Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is widely used and has good industry development prospects

Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) refers to elastic products that have both plastic and rubber properties. As a new type of environmentally friendly polymer material, thermoplastic elastomer has the advantages of high production efficiency, low production cost, and simple operation of processing equipment. It has gradually become a substitute for traditional rubber and plastics.

The raw materials of thermoplastic elastomers are butadiene, styrene, isoprene, etc. In recent years, driven by market demand, my country’s styrene production has increased significantly. In 2021, my country’s styrene production reached 12.964 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 45.2%. Benefiting from the sufficient supply of raw materials, my country’s thermoplastic elastomer production continues to increase. Since most thermoplastic elastomer raw materials are hazardous chemicals and the transportation risks are too high, my country’s thermoplastic elastomer production areas are mostly concentrated in the main raw material producing areas, including Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong and other places.

According to the “2022-2027 Thermoplastic Elastomer Industry Market In-depth Research and Investment Prospect Forecast Analysis Report released by the Industrial Research Center, There are many types of thermoplastic elastomers, among which styrenic thermoplastic elastomer (TPES) is the most widely used, accounting for nearly 50.0% of the market share. Styrenic thermoplastic elastomers are made of hard polystyrene segments and can be mixed with extenders, modifiers, synthetic resins, etc., and have the advantages of high processing efficiency and recyclability. Currently, styrenic thermoplastic elastomers are in strong demand in the fields of rubber products and resin modification, accounting for 70.0% of the total. SEBS, SIS, SBS and SEPS are the main varieties of styrenic thermoplastic elastomers. The first three products have achieved large-scale production in my country.

Thermoplastic elastomers are used in a wide range of applications, including household appliances, medical and health care, automobile manufacturing, rail transit, sports equipment, wires and cables, etc. In the field of wires and cables, because traditional PVC materials easily pollute the environment, thermoplastic elastomers are widely used as insulation and coating materials for wires and cables; in the field of automobile manufacturing, thermoplastic elastomers account for 40.0% of the demand and can be used as automobile insurance Raw materials for components such as bumpers, fenders, and dashboards.

KRATON of the United States, DOW Chemical of the United States, Dynasol of Spain, LG Chem of South Korea, and BASF of Germany are world-renowned thermoplastic elastomer suppliers, occupying the leading position in the industry. Although my country’s thermoplastic elastomer production continues to grow, it still cannot meet market demand and is highly dependent on imports. In recent years, local companies such as Sinopec and Li Changrong Chemical have continued to increase their research and development efforts, driving the localization rate of thermoplastic elastomers in my country to increase.

Industry analysts said that thermoplastic elastomers, as a key material for my country’s industrial transformation and upgrading, have benefited from positive factors such as national policy support and technological innovation. Driven by this, the market scale continues to expand. Overall, thermoplastic elastomers are widely used in many fields due to their excellent properties. As market demand is gradually released, the development prospects of my country’s thermoplastic elastomer industry will be broader.