Page 46 - Plastics News January 2020

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Teknor Apex introduces New Sulapac Stora Enso launch a

Medalist® TPEs for wearable renewable and microplastic-free
straw

eknor Apex has introduced a new series of Medalist®
Tmedical-grade thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) ulapac and Stora Enso have launched a renewable
compounds for over-molding exhibit strong adhesion Sand microplastic-free straw to combat the global
to medical-grade polycarbonate (PC) and PC alloys and problem of plastic waste. The straw has strong
include formulations with enhanced resistance to chemicals usability and works just like a traditional straw. The
encountered in wearable new straws are available to brands and consumers
applications. The TPEs looking for more eco-friendly solutions.The straws
offer economical and are based on Sulapac’s patent pending material
productivity advantages innovation. The main components are renewable
over silicones and materials such as wood and plant-based binders. The
include formulations straw is microplastic-free, meaning that it is designed
with enhanced chemical to be fully biodegradable in different environments.
resistance. Medalist MD- The straw complies with existing waste systems and
34900 series compounds, is designed to be recycled via industrial composting.
The first customers include Finnair’s lounges in Helsinki
available in 50, 60, and replacing their plastic and paper straws, food delivery
70 Shore A grades, are platform Wolt, the alcoholic beverage brand company
for general medical overmolding applications, while the Altia, Hotel St. George, and vegan café Kippo, among
MD-36975 grade is a 75 Shore A TPE designed specifically the others. The first customers represent different
for overmolding in wearable devices, with excellent business sectors but have one common interest: to
resistance to the lotions and disinfectants that are be in the forefront of sustainability. “There’s clearly
typically encountered. In a joint project with Covestro a large demand for our product that both fulfills the
LLC, these materials were over-molded onto various sustainability criteria and has superior usability. Like
medical grades of Makrolon® PC as well as Bayblend® and all Sulapac materials, the straw is 100% microplastic-
Makroblend® PC alloys, using both insert and multi-shot
molding. The project included tests to evaluate adhesion,
processability, and chemical resistance. Peel strength data
showed the Medalist® compounds exhibiting excellent
adhesion to Covestro’s engineering thermoplastics. At
MD&M West, the two companies will present a co-authored
white paper with details of the experiments and product
performance. Teknor Apex recommends the new Medalist
compounds for wearable devices, where TPEs contribute
comfort; ‘soft-touch’ or cosmetic grips for medical device
housings, handheld devices, and instruments; and seals
and gaskets. The accompanying table presents typical
properties of representative grades from each series.. free. It is designed to mimic nature; if the straw
“Medalist TPEs are excellent alternatives to liquid accidentally ends up in the ocean, it acts like a birch
silicones used in over-molding because they do not require leaf and does not harm the ecosystem,” says Sulapac
the use of a primer, have a shorter cycle time (avoiding CEO Suvi Haimi. In the first phase the straws will be
the lengthy curing process), and can be processed on available in Europe and a global roll out will follow.
The straws are produced with machinery originally
conventional injection molding equipment,” said Ross van designed to produce plastic straws.
Royen, Senior Market Manager for Teknor Apex.

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Plastics News Januar y 2020 46