With a wide range of service temperatures, Thermoplastic Polyamide elastomers possess excellent flexibility and resistance to oils & chemicals. These block polyamides have either ether or ester as a soft block and polyamide as a hard block. The combination of these hard and soft blocks gives polyamide elastomers the required rigidity and flexibility. The ratio of hard block and soft block segments used to make polyamide elastomer decides the rigidity and flexibility of a particular grade.
Polyamide elastomers with a high percentage of polyamide hard block have lower flexibility and vice versa. Depending upon soft segments, TPA can be named Polyether block amide (PEBA) and Copolyamide (COPA). PEBA is the most significant member of TPA and also accounts for the largest share of the TPA market.
The global thermoplastic polyamide elastomers market is anticipated to be around 6% between 2023 and 2032. The market witnessed a decline during the economic recession but bounced back to growth in 2010. As of 2017, Asia-Pacific constituted the largest regional demand accounting for around 41% of the thermoplastic polyamide elastomers market. Western Europe was the second largest market followed by North America.
Exceptional physical, mechanical and dynamic properties have increasingly solidified the position of TPAs in applications which require high flexibility and light weightiness. Polyether Block Amides (PEBA) are widely used in sporting applications where light weightiness, energy absorption and flexibility are of most importance. Flexibility along with resistance to chemicals and biocompatibility helps polyamide elastomer to be a best fit for medical applications. Breathable, Medical catheters and balloons (inserted in veins) are some of the examples where polyamide elastomers are being used in the medical & healthcare industry. The use of TPA has been categorized into wide spectrum of applications including automotive, medical, sporting goods, industrial, and others.
Major TPA manufacturers include Arkema with trade name Pebax, Evonik (Vestamid E), UBE (Ubesta XPA), and EMS-Grivory (Griflex, Grilamid ELY & Griltech ELY).
