SBS TPE-A85
Hardness band
TPE-A85 = sBS compound, Shore A 85
Stiffest practical SBS compound — outsoles, heel units and semi-rigid parts needing abrasion resistance over softness.
Values for the TPE-A85 condition
Other SBS grades and fills
SBS is listed in 9 conditions; see the grade overview at SBS.
Compare all 9 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SBS compound, Shore A 40 | Very soft oil-extended, filled compound for grips, soft-touch overmoulds and comfort insoles. | — | 5 | 650 | 12 Shore D |
Halogen-free flame-retardant SBS compound | Specify for cable jacketing, plugs and appliance soft parts that must pass UL 94 V-0; heavy filler loading costs elasticity. | — | 7 | 320 | 26 Shore D |
SBS compound, Shore A 65 | Workhorse footwear-sole and overmould hardness with a good balance of grip, tear strength and flow. | — | 8 | 550 | 20 Shore D |
Oil-extended SBS | Use when a softer, easier-flowing base is wanted for footwear midsoles and soft-touch compounds without a separate oiling step. | — | 12 | 950 | 14 Shore D |
TPE-A85This page SBS compound, Shore A 85 | Stiffest practical SBS compound — outsoles, heel units and semi-rigid parts needing abrasion resistance over softness. | — | 14 | 420 | 33 Shore D |
High-diblock adhesive grade | Choose for hot-melt and pressure-sensitive adhesives and label stock, where free SB diblock gives tack and low melt viscosity. | — | 24 | 900 | 18 Shore D |
transparent high-styrene styrene-butadiene block copolymer (K-Resin / Styrolux type) | Pick when clarity and stiffness are needed (blister packs, cups, PS clarity modifier) — rigid rather than elastomeric. | 24 | 30 | 250 | 65 Shore D |
Radial (star/branched) SBS, high molecular weight | Pick for asphalt/bitumen modification and high-cohesion adhesives where high melt viscosity and network strength matter more than flow. | — | 26 | 850 | 24 Shore D |
LINDefault Linear SBS, ~30 % styrene, neat polymer | Default general-purpose linear triblock for compounding, footwear, adhesives and bitumen modification — highest strength/elasticity of the neat grades. | — | 30 | 880 | 22 Shore D |
What is SBS TPE-A85?
SBS TPE-A85 is SBS heat treated to TPE-A85 — stiffest practical SBS compound — outsoles, heel units and semi-rigid parts needing abrasion resistance over softness. SBS TPE-A85 has a tensile strength of 14 MPa (2.03 ksi), weaker than 75% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 420% and the elastic modulus is 0.02 GPa (0.0023 Msi). SBS TPE-A85 has a density of 1.05 g/cm³ (0.0379 lb/in³), lighter than 69% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -90°C (-130 °F). LIN is the default condition FabDigit quotes; TPE-A85 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 90/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 420%, better than 87% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.06%, better than 82% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 20/100, worse than 97% of polymer grades
- Degrades in UV without stabilisers — 20/100, worse than 88% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 30/100, worse than 82% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 70°C (158 °F), worse than 77% of polymer grades
- Low stiffness — 0.02 GPa (0.0023 Msi), worse than 76% of polymer grades
SBS TPE-A85 properties
Typical room-temperature values for SBS TPE-A85; 10 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are SBS reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical4
SBS TPE-A85 has a density of 1.05 g/cm³ (0.0379 lb/in³), lighter than 69% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -90°C (-130 °F).
Mechanical10
SBS TPE-A85 has a tensile strength of 14 MPa (2.03 ksi), weaker than 75% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 420% and the elastic modulus is 0.02 GPa (0.0023 Msi).
Thermal8
SBS TPE-A85 is rated for continuous service to 70°C (158 °F). It conducts heat at 0.17 W/m·K (0.0982 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 75% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 170 µm/m·K (94.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical6
SBS TPE-A85 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 22 kV/mm (558.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), worse than 52% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of SBS TPE-A85 takes about 102 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — less than 55% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
SBS TPE-A85's machinability is poor (20/100, worse than 97% of polymer grades); weldability good (60/100); formability excellent (90/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with SBS TPE-A85
Is SBS easy to machine?
Rubbery and gummy — die-cutting, water-jet or cryogenic trimming beat milling; use sharp single-edge tools, high rake and no coolant that swells the butadiene phase.
Can SBS be welded?
Hot-plate, hot-air, HF and ultrasonic joining work on SBS-to-SBS or SBS-to-PS; solvent bonding with toluene/MEK-type solvents and SBS-based contact adhesives is common in footwear.
Can SBS be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mould at 160–210 °C melt / 15–50 °C tool with generous gates and low shear (butadiene block degrades above ~230 °C); extrudes and blow-moulds easily, shrinkage 1–2 % and highly anisotropic in soft compounds.
What surface finishes work on SBS?
Takes textured or matte tool finishes well; paint and print need adhesion promoters or flame/corona pretreatment, and UV-stable pigment/HALS packages are essential for outdoor colour retention.
SBS chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| styrene (polystyrene end-blocks)30 % typical for elastomeric grades; 60–80 % in transparent SBC grades | 25 – 45 | 30 |
| extender oil (paraffinic/naphthenic)0 in neat grades; ~30 % in oil-extended (OE) grades, up to 40 phr in soft compounds | 0 – 35 | 0 |
| antioxidant / stabiliser packagehindered phenol + phosphite | 0.1 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| filler (CaCO3, talc) in compoundscompound-dependent only | 0 – 40 | 0 |
| butadiene (polybutadiene mid-block)unsaturated rubber phase — source of poor UV/ozone resistance | ≥ 55 (balance) | — |
SBS TPE-A85 — frequently asked
What is SBS TPE-A85 used for?
SBS TPE-A85 is typically used for shoe soles, adhesives and sealants, bitumen modification, soft-touch overmolding and toys. In short: lowest-cost styrenic TPE; 880 % elongation elastomer; standard PS impact modifier.
What is the tensile strength of SBS TPE-A85?
SBS TPE-A85 has a typical tensile strength of 14 MPa (2.03 ksi) — weaker than 75% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is SBS TPE-A85 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (20/100, worse than 97% of polymer grades). Rubbery and gummy — die-cutting, water-jet or cryogenic trimming beat milling; use sharp single-edge tools, high rake and no coolant that swells the butadiene phase.
Can SBS TPE-A85 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Hot-plate, hot-air, HF and ultrasonic joining work on SBS-to-SBS or SBS-to-PS; solvent bonding with toluene/MEK-type solvents and SBS-based contact adhesives is common in footwear.
What surface finishes work on SBS TPE-A85?
Takes textured or matte tool finishes well; paint and print need adhesion promoters or flame/corona pretreatment, and UV-stable pigment/HALS packages are essential for outdoor colour retention.
Can SBS TPE-A85 be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mould at 160–210 °C melt / 15–50 °C tool with generous gates and low shear (butadiene block degrades above ~230 °C); extrudes and blow-moulds easily, shrinkage 1–2 % and highly anisotropic in soft compounds.
What is the maximum service temperature of SBS TPE-A85?
SBS TPE-A85 is rated for continuous use to about 70°C (158 °F), and briefly to 85°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- Kraton D1101 / D1102 / D1155 / D1184 polymer datasheets — Kraton Corporation (2022)
- YH-791 / YH-796 / YH-798 SBS — (Sinopec Baling) (2023)
- K-Resin SBC / Styrolux SBC technical datasheets — Chevron Phillips Chemical / INEOS Styrolution (2021)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics (styrenic TPE section) — ASM International (1988)
- ASTM D2240 / D412 / D624 — hardness, tensile and tear test methods for elastomers — ASTM International (2021)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector TPE-S compound datasheets — CWFG / UL Solutions (2024)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.