TPE Comparison Guide: TPO vs TPV vs TPU vs TPR, SBC, COPE & COPA

Compare TPE families - TPO, TPV, TPU, TPR, SBC, COPE & COPA. Explore properties, pros & cons, and applications in this complete thermoplastic elastomer guide

April 27, 2017

What are Thermoplastic Elastomers - TPEs Explained

Explore TPE families side-by-side with our quick reference guide. See how TPO, TPV, SBC, TPU, COPE, and COPA compare in properties, benefits, and applications.

Download the Complete TPE Comparison Guide

What_are_Thermoplastic_Elastomers__TPEs_EXPLAINED

TPE Compounds Explained: SBC, TPO, TPV, TPU, COPE, COPA

You may already know TPEs (Thermoplastic Elastomers) — but did you know there are actually six distinct TPE chemical families?

Choosing the right one depends on your application, performance goals, and design priorities.

With the right understanding, engineers can leverage the strengths of materials such as:

Styrenic Block Copolymer Compounds (SBC or TPE-S)
Polyolefinic Rubber Blends (TPO or TPE-O)
Thermoplastic Vulcanizates (TPV or TPE-V)
As well as TPU, COPE, and COPA families

Each family behaves differently — and the distinctions matter when comparing TPS vs TPV, TPV vs TPO, or TPS vs TPU materials.

How TPE Families Differ

Depending on the chemistry, TPEs can vary significantly in key performance areas:

Elasticity: Some TPEs, such as TPV, are more resilient than TPO or TPS.
Colorability: SBC or TPS compounds offer excellent clarity and color options for consumer products.
Outdoor Durability: TPO and TPV compounds are better suited for weatherable or UV-exposed applications.
Temperature Resistance: Certain families retain mechanical properties at high or low extremes better than others.

Within each TPE family, there are nearly limitless formulation options — adjusting hardness, surface feel, temperature tolerance, and UV resistance. This versatility allows engineers and compounders to fine-tune materials for precise application needs.

Ultimately, multiple TPE grades may perform well for a single design. The right choice depends on balancing performance requirements, processing methods, and cost targets.

What Are the Main Types of Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs)?

Styrenic Block Copolymers (SBC or TPE-S)

SBCs (or TPS) are among the most versatile TPEs, offering excellent softness, clarity, and colorability. They process easily on standard thermoplastic equipment and are ideal for consumer goods, grips, and seals. Compared to TPV or TPO, SBC compounds provide a softer touch and greater design flexibility for aesthetic applications.

Thermoplastic Polyolefins (TPO)

TPOs combine polyolefin toughness with rubber-like flexibility, making them a reliable choice for automotive trim, building products, and outdoor applications. When comparing TPS vs TPO, TPO materials typically provide better UV resistance, chemical stability, and weatherability, though with less elasticity than softer TPSs or TPVs.

Thermoplastic Vulcanizates (TPV)

TPVs, such as Sarlink®, are dynamically vulcanized blends that deliver thermoset rubber performance with thermoplastic processing ease. They offer outstanding heat, fluid, and compression-set resistance, making them preferred for automotive seals, industrial gaskets, and under-hood parts. In the TPE vs TPV comparison, TPVs stand out for long-term durability and resilience.

Thermoplastic Polyurethanes (TPU)

TPUs are known for their high elasticity, abrasion resistance, and toughness. They perform well across a wide temperature range and offer excellent surface aesthetics. Common in medical devices, sporting goods, and protective coatings, TPUs bridge the gap between flexible rubbers and rigid plastics, outperforming TPRs in strength and durability.

Copolyester Elastomers (COPE)

COPEs combine the flexibility of rubber with the chemical and temperature resistance of polyester. They excel in applications exposed to oils, fuels, or repeated flexing, such as automotive bellows, tubing, and connectors. Compared to TPO or TPV, COPEs maintain superior strength and resilience at elevated temperatures.

Polyetheramide Elastomers (COPA)

COPAs offer a balance of low-temperature flexibility, chemical resistance, and toughness. Often selected for wire and cable jackets, industrial components, and performance films, they provide reliable performance where other TPEs may stiffen or degrade. COPAs deliver consistent elasticity and strength across a wide range of conditions.

Overview Comparison of TPE Families

TPE Family	Elasticity	Chemical Resistance	Temp. Resistance	Typical Uses
TPO	Moderate flexibility; less elastic than other TPEs	Good resistance to water and many chemicals	Excellent UV and weather resistance; moderate heat resistance	Exterior trim, building profiles, outdoor components
TPV	High elasticity; rubber-like recovery	Excellent resistance to oils, fluids, and heat	High temperature and compression-set resistance	Automotive seals, hoses, gaskets, under-hood parts
TPU	Very high elasticity and resilience	Excellent chemical, abrasion, and oil resistance	Wide service temperature range (–40°C to 120°C+)	Medical devices, sporting goods, industrial components
SBC	Soft, flexible, and highly elastic	Fair chemical resistance; sensitive to oils and solvents	Limited high-temp resistance	Consumer grips, soft-touch parts, packaging
COPE	Moderate elasticity with good toughness	Excellent oil and fuel resistance	Very good high-temp resistance and fatigue performance	Automotive bellows, tubing, connectors, industrial parts
COPA	Moderate elasticity; retains flexibility at low temps	Excellent chemical and hydrolysis resistance	Broad service range; maintains strength at low temperatures	Wire & cable jackets, performance films, connectors

Advantages and Limitations

TPE Family	Elasticity	Chemical Resistance	Temp. Resistance	Typical Uses
TPO	Moderate flexibility; less elastic than other TPEs	Good resistance to water and many chemicals	Excellent UV and weather resistance; moderate heat resistance	Exterior trim, building profiles, outdoor components
TPV	High elasticity; rubber-like recovery	Excellent resistance to oils, fluids, and heat	High temperature and compression-set resistance	Automotive seals, hoses, gaskets, under-hood parts
TPU	Very high elasticity and resilience	Excellent chemical, abrasion, and oil resistance	Wide service temperature range (–40°C to 120°C+)	Medical devices, sporting goods, industrial components
SBC	Soft, flexible, and highly elastic	Fair chemical resistance; sensitive to oils and solvents	Limited high-temp resistance	Consumer grips, soft-touch parts, packaging
COPE	Moderate elasticity with good toughness	Excellent oil and fuel resistance	Very good high-temp resistance and fatigue performance	Automotive bellows, tubing, connectors, industrial parts
COPA	Moderate elasticity; retains flexibility at low temps	Excellent chemical and hydrolysis resistance	Broad service range; maintains strength at low temperatures	Wire & cable jackets, performance films, connectors

How to Choose the Right TPE for Your Application

Selecting the right thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) involves more than just comparing material families like TPS vs TPV or TPV vs TPO — it’s about balancing end-use performance, manufacturing requirements, regulatory compliance, and cost efficiency.

When evaluating options, consider the following key selection factors:

Hardness / Durometer – required flexibility or rigidity for the design
Elasticity & Recovery – how well the material returns to its shape after stress
Abrasion & Tear Resistance – expected wear and mechanical demands
Chemical, UV, Heat & Moisture Resistance – environmental and service conditions
Transparency & Colorability – visual or branding requirements
Regulatory & Compliance Needs – FDA, USP, or automotive standards
Sustainability Goals – material reuse, carbon footprint, or bio-based content

Each application is unique — and the best-performing TPE is one that meets functional, processing, and business needs in balance.

Ready to narrow down your options?

Use our TPE Selector Matrix and Family Comparison Guide to identify the most suitable candidates for your next project.

Download the Guide Now

Frequently Asked Questions:

No — while TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) is part of the broader TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) family, it represents just one subset. TPOs are typically blends of polypropylene and elastomer, offering excellent weatherability, UV stability, and chemical resistance. They’re ideal for automotive exterior trim, building profiles, and outdoor components. TPEs, by contrast, include multiple families—TPO, TPV, TPU, SBC, COPE, and COPA—each with different elasticity, temperature resistance, and processing traits. In general, choose TPO for durability and outdoor exposure, and other TPEs when softness, colorability, or tactile comfort are priorities.

TPVs (Thermoplastic Vulcanizates) generally outperform standard TPEs in heat, oil, and compression-set resistance. TPVs are made by dynamically vulcanizing EPDM rubber in a thermoplastic matrix, resulting in superior long-term performance in harsh environments such as under-hood automotive, industrial, and outdoor sealing applications. While SBC- or TPU-based TPEs excel in soft-touch or transparent designs, TPVs deliver enhanced durability, resilience, and weatherability, making them the preferred choice when exposure to high heat, fluids, or UV is critical.

TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber) is a legacy term that typically refers to styrenic-based TPEs, such as SBS or SEBS compounds within the broader thermoplastic elastomer family. These materials offer good flexibility, soft-touch feel, and easy processing, making them cost-effective for consumer grips, seals, and overmolded components.

TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane), on the other hand, delivers superior toughness, abrasion and tear resistance, and chemical durability, maintaining flexibility across a wide temperature range. For heavy-duty, high-wear, or performance-critical parts—such as industrial hoses, footwear, or protective equipment—TPU is preferred, while TPR is best suited for comfort-driven or aesthetic applications.

Yes. Most standard TPEs bond naturally to polypropylene (PP) because both materials are non-polar, allowing consistent overmolding without special surface treatment. However, for polar substrates like ABS, polycarbonate (PC), or polyamide (PA), the TPE must be adhesion-modified to promote interfacial bonding.

Teknor Apex offers Monprene® and Medalist® overmolding grades engineered for optimal adhesion—adhesion modified TPS and TPV compounds for ABS, PC, and PA. Achieving strong bonds also depends on mold temperature, surface energy, and gating design, all of which Teknor Apex’s technical teams can help optimize.

Teknor Apex designs specific TPE families to meet the regulatory standards of their end-use markets:

Monprene® TPEs — used in consumer products and packaging —comply with FDA food-contact, RoHS, and REACH requirements. These grades are formulated for safety, durability, and consistency, supporting soft-touch grips, packaging, and appliance components.
Medalist® TPEs — used in medical and healthcare applications—are engineered to meet FDA, USP Class VI, and ISO 10993 biocompatibility standards, produced under ISO 13485-certified quality systems. These compounds provide safe, compliant solutions for medical devices, tubing, housings, and overmolded components.