According to whether elastomers can be plasticized, they can be divided into two categories: thermosetting elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers. Thermosetting elastomers, also known as traditional rubber or thermoplastic elastomers, abbreviated as TPE, have been increasingly commercialized since the 1990s. This classification also indicates that these two types of elastomers are processed in two different ways: rubber is processed using thermosetting equipment, and TPE is processed using thermoplastic equipment.

The classification of elastomers according to their raw material composition is as follows:

1. Traditional rubber:

1.1 Unsaturated rubber

Natural rubber (NR)

Synthetic polyisoprene (IR)

Polybutadiene rubber (BR)

Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)

Nitrile rubber (NBR) is a copolymer of polybutadiene and acrylonitrile

Chloroprene rubber (CR)

1.2 Saturated rubber

Isobutylene Isoprene Rubber (IIR) or Butyl Rubber

Halogenated butyl rubbers (chlorinated isobutylene isoprene rubber: CIIR; bromo isobutylene isoprene rubber: BIIR)

EPDM (ethylene propylene rubber, a copolymer of ethylene and propylene) and EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber, a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and a diene-component)

Epichlorohydride rubber (ECO)

Polyacrylate rubber (ACM, ABR)

Silicone rubber (SI, Q, MVQ)

Fluorosilicone Rubber (FVMQ)

Fluoroelastomers (FKM, and FEPM)

Chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM), (Hypalon)

Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubbers (HNBR)

2. Thermoplastic elastomers:

Thermoplastic Elastomer Olefine (TPE-O, TEO)

Thermoplastic styrene elastomer (TES, TPE-S)

Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomer (TPE-U, TPU)

Polyester thermoplastic elastomer (TPE-E, TEEE)

Polyamide thermoplastic elastomer (TPE-A)

Halogen containing thermoplastic elastomer