TPR has qualities that combine the properties of rubber with the moulding capabilities of thermoplastics. Think of custom-fitted floor mats in cars, for example. TPR is also standard material for truck-bed liners.

　　Characteristics of TPR:

　　Holds its shape

　　It comes in varying levels of flexibility

　　Flexibility can be increased by adding more rubber to the chemical makeup

　　Can be formulated so the rubber smell is not noticeable

　　Lightweight

　　Can be coloured to your requirements

　　TPR is used in applications which require gluing, such as footwear and toys, while TPE doesn’t react well to adhesives. You’ll also find TPR at work in:

　　Tubing

　　Wire and cable

　　Sealants

　　Bitumen additives

　　Automotive trim

　　Gaskets

　　Packaging

　　Film and sheet

　　Similar to TPE, TPR incorporates the flexibility of rubber and plastics – and in terms of combustion, TPR emits thicker and darker smoke when burning, as opposed to TPE. When using thermoplastic elastomers, engineers are able to stretch them to moderate elongations. They can then be returned to the original shape; what this does is offer a much longer life. On top of this, the fact that the TPR provides a better physical range than other materials is also a big draw.