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’.”
