KRAIBURG TPE’s trade fair appearance at Fakuma 2018 will focus, among other things, on a new, innovative technology for thermoplastic elastomer hybrids featuring an application-specific combination and a modifiability that are superior to the options provided by classic thermoplastic vulcanizates.

Materials made by mixing thermoplastics and crosslinked elastomers are mainly known as EPDM/PP blends. Although they combine application properties of elastomers with thermoplastic processability, they are limited when high performance is required such as contact with other media at high temperatures.

This contrasts with an increased demand for materials that are suited for thermoplastic processing and, in particular, offer superior heat and chemical resistance. KRAIBURG TPE classifies these materials as thermoplastic elastomer hybrids (TEH) to differentiate them from known TPV blends such as EPDM/PP.

The company has developed and tested a trendsetting TEH manufacturing technology. The resulting application-engineered TEH materials are not only a response to the current and emerging challenges the company faces in the market, but they are also a new performance class for thermoplastic processors.

Due to their performance, the new materials can be regarded as an alternative to corresponding rubber compounds. Their properties include high media and temperature resistances, which are adjusted to the requirements of each application.

“Our TEH manufacturing technology enables us to combine different mixtures of various elastomers and thermoplastics with respective crosslinked systems to form materials with unprecedented properties,” explained Dr. Frieder Vielsack, Head of Advance Development at KRAIBURG TPE.

The resulting compounds can not only be used as an alternative to common crosslinked rubber solutions that is economically convincing and processable like thermoplastics, but they also offer appealing options for multi-component applications when bonded with technical plastics such as polyamides and thermoplastic polyesters. They can be processed with common injection molding machines and extrusion lines, do not require any finishing and are completely recyclable. Black and natural are the standard colors.

The performance properties of these TEH materials include hardness from 55 to 80 Shore A, permanent operating temperatures of up to 150 °C (302 °F) and chemical stability against materials such as oils, lubricants, fuels and coolants. Thus they are particularly suitable for use in the environment of combustion engines, in heat management of drives and batteries for electric vehicles, as well as in lubrication and cooling systems of machines, process technology and buildings. Direct applications include seals and gaskets, plugs and connectors, lids and covers.

“The new TEH compounds that are matched to individual applications benefit from our proven materials know-how, solid market expertise and the way in which we are resolutely oriented toward our customers,” added Franz Hinterecker, CEO at KRAIBURG TPE. “The versatility and performance of the innovative technology confirm our commitment as a supplier of ‘custom-engineered TPEs and more’.”