TPU-Ester 55D
Hardness band
GB GB/T 20393 · ISO 18064 TPU-P
55D = shore 55D
Semi-rigid grade for gears, ski boots, spiral/protective hose and high-load bushings.
Values for the 55D condition
Other TPU-Ester grades and fills
TPU-Ester is listed in 13 conditions; see the grade overview at TPU-Ester.
Compare all 13 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shore 75A | Soft, highly flexible grade for cable jacketing, bellows and soft grips where flexibility outranks load capacity. | — | 30 | 600 | 25 Shore D |
Antistatic / conductive polyester TPU | For conveyor belts, casters and hose covers that must bleed off static charge. | — | 30 | 400 | 40 Shore D |
FR | Use for cable sheathing, connectors and e-mobility parts requiring V-0 with low smoke and no halogens. | — | 32 | 400 | 40 Shore D |
15 % glass-fiber reinforced polyester TPU | Choose when a hard TPU part needs several times the stiffness and lower creep while keeping some toughness. | — | 35 | 30 | 70 Shore D |
Internally lubricated / low-friction polyester TPU | Bearing/slide grade for seals, sliders and cable jackets needing low stick-slip and easier demoulding. | — | 38 | 450 | 40 Shore D |
Shore 85A | Balanced soft-medium grade for hoses, tubing, seals and flexible couplings. | — | 40 | 550 | 33 Shore D |
Injection molding grade | Free-flowing version for thin-wall or multi-cavity injection molding and short cycle times. | — | 42 | 470 | 40 Shore D |
Hydrolysis-stabilized polyester TPU | Essential when a polyester TPU must survive humid heat, hot water or condensation service for years. | — | 44 | 500 | 40 Shore D |
90ADefault Shore 90A | The workhorse polyester TPU: best all-round mix of abrasion, tear and oil resistance for rollers, seals and wear parts. | — | 45 | 500 | 40 Shore D |
30 % glass-fiber reinforced polyester TPU | Maximum stiffness/dimensional stability version for structural housings and load-bearing wear components. | — | 48 | 15 | 75 Shore D |
Shore 95A | Higher modulus and load capacity for hydraulic seals, backup rings, drive belts and heavy-duty wheels. | — | 50 | 450 | 48 Shore D |
55DThis page Shore 55D | Semi-rigid grade for gears, ski boots, spiral/protective hose and high-load bushings. | — | 50 | 400 | 55 Shore D |
Shore 65D | Top of the unfilled hardness range for structural wear parts, hammer heads and rigid tubing needing impact toughness. | — | 55 | 350 | 65 Shore D |
What is TPU-Ester 55D?
TPU-Ester 55D is TPU-Ester heat treated to 55D — semi-rigid grade for gears, ski boots, spiral/protective hose and high-load bushings. TPU-Ester 55D has a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi), stronger than 54% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 400% and the elastic modulus is 0.18 GPa (0.0261 Msi). TPU-Ester 55D has a density of 1.24 g/cm³ (0.0448 lb/in³), heavier than 63% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -35°C (-31 °F). 90A is the default condition FabDigit quotes; 55D is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Readily welded — 85/100, better than 89% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 400%, better than 86% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 80/100, better than 75% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 0.7%, worse than 78% of polymer grades
TPU-Ester 55D properties
Typical room-temperature values for TPU-Ester 55D; 12 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are TPU-Ester reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical7
TPU-Ester 55D has a density of 1.24 g/cm³ (0.0448 lb/in³), heavier than 63% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -35°C (-31 °F).
Mechanical11
TPU-Ester 55D has a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi), stronger than 54% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 400% and the elastic modulus is 0.18 GPa (0.0261 Msi).
Thermal9
TPU-Ester 55D is rated for continuous service to 90°C (194 °F). It conducts heat at 0.2 W/m·K (0.116 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 170 µm/m·K (94.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
TPU-Ester 55D is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 25 kV/mm (635 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10⁹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (75/100), worse than 66% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of TPU-Ester 55D takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 2%.
Manufacturability8
TPU-Ester 55D's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (85/100); formability very good (80/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with TPU-Ester 55D
Is TPU-Ester easy to machine?
Machinable above ~90A with very sharp, high-rake, positive-geometry tools, high surface speed and low feed; chill with air/mist and support thin sections — soft grades smear and grab.
Can TPU-Ester be welded?
Readily joined by hot-plate, hot-air, ultrasonic and HF/RF welding, and solvent/PU-adhesive bonded after abrasion and primer; not compatible with polyolefins.
Can TPU-Ester be formed, bent or molded?
Dry pellets 2–4 h at 80–110 °C to <0.02 % moisture, melt 195–225 °C, mold 20–50 °C, use large gates and free-flowing runners; melt is shear-sensitive and hydrolyses if wet.
What surface finishes work on TPU-Ester?
Takes mold texture and gloss directly; can be painted with flexible PU paints, pad-printed, flocked or plasma/primer treated — no plating or anodizing.
TPU-Ester 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 |
|---|---|---|
| polyester polyol (poly(butylene adipate)soft segment, Mn ≈ 1000–2000 g/mol | 45 – 65 | 55 |
| MDI (4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate)aromatic hard segment; aliphatic H12MDI/HDI used for non-yellowing grades | 25 – 40 | 33 |
| 1,4-butanediol (chain extender)hard-segment chain extender | 5 – 12 | 9 |
| additives (antioxidant, wax/processing agrade-dependent | 0.2 – 3 | 1 |
| glass fiberonly in GF variants | 0 – 30 | 0 |
TPU-Ester 55D — frequently asked
What is TPU-Ester 55D used for?
TPU-Ester 55D is typically used for hydraulic seals, rollers, shoe soles, wear-resistant tubing and conveyor belts. In short: best oil resistance TPU; high abrasion wear grade; limited hydrolysis resistance.
What is the tensile strength of TPU-Ester 55D?
TPU-Ester 55D has a typical tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — stronger than 54% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 13 listed tempers.
Is TPU-Ester 55D easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades). Machinable above ~90A with very sharp, high-rake, positive-geometry tools, high surface speed and low feed; chill with air/mist and support thin sections — soft grades smear and grab.
Can TPU-Ester 55D be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (85/100). Readily joined by hot-plate, hot-air, ultrasonic and HF/RF welding, and solvent/PU-adhesive bonded after abrasion and primer; not compatible with polyolefins.
What surface finishes work on TPU-Ester 55D?
Takes mold texture and gloss directly; can be painted with flexible PU paints, pad-printed, flocked or plasma/primer treated — no plating or anodizing.
Can TPU-Ester 55D be formed, bent or molded?
Dry pellets 2–4 h at 80–110 °C to <0.02 % moisture, melt 195–225 °C, mold 20–50 °C, use large gates and free-flowing runners; melt is shear-sensitive and hydrolyses if wet.
What is the maximum service temperature of TPU-Ester 55D?
TPU-Ester 55D is rated for continuous use to about 90°C (194 °F), and briefly to 120°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ISO 18064 Thermoplastic elastomers — Nomenclature and abbreviated terms — ISO (2014)
- GB/T 20393 (TPU) — SAC (2006)
- Elastollan C series (polyester TPU) product range and properties — BASF (2023)
- Desmopan polyester TPU grade overview / chemical resistance guide — Covestro (2023)
- Estane TPU engineering polymers property guide — Lubrizol (2022)
- CAMPUS plastics database — TPU-ARES/TPU-ARET single-point data — CWFG (2024)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
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.