TPE Shore A 90
Hardness band
also Santoprene-like TPE
Shore A 90 = very hard elastomer grade
Top of the Shore A range for stiff bellows, pipe seals and parts needing near-rigid feel with some flex.
Values for the Shore A 90 condition
Other TPE grades and fills
TPE is listed in 10 conditions; see the grade overview at TPE.
Compare all 10 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Foamable / low-density TPE | Weight- and cost-driven soft seals, sponge-like grips and acoustic parts using chemical or physical foaming. | 3 | 250 | 10 Shore D | |
Very soft grade | Choose for low-closure-force gaskets, soft-touch grips and bellows where sealing on light load is critical. | 5 | 400 | 9 Shore D | |
Soft general purpose | Balanced softness and tear strength for overmolded handles, cable strain reliefs and static seals. | 6 | 450 | 14 Shore D | |
Halogen-free flame-retardant TPE | Pick for cable jackets, connector seals and appliance parts requiring UL 94 V-0 without halogens. | 7 | 300 | 26 Shore D | |
Overmolding / bondable grade | Two-shot or insert overmolding on rigid substrates where peel adhesion, not just softness, governs the design. | 7 | 520 | 17 Shore D | |
Shore A 30 to Shore A 90Default Shore A 30–90 | Default catalogue entry covering the standard soft-to-hard injection grades; pick a specific Shore point when sealing force or feel matters. | 8 | 480 | 20 Shore D | |
Medium hard general purpose | Workhorse hardness for automotive weather-seal inserts, plugs, bushings and durable grips. | 9 | 500 | 22 Shore D | |
Hard grade | Use where higher stiffness, abrasion and load support are needed, e.g. wheels, dust boots, semi-rigid seals. | 12 | 550 | 28 Shore D | |
Shore A 90This page Very hard elastomer grade | Top of the Shore A range for stiff bellows, pipe seals and parts needing near-rigid feel with some flex. | 17 | 600 | 36 Shore D | |
Rigid TPE / TPV grade | Semi-rigid grade for structural flexible parts, air-duct bellows and living-hinge components replacing soft PP. | 23 | 500 | 40 Shore D |
What is TPE Shore A 90?
TPE Shore A 90 is TPE heat treated to Shore A 90 — top of the Shore A range for stiff bellows, pipe seals and parts needing near-rigid feel with some flex. TPE Shore A 90 has a tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi), weaker than 71% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 600% and the elastic modulus is 0.03 GPa (0.0048 Msi). TPE Shore A 90 has a density of 0.96 g/cm³ (0.0347 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -55°C (-67 °F). Shore A 30 to Shore A 90 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; Shore A 90 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 600%, better than 93% of polymer grades
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 70/100, better than 83% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 85/100, better than 81% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 20/100, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 34/100, worse than 85% of polymer grades
TPE Shore A 90 properties
Typical room-temperature values for TPE Shore A 90; 24 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are TPE reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
TPE Shore A 90 has a density of 0.96 g/cm³ (0.0347 lb/in³), lighter than 74% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -55°C (-67 °F).
Mechanical13
TPE Shore A 90 has a tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi), weaker than 71% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 600% and the elastic modulus is 0.03 GPa (0.0048 Msi).
Thermal10
TPE Shore A 90 is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 0.22 W/m·K (0.127 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 60% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 200 µm/m·K (111.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
TPE Shore A 90 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 20 kV/mm (508 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (87/100), better than 72% of polymer grades. UV resistance is very good.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of TPE Shore A 90 takes about 95 MJ of energy and emits 3.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 70% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability8
TPE Shore A 90's machinability is poor (34/100, worse than 85% of polymer grades); weldability good (65/100); formability excellent (85/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with TPE Shore A 90
Is TPE easy to machine?
Soft grades smear and tear — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed with low feed, water-jet or die-cutting; freeze fixturing helps on Shore A <60.
Can TPE be welded?
Hot-plate, hot-air and IR welding to itself and to PP work well; ultrasonic welding is unreliable because the soft phase damps energy — adhesive bonding needs primer or plasma/corona pre-treatment.
Can TPE be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 1–2 h at 70–80 °C if wet, melt 180–235 °C, mold 20–60 °C, use generous gates/short shot paths, expect 1–3 % shrinkage and design for 2K adhesion or mechanical interlock in overmolding.
What surface finishes work on TPE?
Surface is defined by tool texture (EDM/laser texture reproduces well); no plating or anodizing — use in-mold color, laser marking or pad printing with elastomer-compatible inks.
TPE 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 |
|---|---|---|
| polypropylene (PP hard phase)continuous thermoplastic matrix; sets Tm and stiffness | 25 – 50 | 35 |
| paraffinic process oilsoftener; higher oil = lower Shore A and lower oil resistance | 5 – 35 | 17 |
| filler (talc / CaCO3 / ATH in FR grades)0 in natural grades; ATH used for halogen-free V-0 | 0 – 40 | 2 |
| additives (antioxidant, UV stabilizer, p | 0.5 – 3 | 1.5 |
| EPDM rubber (dynamically vulcanized) or elastic phase; EPDM/TPV for heat+set, SEBS for feel and cost | ≥ 30 (balance) |
TPE Shore A 90 — frequently asked
What is TPE Shore A 90 used for?
TPE Shore A 90 is typically used for overmoulded tool and appliance grips, static seals and gaskets, automotive interior weatherstrip, cable jackets and strain reliefs, soft-touch consumer electronics surfaces and grommets and bellows. In short: rubber-like flexibility.
What is the tensile strength of TPE Shore A 90?
TPE Shore A 90 has a typical tensile strength of 17 MPa (2.47 ksi) — weaker than 71% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is TPE Shore A 90 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (34/100, worse than 85% of polymer grades). Soft grades smear and tear — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed with low feed, water-jet or die-cutting; freeze fixturing helps on Shore A <60.
Can TPE Shore A 90 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (65/100). Hot-plate, hot-air and IR welding to itself and to PP work well; ultrasonic welding is unreliable because the soft phase damps energy — adhesive bonding needs primer or plasma/corona pre-treatment.
What surface finishes work on TPE Shore A 90?
Surface is defined by tool texture (EDM/laser texture reproduces well); no plating or anodizing — use in-mold color, laser marking or pad printing with elastomer-compatible inks.
Can TPE Shore A 90 be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 1–2 h at 70–80 °C if wet, melt 180–235 °C, mold 20–60 °C, use generous gates/short shot paths, expect 1–3 % shrinkage and design for 2K adhesion or mechanical interlock in overmolding.
What is the maximum service temperature of TPE Shore A 90?
TPE Shore A 90 is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F), and briefly to 135°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in TPE Shore A 90?
Yes — TPE Shore A 90 is available for injection molding; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ISO 18064 — Thermoplastic elastomers, nomenclature and abbreviated terms — ISO (2014)
- ASTM D412 / D2240 / D624 / D395 — tensile, durometer, tear, compression set of elastomers — ASTM (2021)
- Santoprene TPV product family data (8000/100 series) — ExxonMobil / Celanese (2023)
- THERMOLAST K / HIPEX TPE compound datasheets — KRAIBURG TPE (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics — TPE-V / TPE-S injection grades — CWFG (2024)
- Handbook of Thermoplastic Elastomers / ASM Engineering Plastics — Elsevier / ASM International (2007)
- TPE/TPV (2026)
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.