As someone who’s spent years navigating the world of high-polymer materials, I’ve come across countless questions about how materials like thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are used—or not used—in specific applications. One question that keeps popping up is: “Why don’t we see medical gloves made from TPE?” It’s a great question, especially since TPE is flexible, eco-friendly, […]

As someone who’s spent years working with high-polymer materials, I’ve often been asked about the differences between thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). One question that keeps coming up is: “If TPE is so great—flexible, eco-friendly, and versatile—why is it sometimes cheaper than PVC?” At first glance, it seems puzzling, but there’s a lot

Having worked in the high-polymer materials industry for over a decade, I’ve fielded countless questions about thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), from their processing quirks to their real-world performance. One question that pops up often, especially from engineers and quality control teams, is: “Why do we need to test TPE for copper corrosion?” It’s a topic that

As someone who’s been immersed in the field of high-polymer materials for years, I often get questions about thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) processing temperatures, especially: “Why does TPE need such high temperatures?” This question seems straightforward but touches on material properties, processing requirements, and real-world applications. In this article, I’ll dive deep into why TPE processing

Hey everyone! I’m a materials engineer at Linn, where I’ve been knee-deep in thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) for over 15 years. If you’re here, I’m guessing you’ve run into a pesky issue: your TPE injection-molded parts are coming out with white marks or discoloration around the sprue—the spot where the material flows into the mold. It’s

Hey there! I’m a materials engineer at Linn, where I’ve been working with thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) for over 15 years. If you’ve landed here, I’m betting you’ve noticed something off with your TPE products—maybe a yoga mat with uneven shades, a phone case that’s patchy, or a sealing strip that just doesn’t match. Color variations

Hey everyone! I’m a materials engineer at Linn, where I’ve been working with thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) for over a decade. If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you’ve hit a snag: your TPE product—maybe a yoga mat, a phone case, or a sealing strip—has gone stiff. It’s not bouncing back like it used to, and you’re

Hey there! I’m a materials engineer at Linn, where I’ve spent the last 15 years knee-deep in the world of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). If you’re here, chances are you’ve noticed something annoying: watermarks on your TPE products. Maybe it’s a yoga mat with weird streaks, a phone case with cloudy spots, or a sealing strip

Hi everyone! I’m a materials engineer at Linn, where I’ve been diving deep into thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) for over a decade. Lately, I’ve noticed a question popping up a lot: “Why does TPE material smell?” It’s a fair concern—especially when you open a package of TPE-made toys, seals, or everyday items and get hit with

Hey everyone! I’ve been knee-deep in the world of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) for years, and let me tell you, there’s nothing more frustrating than seeing bubbles pop up in an overmolded part. You’ve got this perfect plan—maybe you’re bonding TPE to a hard plastic like PP or ABS for a grip or seal—and then bam,