Hytrel® 3078 vs. Hytrel® 6356 vs. Hytrel® 5556

In the field of soft engineering plastics, DuPont Hytrel® TPC-ET elastomers have long been used in various industries, including automotive, home appliance, cable jacketing, and industrial hoses, thanks to their excellent flexibility, fatigue resistance, and thermal stability.

This article compares the mechanical, thermal, electrical, and processing compatibility of three grades of Hytrel® 3078, Hytrel® 6356, and Hytrel® 5556, to help R&D and procurement teams more accurately formulate material selection strategies.

01 | Core Parameter Comparison: A List of Major Performance Differences

02 | Application Scenario Matching: Typical Positioning of the three materials

Hytrel® 3078 - Flexibility first, suitable for light-load components

  ・Typical applications: Automotive wiring harness covering, cable sheaths, hose couplings
  ・Core advantage: The low modulus brings excellent bending performance, facilitating wiring in confined Spaces
  ・Trend Interpretation: The requirements for flexibility and heat resistance in the wiring harness system of new energy vehicles are constantly increasing, and the demand for 3078 in light-load components is continuously growing.

Hytrel® 6356 - A versatile material that combines rigidity and flexibility

  ・Typical applications: bellows, dampers, mechanical component housings
  ・Core advantage: Achieving a balance between deformation capacity and mechanical strength
  ・Trend Interpretation: As the manufacturing process accelerates its shift to Southeast Asia, 6356 is gradually replacing rubber in medium and high-end industrial components, aligning with the "modularization + substitutability" design concept.

Hytrel® 5556 - Emphasizing both high strength and durability

  ・Typical applications: Engine compartment peripheral parts, high-frequency action connectors, elastic support components
  ・Core advantage: It can maintain stable mechanical properties even in high-temperature and high-frequency deformation environments
  ・Trend Interpretation: Against the backdrop of the continuous tightening of the REACH regulation, 5556, with its compliance and durability advantages, is becoming an environmentally friendly alternative material to traditional TPU.

03 | Comparison of processing adaptability

Multi-process adaptability: If the product involves multiple molding methods such as blow molding and calendering, 3078 has better compatibility.

Conventional process performance: Both 6356 and 5556 can maintain stable processing Windows in mainstream processes such as injection molding and thermoforming.

04 | Selection Strategy: Make decisions based on the actual working conditions

Making a choice solely based on performance parameters often neglects environmental conditions and process details. Only by integrating the material's properties with the actual application environment can its value be truly brought into play.

05 | Industry Trends and Upgraded Material Selection Logic

From "Performance Comparison" to "System Value"

Against the backdrop of intensified fluctuations in the global supply chain, the Hytrel® series, due to its stable performance under multi-process platforms, is increasingly being included in the "preferred materials for platformization" system by Oems.

Regulation-driven environmental protection and recyclability demands

Both 6356 and 5556 have been certified by international regulations such as REACH and RoHS, and are particularly suitable for long-term application in export-oriented manufacturing enterprises.

Lightweighting and multi-functionality go hand in hand

Low-hardness materials represented by 3078 are rapidly penetrating into the fields of robot cables and smart home wiring systems due to their support for smaller bending radius designs.

06 | Summary Selection Suggestions

In actual selection, users should consider the product structure, functional positioning, ambient temperature, and processing methods, taking into account the different properties of the three Hytrel® elastomers listed above:

  ・Emphasize flexibility and bending life → Choose Hytrel® 3078

  ・Balance rigidity and heat resistance → Choose Hytrel® 6356

  ・Pursuing impact resistance and comprehensive performance → Choose Hytrel® 5556

07 | Advantages of Collaborating with Juyuan

As a supplier with 24 years of experience in international plastic raw material trade, Juyuan not only offers original Hytrel® series particles but also recommends alternative material solutions with similar performance or better cost based on your application requirements, helping you achieve the best balance between cost, performance and delivery time.

Contact us to obtain detailed material data sheets and selection consultation, enabling your project to gain an edge in the competition.

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