Advantages and Disadvantages of PVC, EPDM, TPV, TPE Sealing Strip Materials
Table of Contents
A sealing strip is a product that seals something to make it difficult to open, and plays a role in shock absorption, waterproof, sound insulation, heat insulation, dust prevention, and fixation. With the development of the automotive industry, the importance of the aesthetic, environmental protection, and comfort functions of sealing strips is increasingly prominent, and the demand for automotive sealing strips is also increasing. Which sealing strip material is good? Each sealing strip manufacturer has its own rhetoric. Currently, there are four main types of automotive sealing strip materials: PVC sealing strip, EPDM sealing strip, TPV sealing strip, and TPE sealing strip. Below, HCsealstrip will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of these four automotive sealing strip materials.
PVC automobile sealing strip
Advantages of PVC sealing strips
- Good processing performance
- Low manufacturing cost
- Good characteristics such as corrosion resistance and insulation
Disadvantages of PVC sealing strips
- The flow characteristics are quite poor, and the process range is very narrow.
- Some toxic additives and plasticizers in PVC may leach or vaporize; Some may increase the risk of cancer; Incineration of PVC waste can produce carcinogenic dioxins that pollute the atmosphere.
- During combustion, a large amount of smoke will occur and harmful HCL gas will be generated; Moreover, most PVC materials contain various harmful heavy metals such as Pb (lead) and Cd () (used as cable stabilizers), which can cause certain harm to human health; Burning or burying can cause pollution to soil and water sources.
- Not resistant to low temperatures, will become hard and brittle in winter, and the sealing effect will become poor; In summer, when the temperature is high, it becomes soft and the sealing effect becomes poor.
EPDM automobile sealing strip
Advantages of EPDM sealing strips
- Good low-temperature performance, reaching – 60 ° C and maintaining elasticity;
- High temperature resistance, continuous working temperature up to 110 ° C or above;
- Chemical resistant, resistant to chemical media such as brake fluid, water, coolant, detergent, strong alkali, etc;
- Excellent aging resistance, ozone resistance, and weather resistance, with a service life of over 10 years.
Disadvantages of EPDM sealing strips
- The price is slightly expensive,
- Difficulty in welding;
- Single color, usually black
- Poor adhesion
The rubber sealing strip has a peculiar smell after vulcanization process, and cannot be recycled or degraded, resulting in high environmental pressure.
TPV automobile sealing strip
Advantages of TPV sealing strips
- High temperature resistance: no deformation at 100 ° C, low temperature resistance, no hardness at – 40 ° C:
- Small compression deformation can ensure good sealing effect,
- Good weather resistance and long-term use:
- It is oil resistant, has a small odor, can pass VOC testing, is matt, delicate, has a good hand feel, has good antistatic performance, and is free of dust;
- Simple equipment, easy processing, high production efficiency, and low production cost
- Low specific gravity (only 0.9 – 0.95); It seems that the purchase unit price is high and the actual use cost is low,
- It is recyclable, free of heavy metals such as halogen and lead, and can be recycled after several years, meeting the requirements for green building materials,
- The performance and service life are equivalent to those of vulcanized EPDM rubber sealing strips, and 9. The processing energy consumption is lower than that of vulcanized EPDM rubber strips (equivalent to PVC).
Defect of TPV sealing strip
- Moderate horizontal compression causes permanent deformation
TPE automobile sealing strip
Advantages of TPE sealing strips
- Low temperature resistance – 30 ° C, high temperature 70 ° C, reduced compression type, good sealing effect, and good weather resistance;
- No odor, plasticizer, halogen, heavy metal, plasticizer, and other harmful substances;
- High production efficiency, cheap equipment, and production speed several times faster than rubber.
- No cracking after ten years of outdoor use, with good sealing effect.
- It can be recycled, but requires high on-site management requirements. The recycled material cannot contain other impurities, and the addition ratio does not exceed 20%.
Weaknesses of TPE sealing strips
For softer TPEs, the compression set, high temperature resistance, solvent resistance, and oil resistance at higher temperatures are not as good as traditional vulcanized rubber.
Based on the above comparison, the most suitable order for making automotive sealing strips is TPE>TPV>EPDM>PVC
- The use of PVC sealing strips has a small temperature range, is not environmentally friendly, and has a significant impact on human health.
- Silicone rubber sealing strip has good weather resistance and low temperature resistance, but its tear strength is low and the price is the highest, and its application field is limited.
- EPDM sealing strips have excellent performance, but their prices are on the high side, their colors are single, and their processing is complex. They are only suitable for dynamic sealing situations where frequent switching actions occur.
- Compared with EPDM sealing strip, TPV sealing strip has relatively low price, little performance difference, and good application prospects.
- TPE sealing strip not only has the excellent engineering performance of elastomer, but also has the excellent characteristics of plastic, which is convenient for processing and can be recycled and reused; Therefore, it is popular in static door and window sealing, exterior decorative layer of automobile sealing strips, insulation layer of electric wires, automobile switches, handles, etc.
- We can clearly understand the differences between TPE materials and other PVC and rubber TPV materials. We can clearly see why many companies currently promote TPE materials, which is also the reason why many sealing strip products enterprises choose TPE materials.
