Flexible (TPE / TPU) 

What are TPE and TPU

TPE (Termpoplastic Elastomers), also known as thermoplastic rubber, is the result of the mixture of polymers, a plastic as a base and rubber as an alloy, resulting in a material with thermoplastic and elastomeric properties. The degree of critical crosslinking of the TPE molecular structure is the cause of the high level of elasticity, crosslinking produced by the dipole-dipole junction (hydrogen bridges or Vander Waals forces). But by heating this material it can be processed as a thermoplastic, allowing it to be easily welded and reused.

This material is much easier to shape and cheaper than conventional silicones and rubbers, since, unlike those mentioned above, TPE doesn't require long production times or specialized facilities. Its application extends to an endless number of sectors, highlighting its use in construction (expansion joints or window insulation) and in the automotive industry (sleeves, dust covers, spring washers or anti-vibration parts).

TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is a thermoplastic, more specifically a linear elastomeric polymer belonging to the family of polyurethanes. This material is characterized by its high resistance to abrasion, certain chemical elements, UV rays and low temperatures. This set of properties makes the use of the TPU widespread throughout the industry.

This engineering plastic is used in applications that require high resistance to wear and abrasion, such as part protections, parts with good shock absorption, resistance to chemical elements (grease, oils, oxygen and ozone) or resistance to UV rays. Thanks to the whole set of TPU properties, this thermoplastic is used in countless sectors.

Filaflex and Flexfill

Filaflex 82A has great elasticity, a smooth surface finish and a high coefficient of friction, a set of properties that make it a material widely used in 3D printing. This material allows the manufacture of parts that combine rigid parts and elastic parts in a single 3D print thanks to the great adherence power of FilaFlex with other materials such as PLA, ABS, HiPS, Nylon, etc.

Flexfill 98A is a filament with a behavior similar to TPE (FilaFlex) but it has greater rigidity. This increased stiffness makes it easier to print on 3D printers that don't have an appropriate extruder type for printing very flexible filaments (TPE), such as bowden extruders or extruders that have an inadequate distance between the filament thrust pinion and the nozzle. In addition, it shows greater resistance to abrasion, greater resistance to UV rays, better elastic properties in low temperature conditions and has a higher printing resolution than TPE; making it more suitable for technical parts that require greater accuracy.