Imagine your creative ideas flowing like a fountain, but struggling to find the right materials to bring them to life? In the world of 3D printing, TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) has become a favorite among designers and engineers due to its unique elasticity, impact resistance, and durability. Among TPU products, the 90A and 95A variants stand out with their distinct characteristics, meeting different functional requirements across various applications.
Shore Hardness: Decoding Material Flexibility
Before examining 90A and 95A, it's essential to understand "Shore hardness." TPU materials are typically measured on the Shore A scale, which indicates a material's resistance to indentation. Simply put, a lower Shore A value means softer, more elastic material, while higher values indicate greater rigidity.
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TPU 90A: Softer and highly elastic, easy to compress and bend—ideal when maximum flexibility is required.
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TPU 95A: More rigid and sturdy, maintaining shape under load—perfect when structural support is needed.
This difference in hardness directly affects tensile strength, flexibility, printability, and ultimate applications. The following comparison table provides a clear overview of their differences.
Performance Comparison: 90A vs. 95A
| Property |
TPU 90A |
TPU 95A |
| Shore Hardness |
90A (Soft, High Elasticity) |
95A (Rigid, High Stiffness) |
| Tensile Strength |
30 MPa |
36.1 MPa |
| Elongation at Break |
≥1000% |
1050% |
| Heat Deflection Temperature |
36°C |
53°C |
| Density |
1.17 g/cm³ |
1.23 g/cm³ |
| Printing Temperature |
220–240°C |
210–230°C |
| Printing Speed |
≤40mm/s |
50-120mm/s |
| Bed Temperature |
30–60°C |
50–60°C |
Key Differences and Performance Insights
1. Flexibility and Elastic Recovery: Which Performs Better?
TPU 90A excels in flexibility and elasticity, with high stretchability that allows easy bending and compression while quickly returning to its original shape. This makes it perfect for components requiring repeated flexing or shock absorption, such as seals, gaskets, or flexible grips.
TPU 95A, while more rigid, still maintains some elasticity. It's better suited for applications needing structural support, such as mechanical housings or precision parts.
2. Printability: Which is Easier to Handle?
TPU 95A offers better dimensional stability and print consistency, especially on Bowden-style printers, making it easier to achieve high-quality prints without extensive tuning.
TPU 90A, being more flexible, presents printing challenges. It may require slower print speeds and precise retraction settings to avoid filament bending. Beginners or printers not optimized for flexible materials may find TPU 95A more manageable.
3. Durability and Wear Resistance: Which Lasts Longer?
Both variants offer excellent wear resistance, but TPU 95A's higher surface hardness makes it better suited for high-friction components like rollers, protective cases, or tires.
4. Impact Absorption: Which is the Shock Absorption Champion?
TPU 90A outperforms in shock absorption due to its superior elasticity, making it ideal for vibration isolators or damping mounts in industrial settings.
Application Recommendations
| Material |
Ideal Applications |
| TPU 90A |
Flexible joints, shock absorbers, wearable accessories, seals, and gaskets. Examples: smartwatch bands, industrial damping pads, pipe seals. |
| TPU 95A |
Tool handles, drone landing gear, mechanical couplings, phone cases, and wheels. Examples: anti-slip wrench grips, drone bumpers, protective phone covers, toy car wheels. |
Selection Guide: Choosing the Right TPU
For projects prioritizing flexibility and softness, TPU 90A is the optimal choice—ideal for designs requiring repeated bending or impact absorption.
When higher rigidity, easier printing, and consistent mechanical strength are needed, TPU 95A is the better option—perfect for functional prototypes or end-use parts.
Both TPU 90A and 95A are excellent 3D printing materials with outstanding wear resistance, layer adhesion, and compatibility with most FDM printers using 1.75mm filament. The key is selecting the variant that best matches your specific project requirements.
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