When it comes to custom plastic extrusions, one of the most important things to keep in mind has to do with your choice of materials. Only by understanding the precise needs of your project will you be able to work your way back to the material that will check all critical boxes on your list. For many of our own customers, TPU extrusions are a solution they depend on for a number of reasons that are absolutely worth a closer look.
TPU Extrusions: Breaking Things Down
Short for “thermoplastic polyurethane,” TPU is a type of material called an elastomer. It’s commonly used in a wide range of different applications, including for side molding and supports in a lot of modern vehicles. It’s also great for seals, belting, gaskets, and more.
This is in large part because TPU brings with it a number of benefits that make it ideal in many different conditions. It has low temperature flexibility, for example, and is both abrasion and wear resistant. These make it a particularly long-lasting option for a component that will operate under harsh conditions, like the drive belt on a car. It’s also got high chemical resistance when compared to alternatives, which is why it’s often used for the purposes of things like seals and gaskets.
Note that TPU extrusions are also used to help create everything from components for industrial conveyors, essential medical devices that are regularly providing life-saving care to patients, and even items in the sporting goods industry. Overall, TPU is slightly softer than some harder plastics, but that makes it more flexible as well. It’s also not as soft as options like silicone or even rubber.
One of the reasons why TPU extrusions in particular have become so popular is because TPU is often compounded with other materials to expand their own natural properties. If you need to increase the strength of something in a custom way before you mass produce a component, or if you’re designing an innovative new component for a car and need to worry about things like fuel or oil resistance, custom TPU extrusions can absolutely leave one less thing on your plate to worry about.
Spiratex: Your Partner in Custom Plastic Extrusion
At Spiratex, we pride ourselves on our ability to change the shape of plastics thanks to our custom plastic extrusion offerings. Whether you’re in need of custom tubing, profiles, or fabrication, we have the tools and the expertise needed to get the job done. Spiratex can also run durometers from 60A all the way up to 95A, as well as 55D to 65D.
Above all else, we’re true masters of complexity. Since 1955 we’ve maintained the stance that the harder the design is, the more we like it – meaning that there is no job too big or too difficult for us to handle. There are also no minimum order requirements.
If you’d like to find out more information about custom TPU extrusions and how they can benefit your next big project, or if you’d just like to talk about your needs pertaining to HDPE tubes, UHMW tubing, or related materials in a bit more detail, please contact the team at Spiratex today.
