With growing global concern regarding the increasing level of solid waste due to polymeric materials and interest in material recycling, thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) provide an attractive alternative to conventional elastomers. This class of materials relies on combining thermoplastic and elastomeric properties into single macromolecules, along with physical, rather than chemical, crosslinking to introduce elasticity. While a wide range of TPEs is commercially available, most TPEs rely on a block copolymers in which macromolecules consist of three or more long, contiguous sequences of dissimilar chemical species. Due to thermodynamic incompatibility between these sequences, these molecules self-assemble into mesoscale morphologies and form a flexible molecular network that is stabilized by rigid microdomains serving as physical crosslinks. This course will introduce different types and contemporary uses of TPEs, in addition to the molecular design, synthesis and characteristics of TPEs derived from block copolymers. Thermodynamic considerations regarding network formation and bridging metrics in TPEs will be addressed by experimental observations, theoretical predictions and computer simulations. Blends of TPEs and their uses in conventional and emerging applications will be described, as will TPE chemical functionalization for specific technologies (e.g., designer additives/compatibilizers, organic photovoltaics, soft actuators, bipolar/separation membranes, and antimicrobial materials).

Topic Outline:

1. Different classes of TPEs as physically-crosslinked elastomers
2. Block copolymers differing in molecular characteristics as TPEs
3. Self-assembly and network formation in block copolymer TPEs
4. Network characteristics of TPEs varying in molecular characteristics
5. Structure-property relationships of TPE-containing polymer blends
6. Selectively-solvated TPEs as an emerging class of tunably soft materials
7. Viscoelasticity and network characteristics in TPE gels for targeted applications
8. Introduction to electroactive and other stimuli-responsive TPE systems
9. Functional TPEs with photoresponsive, separation and antimicrobial properties
10. Native/functional TPEs for toughening, compatibilization and novel purposes

This workshop is designed for professionals working with polymer materials and advanced material design who need a strong understanding of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), including:

• Materials scientists and polymer engineers
• R&D scientists and researchers developing new polymer systems
• Product and application engineers working with flexible materials
• Process and manufacturing engineers working with elastomeric systems
• Technical specialists in block copolymers and functional materials
• Graduate students and researchers (MSc, PhD) in polymer science
• Professionals involved in developing new elastomeric materials, blends, and functional compounds

Thermoplastic elastomers offer a unique combination of elasticity and processability, making them an attractive alternative to conventional elastomers—especially in a context of increasing sustainability and recyclability demands.

This workshop provides a deep understanding of how molecular design, self-assembly, and physical crosslinking govern TPE performance, enabling participants to understand and design new materials, blends, and functional systems for advanced applications.