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Elastomers
Elastomers are materials which can be very strongly stretched by applying relatively little force, and which are not permanently deformed. Generally, elastomers can be divided into two main groups: chemically linked elastomers (rubbers) and thermoplastic elastomers.
Rubbers are high polymers whose macromolecules have been slightly cross linked by vulcanisation. Because of this network structure, they are not fusible and disintegrate at high temperatures. The network structure also has the effect that rubbers are insoluble and swell and shrink more or less depending on the medium.
Thermoplastic elastomers are materials which maintain the typical properties of elastomers throughout a wide range of temperatures. However, they are not chemically linked. Therefore, they can be melted at high temperatures and can be processed with the usual thermoplastic processing techniques. Thermoplastic elastomers are soluble and usually show a lower swelling than their chemically linked counterparts.
Thermoplasts
Thermoplasts are fusible high polymer materials which are considerably harder and more rigid than elastomers within their application temperature range. Depending on their chemical structure their characteristics range from hard and brittle to tough and flexible. Because of their morphological structure larger stretchings are irreversible and the part remains plastically deformed, which is why these materials are also called plastomers.
In the seal industry, plastomers are used for hard seal elements such as back-up rings, guide rings and boxes, pressure rings and support rings