The new development directions of TPU materials

**Environmental Protection** -

**Development of Bio – based TPU**: Using renewable raw materials such as castor oil to produce TPU has become an important trend. For example, related products have been commercially mass – produced, and the carbon footprint is reduced by 42% compared with traditional products. The market scale exceeded 930 million yuan in 2023. -

**Research and Development of Degradable TPU**: Researchers promote the development of TPU’s degradability through the application of bio – based raw materials, breakthroughs in microbial degradation technology, and the collaborative research of photodegradation and thermodegradation. For example, the team of the University of California, San Diego has embedded genetically engineered Bacillus subtilis spores into TPU plastic, enabling the plastic to degrade 90% within 5 months after contact with soil. -

**High – Performance** – **Improvement of High – Temperature Resistance and Hydrolysis Resistance**: Develop TPU materials with higher high – temperature resistance and hydrolysis resistance. For example, the hydrolysis – resistant TPU has a tensile strength retention rate of ≥90% after boiling in water at 100℃ for 500 hours, and its penetration rate in the hydraulic hose market is increasing. -

**Enhancement of Mechanical Strength**: Through molecular design and nanocomposite technology, new TPU materials with higher strength are developed to meet the needs of more high – strength application scenarios. -

**Functionalization** -

**Conductive TPU**: The application volume of conductive TPU in the wiring harness sheath field of new energy vehicles has increased 4.2 times in three years, and its volume resistivity ≤10^3Ω·cm, providing a better solution for the electrical safety of new energy vehicles.

- **Optical – Grade TPU**: Optical – grade TPU films are used in wearable devices, foldable screens and other fields. They have extremely high light transmittance and surface uniformity, meeting the requirements of electronic devices for display effects and appearance. -

**Biomedical TPU**: Taking advantage of the biocompatibility of TPU, products such as medical implants are developed, such as medical catheters, wound dressings, etc. With the progress of technology, its application in the medical field is expected to be further expanded. -

**Intelligentization** – **Intelligent Response TPU**: In the future, TPU materials with intelligent response characteristics may be developed, such as those with response capabilities to environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and pressure, which can be used in intelligent sensors, adaptive structures and other fields. -

**Intelligent Production Process**: The industry capacity layout shows an intelligent trend. For example, the application proportion of digital twin technology in new projects in 2024 reaches 60%, and the unit product energy consumption is reduced by 22% compared with traditional factories, improving production efficiency and product quality stability. -

**Expansion of Application Fields** – **Automotive Field**: In addition to the traditional applications in automotive interior parts and seals, the application of TPU in automotive exterior films, laminated window films, etc. is increasing. For example, TPU is used as the intermediate layer of laminated glass, which can endow the glass with intelligent properties such as dimming, heating, and UV resistance. -

**3D Printing Field**: The flexibility and customizability of TPU make it an ideal choice for 3D printing materials. With the development of 3D printing technology, the market for 3D – printing – specific TPU materials will continue to expand.