The short answer
Choose TPV when the part has to seal, run warm or touch some oil: its crosslinked rubber phase gives better compression set and heat resistance, up to about 125°C / 257°F. Choose SEBS-based TPE (TPE-S) when the part has to be very soft, clear, or overmolded onto ABS, PC or nylon, or when food-contact grades and cost lead the decision. Both run on standard thermoplastic equipment and both bond to PP.
Both are thermoplastic elastomers and both are sold by Shore hardness, so they get swapped for each other more often than they should. They are not interchangeable in sealing parts. For the wider field, see TPV vs. other elastomers.
TPV vs. TPE-S side by side
| Property | TPV (EPDM/PP) | TPE-S (SEBS-based) |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness range | About 35A to 50D | Shore OO gels to about 95A / 50D |
| Service temperature | About −40 to 125°C / −40 to 257°F | Up to about 70–100°C / 158–212°F; low end about −50°C / −58°F by grade |
| Compression set | Good, including at moderate heat | Fair at room temperature; poor when hot |
| Oil and fluid resistance | Fair; swells noticeably in hot oil | Poor in oils, fuels and hydrocarbon solvents |
| UV and ozone | Very good | Good for SEBS; SBS grades are poor |
| Density, g/cm³ | About 0.9–1.0 unfilled | About 0.88–1.2; filled grades higher |
| Clarity | Opaque | Clear and translucent grades available |
| Processing | Injection, extrusion, blow molding. Melt about 175–230°C / 347–446°F | Injection, extrusion, overmolding. Melt about 190–245°C / 374–473°F |
| Drying | About 80°C / 176°F, 3 h (4 h with regrind), to 0.08% or less | Usually not needed; 60–80°C / 140–176°F for 2–4 h if wet |
| Scrap | Same-grade regrind goes back in | Same-grade regrind goes back in |
| Typical parts | Seals, gaskets, grommets, boots, weatherseals | Soft grips, overmolds, feet, toys, clear tubing, gaskets at room temperature |
Typical ranges. TPE-S covers a wide range of formulations, from oil-rich gels to PP-rich hard grades; confirm the properties on the data sheet for the exact grade. Processing values agree with our processing parameters and drying guide.
Heat and compression set
This is the main reason to pay for TPV. In TPE-S, the rubbery SEBS phase is held together by physical domains that soften as the part warms, so a compressed TPE-S seal takes a permanent set quickly once it runs much above room temperature, and most grades are used only up to about 70–100°C / 158–212°F. In TPV, the EPDM is chemically crosslinked, so it springs back far better, and the useful range runs to about 125°C / 257°F.
If a TPE-S gasket goes flat in a warm appliance or under the hood, moving to a TPV sealing grade is the usual fix. Ask for compression set at your temperature and time, not just at room temperature. See seals losing compression.
Softness, feel and surface
TPE-S goes much softer: down to Shore OO gels, with a wide choice of soft-touch grades in the 30–60A range. Most TPV grades start around 35A and are firmer and drier to the touch. Very soft TPE-S grades carry a lot of oil, and some can feel tacky or leave residue, especially when warm; soft TPV can show the same in some grades. See sticky TPE surfaces.
Clarity and color
TPE-S can be made clear or translucent, which suits tubing, clear grips and see-through seals. TPV is always opaque, since the cured rubber particles scatter light. Both color well with masterbatch, but natural TPV is off-white rather than water-white, so bright and light colors need more pigment.
Overmolding range
Both bond to polypropylene, because both contain PP or a PP-compatible phase. Beyond PP, TPE-S is the broader family: adhesion-modified grades are offered for ABS, PC, PC/ABS and nylon, including glass-filled nylon. TPV grades that bond to engineering plastics exist but are fewer. Whichever you choose, match the grade to the substrate, keep the substrate clean and dry, and keep it as warm as your process allows. If a bond is peeling, see overmold not bonding.
Food contact, medical and cost
Food-contact and medical-style grades exist in both families, with a wider selection in TPE-S. Compliance belongs to the grade and often to the color, so ask for the producer’s FDA letter, or medical documentation, for the exact grade. On cost, general-purpose TPE-S is often lower than TPV, needs no drying and has a wide window. Specialty soft or overmold TPE-S grades narrow that gap.
When to choose TPV, and when to choose TPE-S
When to choose TPV
- Gaskets, seals and grommets that stay compressed
- Parts that run above about 70°C / 158°F
- Some oil, grease or coolant contact
- Outdoor and under-hood parts
- Two-shot or co-extruded seals on a PP carrier
When to choose TPE-S
- Soft-touch grips and handles, especially below about 50A
- Clear or translucent parts
- Overmolds on ABS, PC, PC/ABS or nylon
- Room-temperature parts where cost and easy processing lead
- Food-contact parts where a wider choice of documented grades helps
What to send us
- The grade you run now, or its data sheet, and the hardness with a tolerance
- Whether the part seals, its service temperature and any oils it touches
- The substrate, if overmolded
- Color, clarity and any food-contact or medical requirement
- Quantity and ship-to city
A polymer chemist reviews every request and checks the grade against your part, process and documents before we quote. Every lot ships with a COA, and orders start at one gaylord. Samples of about 50 lb are available upon credit approval. We aim to send your quote within one to three business days.
Common questions
What is the difference between TPV and TPE?
TPV is one type of TPE with a crosslinked EPDM rubber phase in PP. “TPE” in everyday use usually means styrenic TPE (TPE-S), which is a blend of SEBS or SBS with oil and PP or other polymers and has no crosslinked phase. That is why TPV holds heat and compression set better.
Is SEBS TPE good for seals?
For seals at room temperature with light compression, often yes. For seals that run warm, stay compressed for years or see oil, TPV is usually the better choice.
Can TPV be clear?
No. The cured rubber particles make TPV opaque. If you need a clear or translucent soft part, look at clear TPE-S grades or LSR silicone.
Which is better for overmolding?
TPE-S, for range. Both bond well to PP, but TPE-S is offered in adhesion-modified grades for ABS, PC, PC/ABS and nylon. TPV options beyond PP are fewer. See overmold not bonding.
Is TPE-S cheaper than TPV?
General-purpose TPE-S is often lower in cost than TPV. Soft overmold grades for engineering substrates can cost as much or more. Compare grades that meet the same part requirements.
Can I run TPV in a mold built for TPE-S?
Sometimes, but measure parts. Shrinkage differs, especially for soft TPV, which shrinks much more along the flow than across it. TPV also needs drying, which TPE-S usually does not.
Tell us the TPE or TPV you run now
A polymer chemist reviews every request, then matches your grade or finds a qualified equivalent and prices it.
What to send for an accurate quote
- The grade name, from any supplier, or a data sheet
- Color (natural, black or a custom match)
- Fill type and percentage, if any
- Melt flow, if you know it
- Quantity for this order and what you use in a year
- Ship-to city and state or province