TPU Sources

Chart Converting all the Hardness Scales

There are several scales for measuring rubber hardness. Here is a comparison:

https://www.apstpe.com/media/pdf/Shore-Hardness-Scales.pdf

3D Printing Filaments

• Shore A hardnes of 90-95 - [1]. Strain to failure [2] of 400%.
• Ninjaflex 85A [3] and 660% elongation at break
• Softest on the market - Shore 60A [4]

Metrics

• 80-100 Shore A is hard, like shoe soles or shopping cart wheels [5]
• More scales for comparing different objects [6]

Uses

• Car tires are around 70A [7]
• Door seals are 50-60A [8]
• O-rings are 70-80A [9]

TPU Sources

• Only 2% strain to break? [10]

PVC

• Flexible PVC is Shore A - 70 - [11]
• Rigid is 79 Shore D - [12]

TPE vs TPU

• Article - [13]

Communications

Hi Mid Continent Plastics,

I'm looking for about 1200 lb of TPU regrind, any color, in the Shore A 70-90 range with good elongation and abrasion resistance. This is for 3D printing of rubber tracks for heavy machinery. Do you have something in stock for this purpose? Thanks,Marcin

Sources

• Innovo Plastics, USA, TN - [14]
• Rauh Plastics - [15] - TPU regrind
• Ameplasts Dallas - [16]
• GPN - [17]. Texin - [18]
• Tarun Bhatia - rolls of TPU -Falcon Papers and Plastics [19]
• Upcycle Polymers - [20]