**13. Applications**

Thermoplastic elastomers have been widely used in automotive sector, medical devices, mobile electronics, household appliance sector and construction to replace conventional vulcanized rubber.

ease of processing the same as thermoplastics without the need for a separate curing reaction. Waste material can be reprocessed and production rates will be fast consistent with a thermoplastic. Upper application temperature limitations exist dependent upon the glass transition or melting temperature of the hard phase. Stress resistance is limited to the yield stress of the hard phase since permanent deformation will follow distortion or flow of the hard phase. Thermoplastic elastomers are enhanced by fillers, with nano-fillers having particular relevance when small amounts can support the hard phase. In the soft phase fillers will modify the elastic response. Structural diversity is found in thermoplastic elastomers with many chemical structures such as polyurethanes and polyolefins available

Adhikari, R., Godehardt, R., Huy, T. A., & Michler, G. H. (2003). Low temperature tensile

*Kautschuk Gummi Kunststoffe*, Vol. 56, No. 11, pp. 573-577, ISSN 0948-3276 Anuar, H., & Zuraida, A. (2011). Improvement in mechanical properties of reinforced

Aubert, Y., Coran & Raman, P. P. (2004). Thermoplastic Elastomers Based on Dynamically

Baeurle, S. A., Hotta, A., & Gusev, A. A. (2005). A new semi-phenomenological approach to

Bhavna, B. H., & Robert, P. B. (2001). Interpenetrating polymer networks based on a

Drobny, J. G. (2007). *Handbook of Thermoplastic Elastomer*, William Andrew Publishing, ISBN

Herbert, C., & Nan, T. (2010). Property difference of polybutadiene-derived thermoplastic polyurethanes based on preparative methods. *Cray Valley Technical Bulletin*, 5706 Holden, G. (2011). Thermplastic Elastomers, In: *Applied Plastics Engineering Handbook:* 

Kazuhiro, Y., Satoshi, A., Hirokazu, H., Satoshi, K., Chudej, D., Pasaree, L., Jipawat, C., &

Passador, F. R., Rodolfo Jr. A. & Pessan, L. A. (2008). Dynamic vulcanization of PVC/NBR blends, *Proceedings of the Polymer Processing Society 24th Annual Meeting*  Robert, P. B., Martin, G. M., & Robert, B. K. (2003). Small angle neutron scattering and

deformation behavior of styrene/butadiene based thermoplastic elastomer. *KGK*,

thermoplastic elastomer composite with kenaf bast fibre. *Composites Part: B*, Vol. 43,

Vulcanized Elastomer-Thermoplastic Blends, In: Thermoplastic Elastomers, Holden, G., Kricheldorf, H. R., and Quirk, R. P., pp. 143-182, Hanser Publishers,

predict the stress relaxation behavior of thermoplastic elastomers. *Polymer*, Vol. 46,

thermoplastic elastomer, using radiation techniques. *Radiation Physics and* 

*Processing and Materials*, Myer, K., pp. 77-92, Elsevier, ISBN 978-1-4377-3514-7,

Areeratt, K. (2005). Structural study of natural rubber thermoplastic elastomers and their composites with carbon black by small-angle neutron scattering and transmission electron microscopy, *Composites Part: A*, Vol. 36, pp. 423-429, ISSN

transmission electron microscopy studies of interpenetrating polymer networks

as both thermoset and thermoplastic elastomers.

pp. 462-465, ISSN 1359-8368.

ISBN 1-56990-364-6, Munich.

No. 12, pp. 4344-4354, ISSN 0032-3861.

978-0-8155-1549-4, New York, USA.

Oxford, UK.

1359-835X.

*Chemistry*, Vol. 62, pp. 99-105, ISSN 0969-806X.

**16. References** 


The only constraint of TPEs is the physical reversible crosslinks need to be disrupted by heat to mould, but they maybe disrupted during use.
