What is TPU Filament?
Before we start printing TPU, it is necessary for us to understand the basics of TPU, which helps us to print it better.
First of all, we need to know that TPU is a kind of TPE material. TPE means thermoplastic elastomer, which is a material with both rubber and plastic properties, showing rubber elasticity at room temperature,
Polymer materials can be plasticized at high temperatures.
Thermoplastic elastomers are important components of elastomers, common thermoplastic elastomers have the following categories:
- Thermoplastic styrenic elastomers(TPS);
- Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers(TPU);
- Thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers(TPO);
- Thermoplastic polyamide elastomers(TPAE).
1. Thermoplastic styrenic elastomers(TPS)
Styrene block copolymer thermoplastic elastomer is the earliest studied thermoplastic elastomer, which is currently the world's largest and fastest growing laminoplasty elastomer.
Mainly including SBS, Lihua SBS (SEBS), SIS, and SIS styrene thermoplastic elastomers at room temperature performance similar to vulcanized rubber elastic modulus is abnormally high, and does not change with the relative molecular mass, with its high strength, softness, rubber elasticity, and small permanent deformation characteristics, in the footwear industry, plastic modification, asphalt modification, waterproof coatings, liquid sealing materials, wires, cables, auto parts, medical device components, household appliances, office automation, and adhesives have a wide range of applications.
2. Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers(TPU)
Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU) are generally made up of long-chain polyols (polyethers or polyesters) with an average relative molecular mass of 600 to 4000 and a chain expander with a relative molecular mass of 61 to 400 linear polymer materials with polyisocyanate addition polymerization.
TPU has excellent abrasion, oil, and cold resistance, sufficient resistance to oxygen, ozone, radiation, etc., and high tensile strength and elongation at break as an elastomer.It also has excellent properties such as small compression set deformation and large bearing capacity. TPU has been widely used in many areas of the national economy such as the footwear industry, medical and health care, clothing fabrics, and defense supplies
However, the disadvantages of the application are poor aging resistance, the low friction coefficient of a wet surface, easy slippage, and relatively expensive price.
3. Thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers
Thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (TPO) is a flake thermoplastic rubber elastic waterproof material made of vinyl resin as the base material, using advanced polymerization technology and specific formulations.
It is a new type of material that has prevailed in the United States and Europe in recent years, the ingredients do not contain plasticizers, there is no plasticizer migration, and become brittle, with high tensile strength, good wear resistance, strong ultraviolet resistance, smooth surface, high reflectivity, and pollution resistance and other comprehensive characteristics, easy to process, weldable, convenient construction, completely recyclable, green environmental protection, in the automotive exterior parts, mainly used for bumpers, radiators, chassis, body outer panels, wheel guards, movable roofs and other protective strips, windshield strips, etc.
In the interior parts of automobiles, it is mainly used for the instrument panel and interior panel skin, airbag outer skin material, etc.
4. Thermoplastic polyamide elastomers
Thermoplastic polyamide elastomers (TPAE) are composed of high melting point crystalline polyamide hardness and ad-crystalline polyester or polyether soft satin.
Its performance depends on the hard segment type and the length of both blocks. Due to the presence of hard segment polyamide, TPAE has excellent toughness, chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, and sound attenuation.
By selecting and controlling block categories, their mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties can vary over a wide range. Because TPAE has excellent physical and mechanical properties, it has a wide range of applications, such as automotive parts, sporting goods, medical supplies, household goods, mechanical tools, toys, electronics, electrical industry, and other products.
How to printing and some tips
Bowden extruder
Generally, this type of extruder system is suitable for printing materials such as PLA, PETG, etc. But with flexible materials, the fault tolerance will become very low, and you may experience frequent clogs and the filament slipping out of the feeder. We suggest you upgrade your extruder system to a direct drive extruder system.
- Supported TPU hardness:90-95A
- Printing nozzle temperature: 210-230℃
- Glass heated bed: No need/60℃ | PEI sheet: No need/55℃
- Layer height: 0.2mm+
- Printing speed: 15-20mm/s
- Retract speed and length: OFF
Direct drive extruder system
This type of extruder is very suitable for flexible filament. But you still need checkout this info:
- Supported TPU hardness:80-95A
- Printing nozzle temperature: 215-235℃
- Glass heated bed: No need/60℃ | PEI sheet: No need/55℃
- Layer height: 0.2mm+
- Printing speed: 30-35mm/s
- Retract speed and length: 30mm/s, 0.8mm
Storage it
TPU is hygroscopic. If left out, it will absorb moisture from the air. This leads to all sorts of problems that mostly culminate with a disappointing failed print, so be sure you keep TPU stored in a dry environment. Try using a container or resealable bags and silicate bags.