Thermoplastic elastomers (
TPE), sometimes referred to as
thermoplastic rubbers, are a class of
copolymers or a
physical mix of polymers (usually a plastic and a rubber) which consist of materials with both
thermoplastic and
elastomeric properties. While most elastomers are
thermosets, thermoplastics are in contrast relatively easy to use in manufacturing, for example, by
injection molding. Thermoplastic elastomers show advantages typical of both rubbery materials and plastic materials. The principal difference between thermoset elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers is the type of
cross-linking bond in their structures. In fact, crosslinking is a critical structural factor which contributes to impart high elastic properties.