Material guide
Gluing TPE
Soft, rubbery plastics used for grips, overmoulds and flexible seals.
Also called soft touch plastic, thermoplastic elastomer.
How TPE behaves when you bond it
TPE covers a wide family with very different surface chemistry, and the softer, oilier grades are among the hardest consumer materials to bond. Identifying the specific grade matters more here than with most plastics.
TPE is a family of flexible thermoplastic elastomers rather than one material. Grades may be styrenic, olefinic, urethane-based or otherwise modified, with surface energy and oil migration varying enough to reverse adhesive performance.
Material properties
- Surface energy
- Low, which is what makes it hard to bond
- Porosity
- Non-porous
- Rigidity
- Flexible
- Maximum service temperature
- 70C
- Normally needs abrading
- No
- Normally needs a primer
- Yes
Surface preparation
Obtain the polymer family and grade where possible. Remove release agent with a compatible cleaner, dry and test. Low-energy olefinic grades normally need a named LSE adhesive or treatment; other grades may accept flexible polyurethane, cyanoacrylate or contact systems. Use the exact adhesive maker's primer decision.
Which adhesives work on TPE
Good
Structural acrylic
Structural acrylic is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. A named primer, LSE formulation or controlled surface treatment may be essential. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment.
Conditional
Cyanoacrylate
Cyanoacrylate is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. A named primer, LSE formulation or controlled surface treatment may be essential. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint.
A primer or activator is needed.
Conditional
Polyurethane adhesive
Polyurethane adhesive is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. A named primer, LSE formulation or controlled surface treatment may be essential. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint.
A primer or activator is needed.
Last reviewed 8 October 2026.