TPU supplier: abrasion-resistant elastomer grades
TPU pairs rubber flexibility with outstanding abrasion, cut and oil resistance.
One gaylord to a truckload · A polymer chemist reviews every quote · Every prime lot from our suppliers ships with a COA
Updated October 2026
Request a Quote- Impact strength
- Elastomeric, extremely tough
- Heat (service)
- ~80-120°C
- Clarity
- Some grades transparent
At a glance
- Form
- Pellets
- Order size
- One gaylord to a truckload
- Grades
- Polyester TPU (strength, oils) · Polyether TPU (hydrolysis, microbes) · Shore 60A-75D range
- Paperwork
- Supplier COA on every prime lot
- Ships to
- U.S. and Canada
- Sourcing
- Matched to your spec
The short answer
TPU is the pick for flexible parts that have to survive abrasion, cutting, tearing or oil: wheels, rollers, cable jacket, hose and protective cases. Pick polyester TPU for strength and oil resistance and polyether TPU for water, humidity and cold. The thing that most often goes wrong is moisture: undried TPU molds with bubbles and splay and loses strength.
Grades we source
Tap a grade to add it to your quote request.
About TPU
Thermoplastic polyurethane is one of the most abrasion-resistant flexible plastics, used for casters, cable jackets, films and printed parts that flex millions of cycles. Polyester types maximize strength and oil resistance; polyether types win in hydrolysis and low-temperature flex.
Common applications
- Casters, wheels and rollers
- Cable and hose jacketing
- Protective films and cases
- Footwear components
- Flexible industrial parts
Typical properties
| Impact strength | Elastomeric, extremely tough |
|---|---|
| Heat (service) | ~80-120°C |
| Clarity | Some grades transparent |
| Chemical resistance | Oil and grease resistance: excellent (polyester types); abrasion resistance: outstanding |
| Relative cost | Moderate-high |
Property ranges are general guidance and vary by grade and supplier; a polymer chemist confirms the exact spec against the data sheet and certificate of analysis for your application.
Which grade to ask for
Choose the chemistry first, then the hardness and the process.
| Grade type | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Polyester TPU | Wheels, rollers, seals and parts exposed to oil and grease | Hydrolyzes in hot water and long-term humidity. Not the choice for wet service |
| Polyether TPU | Cable jacket, hose, outdoor and wet-service parts, low-temperature flex | Somewhat lower oil resistance and strength than polyester types |
| Polycaprolactone TPU | Seals and parts needing a balance of hydrolysis and oil resistance | Fewer grades to choose from. Confirm availability before designing around it |
| Aliphatic TPU | Clear or light-colored parts and films that must not yellow in sunlight | Costs more than aromatic TPU. Dries at a much lower temperature |
| Film and extrusion grades | Protective film, tubing, hose and profiles | Higher melt strength. Not interchangeable with injection grades |
| Flame-retardant grades | Cable jacket and electrical parts | UL recognition is grade-specific and color-specific. Check the grade’s listing on UL Product iQ |
Typical starting points. Grades vary, so confirm on the data sheet for the exact grade.
Processing notes
- Drying. Always dry. Aromatic TPU: about 90–110°C / 194–230°F for 1–4 hours. Aliphatic TPU: about 40–60°C / 104–140°F. Target below about 0.02–0.05% moisture, and use the resin within 15–30 minutes of leaving the dryer.
- Melt temperature. Set it by hardness, not by family. About 190–205°C / 374–401°F for 60–80A grades and 215–235°C / 419–455°F for 98A to 74D. A soft grade run at the top of the family range will degrade.
- Mold temperature and residence. About 10–70°C / 50–158°F. Purge if the cycle stops for more than about 10 minutes.
- Shrinkage. About 0.60% along flow and 0.70–1.0% across for unfilled grades. Glass-filled grades shrink much less.
- Regrind. About 10–25% is a common start. Dry regrind at least as long as virgin pellets, and watch for drops in melt viscosity, hardness and strength.
- Most common defect. Splay, bubbles and weak parts from moisture. Soft grades also stick in the mold and string at the nozzle. See splay and silver streaks and the resin drying guide.
What to put on the purchase order
- Chemistry: polyester, polyether or polycaprolactone, and aromatic or aliphatic.
- Hardness: Shore A or Shore D with a tolerance.
- Process: injection molding, extrusion, film or additive manufacturing.
- Melt flow with the test condition the grade sheet uses. TPU is tested at different temperatures and loads depending on hardness, so compare like with like.
- Color and clarity: natural, clear, black or a custom match. Clear parts that see sunlight need an aliphatic grade.
- Food or UL requirements by grade: the producer’s FDA letter for food contact, and the UL Product iQ listing for flame-rated grades.
- COA values to check: hardness, melt flow and moisture as shipped. Order in moisture-barrier packaging if you can.
When to consider something else
- If you need a soft-touch grip or overmold at lower cost and wear is light, look at TPE / TPV, and see TPE vs. TPU.
- If you need stiffer flexible tubing for fuel or air lines, look at nylon 11 / nylon 12.
- If the part is low-cost flexible tubing or cable jacket, look at flexible PVC.
- If the wear is sliding against a surface rather than flexing, look at UHMW-PE.
Common questions
What is the difference between polyester and polyether TPU?
Polyester TPU has higher strength and better oil and abrasion resistance. Polyether TPU resists hydrolysis, microbes and low temperatures better, so it suits wet service, outdoor use and cable jacket. Choose by the environment the part lives in.
Does TPU need to be dried?
Yes. TPU absorbs moisture, and wet TPU molds with bubbles, splay and lower strength. Aromatic grades are typically dried at about 90–110°C / 194–230°F, and the dried resin should be used within 15–30 minutes.
Does TPU turn yellow?
Aromatic TPU, the most common type, yellows with UV exposure, which mostly matters in clear or light-colored parts. Aliphatic TPU does not yellow in sunlight and is used for clear films and light-colored outdoor parts.
Why do TPU parts stick in the mold?
Soft TPU grades are tacky and flexible, so they grip the steel and are hard to eject. A cooler tool, longer cooling, more draft, a textured surface and a grade with internal release usually help. See parts sticking in the mold.
Tell us the TPU grade 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)
- Hardness (durometer), if it is a flexible grade
- Melt flow, if you know it
- Quantity for this order and what you use in a year
- Ship-to city and state or province
Polyester or polyether TPU, by hardness
Send the TPU grade, polyester or polyether type, Shore hardness and volume; a polymer chemist reviews it and we quote a match.
Request a QuoteNot sure which grade to ask for?
Send the grade you run now, or describe the part. A polymer chemist reviews every request.