Can polyester TPU and polyether TPU be processed together?

Question

Accepted Answer

No, polyester-based TPU and polyether-based TPU cannot be directly blended or processed together. This is mainly due to differences in their molecular structure and compatibility.

Key reasons:

Delamination risk: Different polarity (ether vs. ester groups) causes poor compatibility, leading to visible layering and haziness.
Poor miscibility: Molecular interactions and crystallinity differ significantly, resulting in weak bonding.
Physical property loss: Even if processed together, the final product shows a major decline in mechanical and transparency performance.
Exception case: Polyether TPU synthesized with PTMG has slightly better compatibility, but still not recommended for production use.

Conclusion: Polyester TPU and polyether TPU should not be mixed during processing, especially for transparent or high-performance applications.