4. Conclusion

TPE and TPV are relatively expensive specialty products. From a technical point of view, their properties differ from those of cross-linkable rubbers on the one hand, and plastics on the other. Thermoplastic processing is faster and less costly than for rubber. To succeed in replacing existing parts or conquering new markets, we need to completely rethink the problems and seek new overall solutions that exploit the advantages of TPEs and minimize their limitations.

The application of this strategy, the constant progress of VSEs and the emergence of super-VSEs have led to their breakthrough in many fields as diverse as automotive, medical applications and photovoltaics.

However, as with any family of materials, TPEs may not be suitable for certain applications. Tires are a case in point: TPEs and TPVs are currently unsuitable for the manufacture...