Did you know that EPDM rubber can be replaced with TPV?

Many product developers, designers, engineers, and constructors sometimes face the challenge of replacing a tried-and-true material with something entirely new. The reasons can vary – desires for lower production costs, shorter production times, better formability, and reduced weight are just a few examples. Fierce competition in many markets also increases the demands for shortening the time from product development to market launch. One material change that can provide many of these benefits is replacing EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber) with TPV – Thermoplastic Vulcanizates.

A smart material switch for lower total costs and a simpler process

EPDM was developed in the 1950s when natural rubber could not meet global demand. It is a synthetic rubber, and EPDM stands for ethylene propylene diene monomer. EPDM has many excellent properties and a wide range of applications, including rubber feet, cable grommets, O-rings, roofing membranes, hoses, and conveyor belts.

At the same time, EPDM is a relatively heavy and costly material with limitations in formability. Producing items in EPDM is also a rather complex and time-consuming process. When a company is developing a new product for large-scale production, there are many advantages to considering TPV as a replacement material. TPV reduces waste, can be recycled, lowers total and unit costs, and simplifies and speeds up the manufacturing process.

Performs like rubber but processes like thermoplastics

Mape Plastics’ partner RTP Company is a global leader in specialty compounding of thermoplastics. Their development work focuses on combining multiple properties into a single material. One example is their thermoplastic elastomer RTPrene®. This TPV is a unique material that performs like rubber but offers the ease of processing associated with thermoplastics.

We describe RTPrene® TPV Compounds as the ultimate lightweight material solution. Superior elasticity, long-lasting sealing performance, high resistance to wear, heat, UV, and chemicals are combined with the significant advantage of easy processing. This opens new opportunities for product developers to design lighter products in entirely new shapes and sizes compared to what is possible with EPDM.

RTPrene® is developed for demanding applications requiring exceptional performance

Since its launch, RTPrene® has achieved a strong market position across various applications where outstanding performance in challenging environments is required. In the automotive industry, industrial applications, and consumer products, the material is used in items such as seals, gaskets, plugs, hoses, cables, washing machine bellows, toys, and tools. RTP Company’s development of three different RTPrene® series broadens the range of applications. The G-series is a standard TPV available in black and natural colors, the M-series is a high-performance TPV available in black, and the K-series is a UV-resistant TPV available in black.

Let’s Talk Plastics!

Are you curious about the possibilities and benefits of replacing EPDM rubber with TPV from our partner RTP Company? We’re happy to tell you more. You might be facing market and material challenges or cost-efficiency demands that make a material switch appealing. As your knowledge partner, we’re here to help and share the many advantages of RTPrene®, as well as the customization options RTP Company offers to tailor compounds to your specific application requirements. We’ll support you all the way to achieving an optimal TPV solution!