With the development of the automotive industry, automotive supplies are constantly innovating like the waves behind the front, and among the car mats, a new generation of environmental protection and practicality such as TPE mats has also been born. However, in addition to the TPE car mat, the brother of the TPO car mat is also derived. There is only one letter difference between TPE and TPO. What is the difference between the two, today 3W will take you to explain it in detail!
Comparison of raw materials: similar names, different performance
The scientific names of TPE and TPO are thermoplastic elastomers. TPO can be regarded as one of the subclasses of TPE. Our common TPO is thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer. And what we call TPE is subdivided into TPES, styrene thermoplastic elastomer.
Although the names of the two are similar, there are still obvious differences in the source materials, and the biggest difference is reflected in the performance of the materials. Both TPE and TPO can withstand a temperature difference of -40°-120°, but TPE performs better in weather resistance and deformation resistance.
As for the smell that everyone is most concerned about, because TPO is a blend of rubber and polyolefin, the purity is not as good as TPE, so the smell of TPO will be greater, and it needs to be ventilated for several days after production to reduce. The TPE finished product has no odor and can be used without placing it, so the use of TPE is also wider. The TPE material used in the 3W car mat comes from HEXPOL in Sweden, which is also one of Volvo’s material suppliers. International quality inspections such as NQA, SGS, and CNAS have passed without pressure, and the problem of odor is solved from the source of the material!
Process comparison: the difference between blister and injection
Another biggest difference between TPE car mats and TPO car mats is the production process! Different from the traditional cutting and sewing of leather wire loops, TPE car mats are produced and formed by industrial molds. This process is also divided into injection molding and blister molding. Most of the TPE car mats are injection molded, and the TPO car mats are blister molding.
Blister process:
Let’s take a look at the blister molding of TPO materials first. Use a general mold as the bottom and develop a special mold for the other half. After heating and softening the flat raw material, it is vacuum adsorbed on the surface of the mold, and then formed after cooling. This process is used on car mats, which is prone to the problem of insufficient thickness of the mats, so the blister mats will have a thin plastic feel. Due to the different molds on the front and back, the texture is also very different. If the vacuum adsorption is not complete during processing, it is easy to leave pores and traces.
But the biggest advantage of the blister process is that the cost is low. Only half a set of special molds are needed, and the development cost can be greatly reduced. At the same time, the blister will produce scraps during the processing. Some manufacturers save costs and will re-produce the returned materials. Therefore, the blister car mats are also prone to residual odor and poor quality control.
Injection molding process:
Compared with blister, the injection molding used for TPE car mats is much taller. Each model develops a complete set of independent molds. These double-layer molds cost hundreds of thousands and are not universal. The advantages brought by high cost, the injection molding car mat has a higher degree of fit, can design different pattern elements, and can achieve a thickness of 10-25mm, making the car mat thicker and more resistant to deformation.
Automated production can be achieved with large injection molding machines, no return material is generated, and the production capacity is higher. The 3W factory has invested tens of millions to build a complete TPE car mat injection molding production line. The 3W production workshop also has strict emission standards for harmful substances, including at least eight indicators including VOC, to ensure that the TPE raw materials are not polluted during the production process, and the one-piece injection molded car mats are also more environmentally friendly and safe.
car mat comparison: easy to use and environmental protection is the last word
Whether the car mats are good or not depends on the real thing. Because of the difference in materials and craftsmanship, the two kinds of car mats have different experience.
The first is the TPO car floor mat. The first impression is that it has an obvious plastic feeling, and it is easy to turn white and stiff after stepping on it. Due to the limitation of the blister process, the thickness is relatively thin, so the foot feel will be worse. At the same time, the new car mats are prone to residual odor when they arrive, and they need to be ventilated and exposed to the sun before they can be loaded into the car.
TPE car mats have a natural rubber feel, and the feet have good elasticity when they are stepped on, and they will not be rigid and deformed in winter. There is a special pattern design under the injection molding process. 3W designers have designed different pattern elements for different brands. The Audi pattern in the picture comes from the trapezoidal design on the starting hood. At the same time, there are reinforcing ribs on the sides and back to cover more thickly and have a longer service life. With the support of high-quality raw materials and injection molding technology, the odor of 3W full TPE car mats is eradicated from the source, which can bring a better driving experience!
Finally, there are also many TPO car mats on the market, which will package themselves into TPE car mats. The method of discrimination is also very simple. Look at the thickness and texture. If it is thin like plastic, then it is undoubtedly a TPO plastic car mat; if it is thick, it is more like a rubber, and has a rib design, then it is a TPE injection molding foot. pad. Of course, the most important thing is that you can’t smell the peculiar smell when you get it. Choose 3W full TPE healthy car mats, there is no peculiar smell out of the box, and it is ready to use after loading, escorting your every trip!
Post time: Apr-06-2022