Having spent years knee-deep in the world of high-polymer materials, I’ve tackled my fair share of challenges with thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and their applications. One question that crops up often, especially from engineers working on composite parts, is: “Why does TPE struggle to stick when overmolding onto HDPE?” It’s a frustrating issue—HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is […]

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