Advanced Functional Automotive TPU | Multi-Constraint Custom Compounds & System-Level Selection
Advanced Functional Automotive TPU
For automotive projects where one standard grade is not enough.
Advanced functional compounds are designed for multi-constraint requirements such as
low temperature + grease/oil resistance + dynamic fatigue, abrasion + fluid exposure + heat aging,
or scratch resistance + low odor + dimensional stability.
This page is for you if your project keeps failing at the system level:
not “missing one property”, but balancing multiple properties without breaking your molding or extrusion stability.
not “missing one property”, but balancing multiple properties without breaking your molding or extrusion stability.
Multi-Constraint Automotive
Failure-Mode Diagnosis
Trade-Off Management
Process Window Tuning
Custom Compounding
Verification Workflow
Failure-Mode Diagnosis
Trade-Off Management
Process Window Tuning
Custom Compounding
Verification Workflow
When to Choose Advanced Functional (Fast Check)
Choose advanced functional when
- Your part has 2+ dominant constraints (e.g., low-temp + grease + fatigue; or abrasion + fluids + heat aging).
- Trials pass one test but fail another (fatigue passes, then swelling happens; low odor passes, then scratch fails).
- Your production window is too narrow (surface defects, warpage, thickness variation, unstable output).
- Retesting cost is high and you need a shorter route to a stable shortlist.
Typical “multi-constraint” combinations
- Low temperature + Dynamic fatigue + Grease resistance (boots / bellows)
- Compression set control + Rebound tuning + NVH feel (bushings / dampers)
- Abrasion + Oil/Fuel/Coolant resistance + Heat aging (hose / harness covers, under-hood)
- Scratch resistance + Low odor/VOC + Heat aging stability (interior protection parts)
- Weathering + Handling wear + Dimensional stability (outdoor-exposed protection parts, project-dependent)
Common Failure Modes (Cause → Fix)
Advanced functional work typically starts from a failure diagnosis: the issue is usually an
imbalance between function, mechanics and processing.
| Symptom in Production / In Field | Most Common Cause | Typical Fix Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Cracking at folds after repeated bending (often worse in cold) | Fatigue margin reduced by low-temp stiffness rise; grease/aging further lowers toughness | Rebalance hardness + toughness; enhance cold-flex route; verify fatigue + cold + grease aging on molded parts |
| Softening / swelling after grease, oil, fuel or coolant exposure | Media incompatibility (project-dependent); property retention drops after long exposure | Upgrade media-resistance package; validate volume change and mechanical retention after fluid aging |
| NVH feel drifts over time (too bouncy, harshness increases) | Rebound/energy absorption balance not stable; compression set or modulus drift after aging | Tune rebound vs damping balance; improve compression set control; verify dynamic response after aging |
| Warpage / size drift after molding or aging | Internal stress and shrink not controlled; process window too sensitive; moisture impacts consistency | Drying discipline; pack/cool control; shrink tuning; validate dimensional stability after heat aging |
| Surface defects or unstable processing (flow marks, orange peel, thickness scatter) | Narrow process window; shear/heat imbalance; moisture or cooling instability | Stabilize processing window; adjust shear/temperature strategy; formulation tuning for repeatability |
Key principle: avoid “over-solving” one metric. A successful compound is the one that delivers
stable part performance + repeatable processing at your real geometry, thickness, and service conditions.
stable part performance + repeatable processing at your real geometry, thickness, and service conditions.
Customization Options (Automotive-Relevant)
Below are typical directions we tune for automotive TPU parts. Final feasibility depends on part geometry, exposure media, process route, and verification plan.
Mechanics & Durability
- Fatigue resistance for repeated bending
- Tear / cut resistance for thin-wall or edge contact
- Compression set control for long-term load
Media & Aging Stability
- Grease, oil, fuel, coolant resistance (project-dependent)
- Heat aging stability and modulus drift control
- Weathering / ozone stability (project-dependent)
Surface & Interior Targets
- Scratch / mar resistance for visible interior parts
- Touch feel and appearance stability
- Low odor / low VOC positioning (project-dependent)
How We Run Projects (Shortlist → Stabilize → Verify)
1) Shortlist
We start from your part function, geometry, and dominant failure risk, then propose a small shortlist (usually 2–4 directions).
- Part type & geometry (thickness, corrugation, contact points)
- Service conditions (temperature window, media exposure, cycles)
- Dominant constraint(s) and acceptance criteria
2) Stabilize Processing
We align the compound and process window so production runs consistently across real cycle times and long runs.
- Drying discipline and material handling
- Heat/shear control (molding or extrusion)
- Cooling, shrink and surface stability control
3) Verify on Finished Parts
We recommend verification on finished parts at target thickness, not only resin-level tests.
- Function + mechanical durability (fatigue, tear, set)
- Combined aging (heat + media + cold, project-dependent)
- Fit, appearance, and process repeatability confirmation
Request Samples / TDS
To recommend an advanced functional shortlist quickly, please share:
- Part & geometry: application (CVJ boot / bellow / bushing / cover / interior protection), wall thickness range, and critical dimensions
- Dominant constraints: low temperature, fatigue, compression set, NVH feel, abrasion, scratch, low odor/VOC, heat aging, media resistance (grease/oil/fuel/coolant, project-dependent)
- Failure symptom (if any): cracking at folds, swelling/softening, set/creep, warpage, surface defects, squeak/rub noise (project-dependent)
- Process route: injection / blow molding / extrusion / sheet forming, plus any current processing notes and limits
