About TPU
With the development of society and the advancement of technology, the application of new materials has become more and more extensive. Since the beginning of the 1980s, TPU has changed from military to military and civilian use, and after civilian use, the variety of products has been increasing and production. The scale is expanding, and the role played by all sectors of the national economy and people's clothing, food, housing and transportation is becoming increasingly important.
One
TPU performance advantages
1. Through the selection of raw materials and the adjustment of formula, it can be changed within a certain range to meet the different requirements of users for product performance. For example, the hardness is often an important indicator for the user. The polyurethane elastomer can be made into a soft printing rubber roller with a Shore A hardness of about 20, and a hard rolling rubber roller with a Shore D hardness of 70 or higher. This is difficult to achieve with general elastomer materials. Polyurethane elastomer is a kind of polar polymer material composed of many flexible segments and rigid segments. As the proportion of rigid segments increases and the density of polar groups increases, the original strength and hardness of the elastomer will increase accordingly.
2. Excellent wear resistance. Especially in the working conditions of water, oil and other wetting medium, the wear resistance is several times that of ordinary rubber materials. Although metal materials such as steel are very hard, they are not necessarily wear-resistant. For example, the large water pump in the irrigation area of the Yellow River, the metal ring and the protection ring of the over-current component are washed by a large amount of sediment, and it will be seriously worn and leaked in a few hundred hours. The mouth ring and the protective ring covered with the polyurethane elastomer are continuously operated for 1800 hours without being worn. Others such as the rolling mill rubber roller for grinding rice, the vibrating sieve plate for coal preparation, the track race track for sports fields, the dynamic oil seal ring for crane forklifts, the elevator wheel and the roller skate wheel are also polyurethane elastomers. The use of the land. One point to be mentioned here is to increase the friction coefficient of the medium and low hardness polyurethane elastic parts and improve the wear resistance under load. A small amount of aluminum disulfide, graphite or silicone oil can be added to the polyurethane elastomer. Lubricant.
3. Various processing methods and wide applicability. Polyurethane elastomer can be molded by the same process as mastic rubber, compounding and vulcanization process (referred to as MPU); it can also be made into liquid rubber, casting molding or spraying, potting, centrifugal molding (referring to CPU); The pelletized material, like ordinary plastic, is formed by injection, extrusion, calendering, blow molding, etc. (referred to as CPU). Molded or injection molded parts can be machined by cutting, grinding, drilling, etc. within a certain hardness range. The diversity of processing makes the polyurethane elastomer very applicable and the application field is expanding.
4, oil resistance, ozone resistance, aging resistance, radiation resistance, low temperature resistance, good sound permeability, strong adhesion, excellent biocompatibility and blood compatibility. These advantages are the reason why polyurethane elastomers are widely used in military, aerospace, acoustics, and biology.
two
TPU performance shortcomings
1, endogenous heat, high temperature performance in general. The normal operating temperature range is -40~120 °C. If long-term effects are required under high-frequency oscillation conditions or high temperature conditions, corresponding modification measures must be taken in the structural design or formulation.
2, not resistant to strong polar solvents and strong acid and alkali medium. At a certain temperature, the alcohol, acid, and ketone will swell and degrade the polyurethane elastomer, and the solvent such as chloroform, dichloromethane, dimethylformamide or trichloroethylene will swell the polyurethane elastomer at normal temperature.
three
Development prospects of TPU
Benefiting industry transfer China and Southeast Asian countries TPU development potential from 2007 to 2010, due to the rapid development of shoe materials, machinery, pipe, automotive, construction and other industries, and more and more wear-resistant materials using TPU, the global TPU Demand is growing, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.6%. According to IAL statistics, the global consumption of TPU in 2007 was 384,300 tons, and in 2010 it was 465,500 tons. With the gradual reduction of the unit price of TPU particles and TPU film and the restrictions on PVC and other materials in the EU, the cost performance of TPU materials has gradually emerged. At the same time, the excellent performance and environmental protection characteristics of TPU are increasingly welcomed by consumers. The rate will reach about 10%. It is estimated that the global demand for TPU materials will reach 750,000 tons in 2015.
The TPU industry is relatively unbalanced in the global development. In developed countries in Europe and America, the TPU industry is relatively mature. In China and Southeast Asia, due to industrial transfer, the rapid development of sports shoes, automobiles, machinery and other industries in the region has gradually become the world. Processing plants, the TPU industry has developed rapidly. Among them, Asia is the world's largest TPU market, accounting for about half of the world's demand, Europe and North America each occupy about 20%. In terms of demand, shoe materials account for the largest proportion, close to 30% of the total TPU demand. Followed by the machinery industry, accounting for about 28%, while the pipe, automotive, and construction sectors each account for about 10%.
Since the 21st century, China's TPU materials have been widely used in the fields of shoe materials, rubber rollers, rollers, pipes, adhesives, synthetic leather, melt-spun spandex, and film. In 2010, the domestic market consumed 154,000 tons, mainly for low-end and medium-end products. The high-end products used in adhesives, melt-spun spandex, film and other fields are currently poor and unstable, and the scale is small, mainly relying on Europe, US imports. The overall situation of TPU is that Europe, the United States imports, Taiwan, South Korea produce products in mainland China and China produces products in three parts of the world, but China is in a weak position. Therefore, during the 12th Five-Year Plan period, the main goal of China's TPU is to increase research and development efforts, improve the level of process technology, and expand the market share of high-end markets.
Taiwan's enterprises have matured and the mainland started late. The main competition for the TPU film in the low-end TPU film industry consists of three parts: Taiwan, China, and China. From a geographical perspective, the comparison between major producers and foreign companies in China's TPU industry is as follows: In the Chinese market, the mid- to high-end market of the TPU industry is mainly occupied by Taiwanese and European and American companies. Taiwan and foreign TPU companies have more than 30 years of development history and rich experience, so the market position in China's TPU industry is very important. Due to the mature technology and stable product performance of Taiwanese and foreign companies, Taiwanese and foreign companies mainly occupy the mid- to high-end market. Foreign companies are mostly diversified product manufacturers, and the products involve multiple links in the polyurethane industry chain. BASF provides basic chemical materials such as MDI and polyols for upstream materials of TPU, as well as TPU particles and TPU film products based on TPU particles. For example, Bayer MaterialScience's TPU film is mainly produced by its North American materials company, Dureflex series, Bayer material also produces other polyurethane products. Huntsman's TPU film products are mainly focused on TPU glass sheets, and Huntsman also offers basic chemical products such as MDI. Lubrizol produces a wide range of TPU particles and TPU film products. Therefore, foreign companies have many types of products, and TPU film is one of a variety of materials, and the product structure is comprehensive.
The product structure of Taiwanese companies is mostly the main products of TPU film and other plastic products. Taiwan's corporate products are mainly concentrated in the market of pneumatic tubes, shoe materials and adhesives. In addition to the production of TPU film, Taiwan Dingji Chemical also produces TPU products such as TPU seals, pneumatic tubes and conveyor belts. Taiwan Gaoding Chemical produces TPU particles and extends the TPU particle production line to TPU film. Due to the late start of China's TPU enterprises, mainly targeting the low-end and mid-end TPU film market in China, and the high technical and production experience of TPU film production, the number of professional TPU film production enterprises in China is low and the industry concentration is high. . Chinese TPU film manufacturers have the highest degree of specialization. The obvious feature is that there are many types of TPU films produced, covering a wide range of TPU films.
Foreign TPU particle enterprise products are mainly concentrated in the middle and high-end markets of adhesives, cables, high-end injection molding. In addition to the Taiwanese and foreign companies mentioned above, there are also South Korea's Jinxing Industrial, Taiwan's Kunzhong and Sanhuang have produced TPU particles. Foreign companies represented by BASF Bayer occupy the high-end market of China's TPU particle industry. Chinese companies mainly include Yantai Wanhua, Zhejiang Huafeng and Shanghai Lianjing. The overall industry concentration of TPU particles is high.
In 2015, China's TPU market scale is nearly 8 billion. Since the 21st century, China's TPU has been used in 2007 in the fields of shoe materials, rubber rollers, rollers, pipes, adhesives, synthetic leather, melt-spun spandex, and film. 115,000 tons, the world's first. In 2008, the production capacity has reached 230,000 tons, the largest in the world. It is estimated that by 2015 China's TPU industry will form a market size of nearly 8 billion yuan. At present, the overall demand of China's TPU market is relatively high. As far as the development trend of TPU materials is concerned, TPU particle technology is relatively stable, and there are many varieties of products. It is in the stage of incomplete full competition and entry threshold. The current technology of TPU film is not Mature, product development is unstable, the variety is limited, the number of competitors is small, and the market entry threshold is temporarily higher. According to the industry's growth judgment conditions, it can be initially determined that China's TPU pellet industry is in the early stage of the growth period, and the TPU film industry is in the early stage of the rapid growth period.
Since the 21st century, China's TPU has a huge application market in the fields of shoe materials, rubber rollers, rollers, pipes, adhesives, synthetic leather, melt-spun spandex, and film. In 2007, the consumption was 115,000 tons (accounting for the world's total consumption). About 30% of the 384,300 tons), the world's first. In 2008, the production capacity has reached 230,000 tons, the largest in the world. It is estimated that by 2015 China's TPU industry will form a market size of nearly 8 billion yuan.
TPU gradually replaces PVC in the field of medical devices
When selecting polymers for the manufacture of plastic medical devices such as medical bags and catheters, it is important to consider not only the functional requirements of the polymeric material, but also the safety requirements of the final application. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has been widely used in medical device manufacturing for decades because of its low cost and excellent softening properties. However, manufacturers around the world are beginning to get rid of PVC dependence for a variety of reasons, the most important of which is the release of harmful chemicals from PVC-containing medical devices during routine use and disposal.
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a reliable and high quality PVC alternative. For many manufacturers, it not only meets the needs of medical device applications, but also is safer and is an ideal material to replace PVC.
1
Phthalate migration brings health problems to the human body
For many years. PVC has always been regarded as an excellent material for the manufacture of medical devices because of its relatively low price and good kink resistance.
Because of these properties. PVC is a popular material for the manufacture of medical bags and medical catheters that require extremely high flexibility. But over the years, researchers around the world have consistently discovered that the use of PVC in medical devices can have a detrimental effect on patients.
PVC is a hard plastic, so plasticizers must be used to achieve adequate ductility and flexibility to accommodate applications such as medical catheters and medical bags. Most of the concerns about PVC medical devices stem from the phthalate plasticizers most commonly used with PVC. Phthalates, such as the most commonly used diisophthalate (DEHP), do not bind to PVC through chemical bonds, so they are easily leached, migrated or volatilized from instruments processed with such materials. When treated with a medical device made of PVC, the phthalate migrates into the blood or other liquid in the medical catheter or medical bag, which in turn leads to a high risk of exposure to the phthalate. According to the National Institutes of Health, “People who are dialysis patients, hemophiliacs, or catheters or medical bags that use phthalates for blood transfusions are most likely to be exposed to phthalates.” Therefore, it is necessary to take more stringent precautions to prevent such patients from being exposed to PVC medical devices.
Most people are more or less exposed to phthalates, but
The use of PVC medical devices for treatment is associated with a higher rate of exposure to phthalates, and is of the utmost concern to researchers and regulatory agencies around the world. People have done a lot of research on the effects of phthalates on the human body, but still can not fully understand the various risks brought by exposure to such chemicals, but it is indeed proved that exposure to high concentrations of phthalic acid Formate may bring many health benefits, such as reproductive system development problems, liver problems, and cancer.
Although the effects of phthalates on humans are not fully understood, there are a number of concerns associated with the above potential health hazards. In addition, research
Researchers are still studying other potential problems. Therefore, many regulatory agencies in the world, especially in the United States and Europe, require PVC to be used with caution in medical devices. These organizations include the US Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the Health Canada and many others, as well as various industry-directed organizations such as the American Public Health Association (APHA). The conclusions reached by these organizations are similar to those concluded in the 2001 study of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine: it is necessary to be determined and cautiously based on the observed toxicity of DEHP and the availability of multiple PVC medical device replacement products containing DEHP. Gradually replace PVC with other materials in medical devices.
2
PVC medical equipment disposal brings risks
In addition to the migration-related issues, dealing with the use of PVC medical devices poses risks. In view of the use of medical devices for the delivery of liquids or blood,
Medical devices such as tubes and medical bags must be incinerated after use to avoid the risk of improper disposal of biologically contaminated waste. However, incineration of PVC materials creates other problems that cause processing problems to be further amplified in the use risk. Incineration of PVC releases hydrogen chloride (HCL), a highly corrosive compound that can cause damage to the incinerator and severely shorten its service life. In addition to potential damage to the equipment, HCL produced by PVC combustion may also produce polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (CDD), which contain 75 substances that produce a variety of effects. These compounds are released into the air, water and soil during the combustion of PVC and can be incorporated into the body through these routes. Although the effects of dioxins on the human body have not yet been fully understood, numerous studies have shown that dioxins do not cause damage to the reproduction, development, immunity and endocrine of animals and humans.
influences. The most toxic dioxins are tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a potent carcinogen and considered to be carcinogenic to humans. Because of the biohazard of medical waste, it is difficult to sort PVC from other materials that need to be incinerated. Therefore, APHA believes that “the only viable and sensible way to eliminate the release and release of chlorinated organics and the resulting material contact is to avoid the use of chlorine and chloride in the manufacturing process”.
3
TPU: Excellent PVC for medical device manufacturing
Alternatives Because of the risks of use and handling associated with medical devices made of PVC, and by regulatory agencies and customers, many manufacturers and hospitals around the world are looking for alternative polymeric materials for PVC. In fact, some health systems have promised to completely eliminate PVC from hospitals. There are many alternatives to PVC for the manufacture of medical devices, but we have found that TPU is the best alternative material and has been used as a replacement for medical devices in PVC for decades.
One of the key advantages of TPU over PVC is that it does not require plasticization.
The agent is flexible, so there is no risk of phthalate migration from the medical device to the drug solution or the human body. In fact, the TPU softens when used in the human body. This kind of hardness is sufficient before being inserted into the human body, and the characteristics of becoming flexible after entering the human body ensure the patient feels comfortable. In addition, the TPU is easy to incinerate and does not release corrosive substances and other hazardous chemicals that can be generated when incinerating PVC. The TPU does not require special equipment to process or process, and can be easily disinfected using a variety of methods.
From the point of view of material quality, the strength of TPU is significantly higher than that of PVC and other alternative materials, and it can be made into thin-walled guide camps and medical bags with higher internal pressure strength. Medical device structures made with TPU are not only more durable, they use less material, and the resulting medical devices are less likely to be damaged in the frequently used medical environment. TPU also has better transparency than other potential PVC alternatives such as EVA and TPO, ensuring that it is not inferior to the aesthetics of PVC. In summary, TPU is the best alternative to PVC in medical devices.
TPU gradually replaces PVC in the field of film
Because TPU is environmentally friendly, non-toxic and easy to recycle and decompose, TPU film is the best substitute for PVC material on shoe materials, and TPU can be used instead of PVC. As a passport to enter the European and American markets, inspection reports from internationally renowned testing institutions such as SGS, ASTM, JIS, and FDA are also very important.
1
TPU film has unparalleled superiority of PVC
The price has always been the most effective and direct means of market regulation. PVC film is widely used in the fields of plastic wrap, plastic bag and mulch film because of its low price. Even so, the replacement of PVC is being realized due to the unparalleled superiority of TPU film.
TPU film has excellent properties such as high strength, high toughness, wear resistance, oil resistance, cold resistance, aging resistance, environmental protection, non-toxicity and degradability which are unmatched by other plastics and rubber. It is also waterproof, moisture-proof, wind-proof, cold-proof, anti-bacterial and UV-resistant. Excellent performance, can be applied in many industrial and civil fields, is a green film, is an ideal substitute for PVC film.
The TPU film has excellent performance and a wide range of resistance to deformation, scoring and scratching, that is, hardness, and even under these conditions, the elasticity and wear resistance still perform well. At the same time, the TPU film is excellent in terms of load carrying capacity, resistance to strong impact and reduction in vibration reduction, and in general it is high in mechanical strength.
Of course, PVC material is easy to harden in winter, and the cold resistance of TPU film is very prominent. Even at minus 35 degrees, flexibility, flexibility and other properties do not deteriorate. Moreover, it has good processing performance, can be formed by injection molding, extrusion, and calendering, plus oil resistance, water resistance, mold resistance, and good recyclability, so the comprehensive performance is excellent.
Due to the need to add a large number of additives, PVC is well known for its environmental performance. TPU film not only has excellent high tension, high tensile strength, toughness and aging resistance, but also is a mature environmentally friendly material, which is in line with the psychological consumption needs of current consumers.
TPU film can be applied to the trademark decoration, airbag, air cushion, oil bag, etc. on the sole and upper, plus the molding process is convenient, calendering, casting, blown film, coating and other processes can be prepared, so that the TPU film is The sneakers are widely used and are expanding into medical equipment, fitness equipment, car seat materials, umbrellas, luggage and other fields.
TPU film, mechanical properties and elastic toughness are difficult to expect from ordinary PVC products, and good reaction at low temperatures and excellent quality in environmental protection all indicate that TPU film has unparalleled superiority of PVC.
2
Global thermoplastic polyurethane film market in 2020
Revenue will reach $724.6 million According to the latest report released by US market research firm GrandViewResearch, by 2020, global thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film market revenue is expected to reach $724.6 million. Automotive applications dominate the TPU film market, with a demand of around 116.21 million tons in 2013. In the automotive sector, more and more TPU films are used for paint protection, scratch protection, chip resistance and rear bumper protection. The development of the aftermarket will also promote the growth of the TPU film market.
The Asia Pacific region is the world's largest TPU film regional market, with a demand of around 1.6299 million tons in 2013. In the next six years, it is expected that the development of the automotive industry and the increase in demand for TPU film in the sports products and construction sector will promote the growth of this market. The compound annual growth rate in 2014-2020 is expected to reach 7.8%. At the same time, the price of TPU film in the Asia Pacific region is lower than other regional markets, which may also contribute to market growth. In addition, the report also pointed out: In 2013, the global demand for TPU film market was 46,769,100 tons. From 2014 to 2020, the compound annual growth rate is expected to be 5.5%, and by 2020 the demand will reach 68,033,100 tons.
The aerospace industry is the fastest growing application area and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6% from 2014 to 2020.
In 2013, demand for TPU film in North America and Europe accounted for 27% and 19% of global demand, respectively. The increase in the use of TPU film in the automotive and construction sectors will drive the growth of the two markets.
China and India dominate the TPU film market in the Asia Pacific region. In 2013, the demand for both countries accounted for more than 60% of the total market demand in the region. In 2013, the demand for TPU film in Japan was around 3,685.4 tons. From 2014 to 2020, the compound annual growth rate of local demand is expected to reach 4.9%.
The global TPU film market is highly dominated by four companies: Bayer MaterialScience, Huntsman, 3M and Permali Gloucester. In 2013, these four companies accounted for more than 40% of the market. Other leading companies include American Polyfilm, PAR Group, Nippon, Lubrizol and Avery Dennison.
TPU gradually replaces PVC in the field of wire and cable
The cable jacket must protect the main insulation of the interior from physical damage such as weather and moisture and friction in the external environment. In the past few years, TPU has gradually replaced many materials in different cable applications, especially PVC and synthetic rubber. TPU provides tear resistance, wear resistance and bending characteristics, and high temperature resistance is the key to cable performance. In the Chinese market, high-end cables such as control cables and power cables use TPU sleeves to protect complex wires and cables.
TPU is used in cable jackets from low voltage to IKV due to its unmatched hardness, low temperature flexibility, wear resistance, environmental resistance and weatherability. These features extend the durability and service life of the cable! The biggest advantage of using TPU material is green!
1
Australia's anti-dumping preliminary ruling on China's PVC flat cable
On January 19, 2015, Australia made an anti-dumping preliminary ruling on PVC flat cable originating in China: the products involved in the import of China were dumped and caused substantial damage to the domestic industry. Therefore, the preliminary determination of the dumping margin is as follows: Shown. The customs code of the product involved is 8544.49.20.
In November 2014, Australia initiated an anti-dumping investigation on PVC flat cables originating in China.
2
TPU attracts the main features of wire and cable companies
1, flexibility, mainly spring wire, computer wires, wires in power tools, mouse cable, USB cable, mobile phone data cable.
2, weather resistance, high temperature, low temperature is the key to cable performance, especially to meet the cable working in cold climate, such as cables dragged in ice, submarine cable. Materials are required to maintain good flexibility, flexibility and other physical properties at minus 35 degrees.
3, hydrolysis resistance, mainly polyether TPU
4, anti-microbial, mainly used in medical equipment wire and cable, requiring cable antibacterial, anti-mildew, no energy release.
5, fire retardant performance, can meet the fire protection requirements of V0-V2, UL certification, yellow card, halogen-free, smoke generated by burning toxic substances are rare, with good flame resistance.
6, processing performance: China's application of TPU production of wire and cable companies are mostly small, requiring TPU products can be processed using common thermoplastic processing methods, such as injection, extrusion, calendering and so on. At the same time, the company requires TPU to be able to obtain polymer alloys with complementary properties when processed together with certain polymer materials.
7, wear resistance, because polyester polyurethane is not resistant to hydrolysis, so the wire and cable industry commonly used polyether polyurethane.
3
The green and environmental protection of wire and cable products contributes to the wide application of TPU
The potential impact of electronic products on the environment is highly valued by the government. Some national government agencies have introduced a number of voluntary or mandatory measures: such as the more famous Article 65 proposal in California and the European Union's Waste Car Recycling Directive and the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS). Clearly stipulated that it must comply with halogen-free, low-toxicity, flame retardant, low smoke emission during combustion, no or less corrosive gas and harmful halogen gas, no heavy metals such as lead, no pollution to soil, high heat-resistant temperature, waste wire Standards and characteristics such as materials can be recycled.
In 2006, the “Measures for the Administration of Pollution Control of Electronic Information Products” promoted by the Chinese government was similar to the EU RoHS Directive. The scope includes electronic radar, electronic communication, radio and television, computers, home electronics, electronic measuring instruments, electronic materials and other products. For electronic information products sold in the Chinese market, the "Management Measures" on the production process, materials and products of the products. Strict control and regulations have been made in marking and packaging, and efforts have been made to achieve substitution or reduction of toxic and hazardous substances in electronic information products, to protect the environment and to save resources.
The harm of electronic products to people has long been concerned by environmental organizations. Environmental organizations are demanding reductions in carcinogenic dioxins and chloride emissions and restrictions on the use of certain stabilizers, plasticizers and flame retardants in wire and cable applications.
来源：聚氨酯期刊
