Page 67 - Plastics News November 2018

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examples of applications are tool components that comply markets and customers,” says Dirk Butschkay, Product
with food regulations as well as handles and surfaces of Marketing Manager EMEA at KRAIBURG TPE. “They meet
household appliances such as coffee machines and juicers. the increasing demand for thermoplastic elastomers that
Further possible applications include health care aids from provide both promotional and functional properties in
interdental brushes to eyeglasses frames to hearing aids, two-component applications with polyamides and help
along with a wide array of cosmetics and sports articles. our customers maintain their competitiveness in dynamic
“Theses materials that have been specially developed market segments.”
for the consumer industry underline the way in which our New KRAIBURG TPE compounds with excellent adhesion
development know-how is resolutely oriented towards our to polyamides (image: © 2018 KRAIBURG TPE)

A new performance class has entered the market

Thermoplastic elastomer hybrids (TEH) – the synergy of two worlds

RAIBURG TPE’s trade fair appearance at Fakuma 2018 the material’s property profile to the requirements of
Kwill focus, among other things, on a new, innovative specific applications”. The resulting compounds can not
technology for thermoplastic elastomer hybrids featuring only be used as an alternative to common crosslinked
an application-specific combination and a modifiability rubber solutions that is economically convincing and
that are superior to the options provided by classic processable like thermoplastics, but they also offer
thermoplastic vulcanizates. appealing options for multi-component applications
when bonded with technical plastics such as polyamides
Materials made by mixing thermoplastics and crosslinked
elastomers are mainly known as EPDM/PP blends. and thermoplastic polyesters. They can be processed
Although they combine application properties of with common injection molding machines and extruder
elastomers with thermoplastic processability, they lines, do not require any finishing and are completely
are limited when high performance is required such recyclable. Black and natural are the standard colors.
as contact with other media at high temperatures. The performance properties of these TEH materials
This contrasts with an increased demand for materials include hardness from 55 to 80 Shore A, permanent
that are suited for thermoplastic processing and, in operating temperatures of up to 150 °C (302 °F)
particular, offer superior heat and chemical resistance. and chemical stability against materials such as oils,
KRAIBURG TPE classifies these materials as thermoplastic lubricants, fuels and coolants. Thus they are particularly
elastomer hybrids (TEH) to differentiate them from suitable for use in the environment of combustion
known TPV blends such as EPDM/PP. KRAIBURG TPE has engines, in heat management of drives and batteries for
developed and tested a trendsetting TEH manufacturing electric vehicles, as well as in lubrication and cooling
technology. The resulting application-engineered systems of machines, process technology and buildings.
TEH materials are not only a response to the current Direct applications include seals and gaskets, plugs and
and emerging challenges the company faces in the connectors, lids and covers. “The new TEH compounds
market, but they are also a new performance class for that are matched to individual applications benefit from
thermoplastic processors. our proven materials know-how, solid market expertise
and the way in which we are resolutely oriented
“Our TEH manufacturing technology enables us to toward our customers,” adds Franz Hinterecker, CEO
combine different mixtures of various elastomers and at KRAIBURG TPE. “The versatility and performance of
thermoplastics with respective crosslinked systems to the innovative technology confirm our commitment as a
form materials with unprecedented properties. Due to supplier of ‘custom-engineered TPEs and more‘.”
their performance, the new materials can be regarded Visitors to the 26th Fakuma in Friedrichshafen from
as an alternative to corresponding rubber compounds. October 16 to 20, 2018, can obtain information about
Their properties include high media and temperature this and other materials technologies of KRAIBURG TPE
resistances, which are adjusted to the requirements of from first hand at booth 5303 in hall B5.
each application,” explains Dr. Frieder Vielsack, Head
of Advance Development at KRAIBURG TPE. And he Thermoplastic elastomer hybrids (TEH) – the synergy of
adds: “This technology gives us the flexibility to tailor two worlds (image: © 2018 KRAIBURG TPE)

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