TPE和TPV区别?密封条选它,硫化是秘密

塑料知识科普 发布时间: 2026-09-14 2052 阅读

The sealing strip is just acceptable with SEBS, but after three years it gets compressed and cannot return, causing air leakage. The difference between TPV and TPE lies entirely in compression set.

TPV's 'vulcanization' technology is its foundation: EPDM rubber undergoes dynamic vulcanization in PP, forming micron-sized crosslinked particles.

This process gives TPV the rebound of rubber and the processability of plastic— the word 'vulcanization' is the dividing line between TPV and ordinary TPE.

The 'appearance' difference between TPV and ordinary TPE: TPV has a rubber-like surface, while SEBS-based TPE has a more plastic-like feel. For over-molded parts, decide which texture you want first—if the texture is chosen incorrectly, the customer will return it as soon as they see it.

TPV's 'touch' tuning: TPV can be soft and resilient, but it feels different from the soft and smooth texture of SEBS. For seals, it doesn't matter much, but for overmolded parts (steering wheels, tool handles), it is important— in overmolded applications, you should first feel the sample before deciding on the system.

TPV's 'hardness range': TPV commonly has a Shore hardness of 40A-50D, which is somewhat narrower than that of SEBS-based materials. For parts that need to be extremely soft (00-20A), TPV may not be soft enough—in extremely soft scenarios, SEBS-based materials are more suitable.

The "weight" advantage of TPV: TPV is lighter than rubber, and weight reduction in seals is meaningful for vehicle fuel consumption and electric vehicle range. When it comes to lightweighting, TPV can do the math for customers—reducing weight means lowering costs.

The 'cost' structure of TPV: TPV is expensive due to the vulcanization process and crosslinking system. However, with long lifespan and few repairs for the seals, it is cost-effective in the overall accounting—compare lifespan before unit price.

Comparison of TPV: TPE focuses on touch, TPV focuses on oil resistance, TPEE focuses on fatigue—each of the three brothers handles their own area, choose according to the job.

The 'data' trilogy of TPV: compression-set curve, aging curve, and dielectric list — a TPV solution is only considered complete when all three are available.

The crosslinking degree of TPV is directly reflected in the compression set curve: variations in crosslinking degree between batches of the same grade can cause an 8-10% difference in compression set; during acceptance, consider the high-temperature compression set at 125℃×22h together, not just the room temperature value.

One-sentence conclusion: TPV is a 'vulcanized enhanced version' of TPE, making it more stable in sealing applications.

TPV (thermoplastic vulcanizate) is a special member of the TPE family: EPDM rubber is dynamically vulcanized in a PP matrix, forming cross-linked rubber microparticles.

It retains the thermoplastic properties of TPE (injectable and recyclable), while also obtaining the cross-linking properties of rubber (oil-resistant, heat-resistant, and good compression set).

DimensionTPE (SEBS-based)TPV
Cross-linkingPhysical crosslinking (microregion)Chemical crosslinking (vulcanization)
Compression setmiddleLow, good rebound
Oil-resistantmiddleGood
Temperature resistant100℃ level120-135°C grade
hand feelsoft and glutinousSlightly hard, rubbery
PriceLowTall

Tech Tip: The dividing line between TPE and TPV is whether it can 'withstand long-term pressure and still rebound'—for sealing strips and shock-absorbing parts, TPV is more stable.

Criterion One · Compressive Permanent Deformation: The 'Exam Question' of Seals

Compression set also has a 'temperature' dimension: at room temperature, the difference between TPE and TPV is not significant, but above 100°C the gap widens—the crosslinked network resists high-temperature creep, while physical crosslinking cannot withstand it.

When selecting sealing material, make sure to get the 'compression set at operating temperature' data, not just the room temperature value.

The crucial point of a seal is permanent compression deformation: after it is compressed and deformed, can it return to its original shape. If it can't return, the seal fails.

The temperature, time, and compression rate according to test standards (such as ISO 815) should be clearly stated — even with the same '30% permanent compression deformation,' 23°C and 125°C are two completely different conclusions.

It is recommended that the compression set acceptance test be conducted according to ISO 815, with a compression rate of 25% and sampling at 70℃ for 22 hours. For long-term compressed seals, the permanent compression deformation should be kept within 25%; for outdoor sealing strips, additionally assess the color difference and strength retention after 500 hours of xenon lamp exposure.

Criterion Two · Oil and Heat Resistance: The Second Stronghold of TPV

The 'oil resistance' of TPV depends on the medium: mineral oil, engine oil, or fuel, which have different effects on TPV erosion.

When selecting a model, clearly specify 'what oil it will contact, at what temperature, and for how long'; the supplier will provide data based on the actual medium—vague terms like 'oil-resistant' make it impossible to choose the material.

TPV 'weather resistance' verification: For outdoor sealing strips, check color difference and strength retention after 500-1000 hours of xenon lamp aging. If the supplier cannot provide aging data, do not use it for outdoor components—weather resistance is not a verbal promise, the data speaks for itself.

TPV's 'chemical resistance' list: acids, bases, detergents, coolants; different media have different effects on TPV. Include the media list in the operating conditions, and the supplier provides data according to the list—vague 'chemical resistance' is not sufficient for material selection.

TPV 'aging' data: Ozone resistance and UV resistance are the foundation of EPDM, but there are significant differences between different grades. It is required that suppliers provide 'aging curves' (data points for different durations), which are more reliable than single-point data.

The 'application' boundary of TPV: temperature resistance up to 135℃; beyond that, switch to TPEE or rubber. Using it beyond the limit may work in the short term, but long-term aging occurs—the awareness of boundaries is the baseline for material selection.

TPV's 'reminder': The key of the seal lies in compression set. If the compression set is not acceptable, everything else is in vain—measure the compression set first, then discuss other matters.

TPV's 'final push': Once the three sets of data—pressure variation, aging, and dielectric—are in hand, touch the sample again. If the feel of the sample aligns with the data, a decision can be made—both hands need to be firm.

The 'three supplements' of TPV: choose SEBS for hand feel, choose TPV for sealing—first divide by role, then discuss the price.

Criterion Three · Process and Cost: Efficiency of thermoplastics, performance of rubber

Attention should be paid to the 'recycling' of TPV: TPV is thermoplastic and can be recycled, but the proportion of recycled material and the decline in performance need to be controlled.

When the seal factory recycles sprues, it is recommended to mix them back in at a fixed ratio and verify — recycled material is not unusable, it just needs to be properly controlled.

The core value of TPV is the process dividend: rubber needs vulcanization molding (slow), while TPV can be directly injection molded/extruded (fast), and the sprues can also be recycled. For mass-produced seals, TPV has the same efficiency advantage as rubber, but the cost is significantly lower.

SceneRecommendReason
Car door and window sealsTPVGood weather resistance and permanent compression deformation
Kitchen and bathroom sealing ringTPE/TPVSelect by cost
Engine compartment pipingTPVOil-resistant and temperature-resistant
General coated partsTPETactile cost

Three issues define the system: compression set, oil resistance, non-vulcanization

The 'grade system' of TPV: different hardnesses, different vulcanization systems, with a wide variety of grades.

TPV's 'certification': automotive parts need to meet OEM standards, and food-grade ones need to pass food contact certification. TPV certification must be done before selection—waiting to supplement certification after receiving orders is too time-consuming.

The 'processing window' of TPV: high melting temperature, high viscosity, mold design and injection molding parameters are different from ordinary TPE. When switching to TPV, first perform process verification—if the parameters are incorrect, the appearance and dimensions will all change.

TPV's 'mold design': shrinkage rate, gate location, draft angle, are different from ordinary TPE. The characteristics of TPV should be considered during the mold design stage—if changes are made after the mold is set, both time and money are wasted.

Color stability of TPV: TPV tends to discolor over long-term use after coloring, especially for light-colored parts. Suppliers are required to provide 'light fastness' data — for light-colored TPV parts, color fastness is an implicit indicator.

DimensionTPETPVJudgment
Temperature resistantmiddleTallHigh-temperature selection TPV
Oil-resistantmiddleGoodOil-extended TPV
PriceLowTallChoose TPE for budget
reboundGoodGoodTie

Cologne client case: rebounding insufficient functional parts fail to meet standards, stable yield during production commissioning

A car parts factory in Wuxi had insufficient rebound in TPE/TPV seals, and functional parts did not meet standards. Cologne cooperated on-site with production debugging, the yield stabilized, and the odor level met the customer's acceptance standards.

Accounts with substandard rebound are mostly recorded under materials, and the root cause is often in the process — first check the production, then change the materials.

Summary

The three criteria for selecting between TPE and TPV—compression set, oil and heat resistance, cost efficiency—pointing these questions in the right direction makes things clear.

The selection judgment of TPE is more valuable than the part number itself, and it is also worth spending time on first. Don’t let the selection become an obstacle before mass production.

TPV's 'sample verification': Seals need to be sampled and tested according to actual assembly—install them, tighten them, run operational conditions, don't just look at material data. Only after real assembly testing can we talk about mass production.

TPV's 'alternative' grades: Keep alternatives in mind when selecting seals—if the primary grade is out of stock, the alternative can take over. If the supplier provides an 'alternative with the same performance,' it gives peace of mind when working together.

TPV's 'one sentence': Choose it for sealing strips, vulcanization is the secret — the cross-linked network is the foundation of TPV.

The 'price account' of TPV needs to be calculated clearly: TPV is more expensive than SEBS, but the seals last longer and require fewer repairs. When calculating the total cost (materials plus repairs plus customer complaints), TPV is often more economical in sealing applications — don't just compare unit prices.

TPV's 'supplier' selection: TPV has high technical barriers, and there is a significant gap between domestic and imported levels. Look at three things: vulcanization process stability, batch consistency, and sealing case studies—only when all three are met will we dare to talk about long-term cooperation.

The "application extension" of TPV: from automotive sealing to home appliances, bathroom fixtures, and industrial parts, TPV's stage is expanding. New applications are first verified in small batches; don't go straight to mass production—the pitfalls of new scenarios can be encountered during the small batch phase.

TPV's 'cost optimization': TPV is expensive, but it can be mixed with SEBS-based materials (sorted by part). Cost-sensitive components use TPE, and critical seals use TPV—a combined solution, which is a moderate compromise between cost and quality.

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