance, aromatic for cost-effectiveness, and polycaprolactone-based for long-term elasticity requirements.