TPE industry structure evolution, new technical developments and global market shifts
von Robert Eller
The technical performance range of the TPEs continues to broaden and is contributing to market growth, especially for the SBC type TPEs (SBC-TPEs) and olefinic TPVs (o-TPVs). The performance envelope of the super-TPVs (s-TPVs) is also widening as properties are improved and new polymer combinations are added. The shift in manufacturing from the West to Asian countries, especially China, has not only shifted the focus of the TPE marketplace but introduced new concepts of tailoring quality to a wider range of market tiers than are encountered in the more developed Western economies. Sustainability concerns are adding bio-TPEs to the range of TPE offerings.

