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TPU-Ester LUB

Additive grade

GB GB/T 20393 · ISO 18064 TPU-P

LUB = internally lubricated / low-friction polyester TPU

Bearing/slide grade for seals, sliders and cable jackets needing low stick-slip and easier demoulding.

Standard cost $$

Values for the LUB 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 datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %Hardness
Shore 75A
Soft, highly flexible grade for cable jacketing, bellows and soft grips where flexibility outranks load capacity.—3060025 Shore D
Antistatic / conductive polyester TPU
For conveyor belts, casters and hose covers that must bleed off static charge.—3040040 Shore D
FR
Use for cable sheathing, connectors and e-mobility parts requiring V-0 with low smoke and no halogens.—3240040 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.—353070 Shore D
LUBThis page
Internally lubricated / low-friction polyester TPU
Bearing/slide grade for seals, sliders and cable jackets needing low stick-slip and easier demoulding.—3845040 Shore D
Shore 85A
Balanced soft-medium grade for hoses, tubing, seals and flexible couplings.—4055033 Shore D
Injection molding grade
Free-flowing version for thin-wall or multi-cavity injection molding and short cycle times.—4247040 Shore D
Hydrolysis-stabilized polyester TPU
Essential when a polyester TPU must survive humid heat, hot water or condensation service for years.—4450040 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.—4550040 Shore D
30 % glass-fiber reinforced polyester TPU
Maximum stiffness/dimensional stability version for structural housings and load-bearing wear components.—481575 Shore D
Shore 95A
Higher modulus and load capacity for hydraulic seals, backup rings, drive belts and heavy-duty wheels.—5045048 Shore D
Shore 55D
Semi-rigid grade for gears, ski boots, spiral/protective hose and high-load bushings.—5040055 Shore D
Shore 65D
Top of the unfilled hardness range for structural wear parts, hammer heads and rigid tubing needing impact toughness.—5535065 Shore D

What is TPU-Ester LUB?

TPU-Ester LUB is TPU-Ester in the LUB grade — bearing/slide grade for seals, sliders and cable jackets needing low stick-slip and easier demoulding. TPU-Ester LUB has a tensile strength of 38 MPa (5.51 ksi), weaker than 56% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 450% and the elastic modulus is 0.05 GPa (0.0065 Msi). TPU-Ester LUB has a density of 1.22 g/cm³ (0.0441 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -35°C (-31 °F). 90A is the default condition FabDigit quotes; LUB is available on request or by drawing note.

Advantages

  • Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 450%, better than 88% of polymer grades
  • Forms and bends easily — 82/100, better than 77% of polymer grades

Limitations

  • Difficult to machine — 42/100, worse than 80% of polymer grades
  • Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 0.7%, worse than 78% of polymer grades

TPU-Ester LUB properties

Typical room-temperature values for TPU-Ester LUB; 22 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 LUB has a density of 1.22 g/cm³ (0.0441 lb/in³), heavier than 61% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -35°C (-31 °F).

Density1.22 g/cm³0.04 lb/in³
Melting Temperature (Tm)210°C410 °F
Glass Transition (Tg)-35°C-31 °F
Water Absorption (24 h)0.7%
Water Absorption (Saturation)1.8%
Refractive Index1.52
Light Transmission80%

Mechanical11

TPU-Ester LUB has a tensile strength of 38 MPa (5.51 ksi), weaker than 56% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 450% and the elastic modulus is 0.05 GPa (0.0065 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus0.05 GPa0.01 Msi
Shear Modulus0.02 GPa0 Msi
Bulk Modulus2 GPa0.29 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.49
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)38 MPa5.5 ksi
Elongation at Break450%
Flexural Modulus0.05 GPa0.01 Msi
Hardness, Shore A90 Shore A
Hardness, Shore D40 Shore D
Tear Strength85 kN/m485 lbf/in
Compression Set (22 h, 70 °C)38%

Thermal9

TPU-Ester LUB is rated for continuous service to 80°C (176 °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).

Thermal Conductivity0.2 W/m·K0.12 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity1,700 J/kg·K0.41 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)170 µm/m·K94.4 µin/in·°F
Max Service Temperature (continuous)80°C176 °F
Min Service Temperature-35°C-31 °F
Vicat Softening Point (B50)100°C212 °F
Flammability (UL 94)HB
Limiting Oxygen Index21%
Max Service Temperature (short-term)120°C248 °F

Electrical7

TPU-Ester LUB is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 25 kV/mm (635 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10⁹ Ω·m.

Electrical Resistivity1×10⁹ Ω·m3.94×10¹⁶ µΩ·in
Dielectric Strength25 kV/mm635 V/mil
Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)5
Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)0.05
Volume Resistivity1×10¹¹ Ω·cm
Surface Resistivity1×10¹² Ω
Comparative Tracking Index (CTI)600 V

Chemical & Environmental3

Corrosion resistance is very good (75/100), worse than 66% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.

Corrosion ResistanceVery good75/100
UV / Weathering ResistanceFair40/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryGood against mineral oils, greases, fuels, aliphatic hydrocarbons, ozone and dilute acids; attacked by hot water/steam, alkalis, DMF/THF and other polar solvents; polyester soft segment hydrolyses above ~50 °C in humid service — use carbodiimide-stabilized grades.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of TPU-Ester LUB takes about 105 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 54% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 2%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)105 MJ/kg45,142 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)5.5 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water250 L/kg30 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content2%

Manufacturability8

TPU-Ester LUB's machinability is fair (42/100, worse than 80% of polymer grades); weldability fair (50/100); formability very good (82/100).

MachinabilityFair42/100
WeldabilityFair50/100
Formability (cold)Very good82/100
PolishabilityFair50/100
Mold Shrinkage1.2%
Melt Flow Rate28 g/10 min
Processing Melt Temperature (typ.)210°C410 °F
Mold Temperature (typ.)30°C86 °F

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.

Working with TPU-Ester LUB

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.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
polyester polyol (poly(butylene adipate)soft segment, Mn ≈ 1000–2000 g/mol45 – 6555
MDI (4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate)aromatic hard segment; aliphatic H12MDI/HDI used for non-yellowing grades25 – 4033
1,4-butanediol (chain extender)hard-segment chain extender5 – 129
additives (antioxidant, wax/processing agrade-dependent0.2 – 31
glass fiberonly in GF variants0 – 300

TPU-Ester LUB — frequently asked

What is TPU-Ester LUB used for?

TPU-Ester LUB 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 LUB?

TPU-Ester LUB has a typical tensile strength of 38 MPa (5.51 ksi) — weaker than 56% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 13 listed tempers.

Is TPU-Ester LUB easy to machine?

Not especially — machinability is rated fair (42/100, worse than 80% 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 LUB be welded?

With care — weldability is rated fair (50/100). 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 LUB?

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 LUB 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 LUB?

TPU-Ester LUB is rated for continuous use to about 80°C (176 °F), and briefly to 120°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.

Sources

  1. ISO 18064 Thermoplastic elastomers — Nomenclature and abbreviated terms — ISO (2014)
  2. GB/T 20393 (TPU) — SAC (2006)
  3. Elastollan C series (polyester TPU) product range and properties — BASF (2023)
  4. Desmopan polyester TPU grade overview / chemical resistance guide — Covestro (2023)
  5. Estane TPU engineering polymers property guide — Lubrizol (2022)
  6. CAMPUS plastics database — TPU-ARES/TPU-ARET single-point data — CWFG (2024)
  7. 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.