Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are one of the fastest growing areas in thermoplastic materials. According to a recent study published by Freedonia Group the current demand worldwide is in excess of 2,700,000 metric tonnes per year with annual growth more than 6 %. The forecast for the year 2016 is 4,900,000 metric tonnes.

Articles on thermoplastic elastomers appear in magazines specialising either on plastics or on elastomers, in magazines serving automotive, chemical and wire and cable industries as well as in design engineering periodicals. Considering the fast growth rate and the variety of products offered and the multitude of applications, it appears that the time is ripe for a practical periodical that would provide articles and reviews on raw materials, processing, quality assurance as well as short articles and news about companies, personalities, conferences, expositions, fairs and other events; all applicable to thermoplastic elastomers. Therefore we are proud to publish worldwide the first TPE Magazine which deals with all these matters.

The possibilities of TPEs are seemingly endless. They are widely used in automotive, machine building, and chemical industries, in consumer, medical and sporting good markets as well as in electrical and electronic applications. Product sizes range from small seals to body panels of large vehicles. The materials can be very soft or very hard and can be used in a multitude cases used for overmoulding over hard TPE grades or engineering thermoplastics in tools, automotive parts, seals, personal care products, medical devices and other applications with excellent adhesion to the substrates. There are literally hundreds of grades of TPEs with a variety of properties, colours, optical properties and with different feels. The most recent developments have produced TPE grades capable of continuous service at temperatures above 150 °C with peaks as high as 190 °C. Many of them will do so in the presence of oils and chemicals. Some of these are already commercialised.