What Is Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)?

What Is Thermoplastic Polyurethane, TPU?

Thermoplastic polyurethane material softens when heated and hardens when cooled, and with these properties it can be easily processed in thermal processes such as extrusion and injection molding. In addition, it exhibits good performance with its distinctive molecular structure and, through the adjustment of polyether and polyester structures in its formulation, it possesses different chemical properties and durability characteristics. Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer Elastollan®, a BASF registered trademark, is produced by BASF and offered to various sectors as a material with superior properties. Thanks to Elastollan® formulations, we are able to meet even the most demanding conditions in sensitive applications. Elastollan®'s career as a problem solver has continued successfully for over 30 years. BASF, through formulations it has developed for over 30 years, sets its own standards in TPU performance and quality. During this period, by consistently producing excellent products and providing strong technical service, it continues to advance today as the world's leading chemical company. In the transportation segment; BASF's share exceeds 10% of total sales. Together with broad solutions in its product portfolio, it serves a wide range from OEMs to suppliers. In 2013, it became the number 1 chemical product supplier among the top 100 automotive suppliers.

The Birth of Airbump®

In 2009, global automotive company PSA was working on a new C4 model. The design team requested that the vehicle body be protected in a very special way, something that had not been tried much up to that point. Following lengthy studies, a component that would be called Airbump® was designed in the body design of the C4 vehicle, named Cactus. • A stylistic design, • Air capsules providing protection against impact, • A material perfectly designed for urban use with a scratch-resistant, elastomeric soft surface. In 2010, BASF began preparing an aliphatic TPU material to meet all these requirements and preserve the original color. Following extensive development work, it created a material that is cleanable, can be bonded to a PC/ABS carrier with laser welding, and can withstand external conditions (tested and approved to exceed 10 years). The special pigments, stabilizers and aliphatic TPU structures in particular, successfully completed the durability, aging and light resistance tests that the material must pass in final products, enabling series production to begin in 2014. In the automotive world, vehicles filled with innovations that greatly facilitate users' lives are hitting the roads every day. From this perspective, Airbump® coatings bring a fresh perspective, innovation and ease of use beyond conventional automotive designs, and also allow users to create their own color combinations with different color options. Mehmet Demirel / TPU Sales Manager (Industry and Transportation) - BASF Türk Kimya San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.