Thermoplastic elastomers manufactured of polymer blends

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) constitute polymers combining properties of chemically cross-linked rubber with easy plastomer processing and recycling at certain temperatures (TPE). A review of publications on TPEs made of polymer blends is presented, covering thermoplastic elastomeric olefins (TPE-O), thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPE-V), melt-processible rubber (MPR) and thermoplastic elastomeric ionomers (TPE-EI). The latter constitute the newest group of TPEs, produced from blends of ionomeric plastomer with carboxylated or sulfonated rubber, interfacially cross-linked with metal oxides, with formation of thermo-reversible aggregates and ion clusters.