Polyurethane thermoplastique (TPU)

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a class of polyurethane plastics with several properties combined such as elasticity, transparency, oil resistance, grease and abrasives. Technically, TPU is an elastomeric thermoplastic of linear segmented consistency of copolymer blocks, ridges and hoses.

Commercial use of TPU

TPU has many applications, including automotive dashboards, swivel wheels, power tools, sporting goods, medical devices, drive belts, footwear, inflatable rafts and various film, leaf and extruded profiles. TPU is also a popular material found in the external enclosures of mobile electronic devices, such as mobile phones. It is also used to make keyboard protectors for laptops.

TPU is well known for its applications in high-performance films, wire and cable sleeves, hoses and tubes, in adhesive and textile coating applications and as a shock modifier of other polymers. [4] TPU pellets are Adidas' newest cushioning technology called Boost. Several thousands of TPU pellets are bonded to create a comfortable sole for the shoe.

TPU is a filament material commonly used in the manufacture of fused filaments because of its elastic thermoplastic nature, which makes it ideal for printing objects that must be flexible and elastic. [Citation needed] The fact that the TPU is a thermoplastic also allows it to be melted, extruded, and then cooled in a solid that is needed during 3D printing using the manufacture of molten filament