Overview
Made from TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) elastomer, this waterproof, breathable membrane offers high elasticity and strength. Despite its minimal thickness (0.012 mm – 0.025 mm), it delivers waterproof performance unmatched by other materials, capable of withstanding water pressure exceeding 10,000 mm H2O. Advanced technology is employed to incorporate hydrophilic groups into the film; this grants it exceptional moisture permeability, allowing perspiration to escape rapidly during physical activity. Consequently, the wearer stays cool and dry as body temperature is effectively regulated. This functional breakthrough-combined with textile lamination technology-significantly enhances the value of the finished textile products. By overcoming the various shortcomings associated with PVC and PU leather, this material has found widespread application in skiwear, coats, cold-weather jackets, gloves, hats, footwear, bras, sofas, toys, strollers, and mats. With its excellent cold resistance, eco-friendly and non-toxic nature, and recyclability/biodegradability, the waterproof, breathable membrane has emerged as a mainstream material for the 21st century.
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is a mature, eco-friendly polymer material characterized by exceptional tensile strength, toughness, and aging resistance. Also known as a waterproof, moisture-permeable membrane, it represents a major breakthrough in waterproof-breathable fabric technology, overcoming many of the limitations associated with PVC and PU leather.
It combines the properties of rubber and conventional plastics with excellent overall physical and chemical characteristics, earning it the reputation of a "material of the future." TPU film is produced from TPU granules using specialized manufacturing processes.
Inheriting the material's superior physical properties, TPU film has a wide range of applications. It is extensively used in sectors such as healthcare, electronics, industry, and sports. In regions like Europe and North America, TPU has long been established in products such as waterproof-breathable apparel, specialized lamination films for footwear and silicone breast pads, and TPU elastic bands.
It offers unmatched performance-including high strength, toughness, and resistance to abrasion, cold, oil, water, aging, and weather-alongside excellent functional attributes such as high waterproofness and moisture permeability, windproofing, cold protection, antibacterial and anti-mold properties, thermal insulation, UV resistance, and energy release capabilities.
Feature
1. Cold resistance down to -30°C;
2. Plasticizer-free and non-migratory (no oil exudation);
3. Simple molecular structure (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen) minimizes air pollution during incineration; naturally decomposes within 3–5 years when buried in soil containing moisture and microorganisms.
Waterproof and breathable performance specifications:
1. High breathability/moisture permeability: >6,000 g/m²·24h; water resistance: 10,000 mm H₂O; elongation: 300%–800%.
2. Medium Breathability/moisture permeability: 2,000–4,000 g/m²·24h; water resistance: 10,000 mm H₂O; elongation: 300%–800%.
3. Low breathability/moisture permeability: <2,000 g/m²·24h; water resistance: 10,000 mm H₂O; elongation: 300%–800%.
Performance
1. Tear Performance: Tear strength measures a material's resistance to tearing; the tear strength of these waterproof, breathable membranes is excellent-surpassing that of many common rubbers and plastics.
2. Abrasion Resistance: Materials often suffer gradual surface wear due to mechanical actions such as friction, scratching, and abrasion. Excellent abrasion resistance is crucial, and these membranes offer abrasion resistance approximately 3 to 5 times that of natural rubber.
3. Flex Fatigue Resistance: For applications involving repeated cyclic stress, flex resistance is vital. These membranes maintain excellent flexibility and durability in any environment-making them a superior choice among polymer materials-and show no crack propagation even after 3 million flex cycles.
4. Water Resistance: The membranes exhibit excellent water resistance at room temperature, showing no significant hydrolysis even after 1 to 2 years.
5. Oil and Chemical Resistance: As highly polar polymer materials, they have very low affinity for non-polar mineral oils. They are virtually unaffected by corrosive substances such as kerosene, fuels (gasoline), and mechanical oils (e.g., hydraulic fluid, lubricants). They demonstrate superior oil resistance, with negligible changes in volume; tensile strength may even exceed initial values. While performance remains excellent compared to other materials, the presence of even small amounts of moisture in the mineral oil can have varying degrees of adverse effects.
6. High-temperature performance: When selecting materials for long-term use at high temperatures (e.g., above 70°C), one must consider resistance to atmospheric oxidation (aging); these waterproof, breathable membranes can withstand harsh environments and generally offer temperature resistance exceeding 130°C.
7. Low-temperature performance: These membranes exhibit excellent low-temperature resistance, typically remaining functional down to -30°C without becoming brittle, making them suitable for use in products designed for cold environments.
8. Antimicrobial properties: The membranes possess good antimicrobial and antifungal characteristics, resisting growth and colonization by *Penicillium*, *Aspergillus*, *Aureobasidium pullulans*, spores, and mixed microbial populations.
9. Gas diffusion performance: Manufactured using ultrasonic or heat-press welding, these membranes are widely used in inflatable products. Gas diffusion coefficients measure the rate at which gas passes through a specific area of the sample under defined temperature and pressure; diffusion rates vary-sometimes significantly-depending on the specific gas involved. TPU-based waterproof, breathable membranes offer superior sealing performance.
10. Biomedical properties: These membranes exhibit excellent biocompatibility-being non-toxic, non-allergenic, non-irritating to local tissue, and pyrogen-free-and are widely used in medical, health, and sports protective equipment.