MOSCOW (MRC) -- Hexpol TPE, a leading global provider of elastomer compounds, has developed several new customisation options for their Dryflex Green compounds, as per GV.
The hardness range has been expanded to include 20 Shore A to 50 Shore D grades, with amounts of renewable biocontent to over 90 % (ASTM D 6866-12), depending on the hardness.
Thomas Koppl, manager central technology and development center at Hexpol TPE commented, "One of the key challenges we faced with the Dryflex Green TPE compounds was to develop low hardnesses with high levels of renewable content, since most biobased raw materials in the market are quite hard on their own. We have now added lower hardnesses to the Dryflex Green range while at the same time maintaining mechanical properties."
Dryflex Green is a family of thermoplastic elastomer compounds based on raw materials from renewable resources such as plant and vegetable crops. For applications wanting a look even closer to nature, Hexpol TPE has additionally developed compounds using organic fillers and natural fibres from plants, crops or trees, including cork.
Klas Dannas, Global R&D coordinator at Hexpol TPE added, "For customers that want biobased products that also have a natural look and feel, the use of cork and natural fibres helps to give an additional 'organic' appearance. With these new developments to the Dryflex Green TPE range, using different renewable content and covering a greater hardness range, we have created more design and sustainability possibilities."
Dryflex Green compounds can be processed using standard thermoplastic processing methods, including injection moulding and extrusion. Typical applications include; soft-touch grips and handles, tools and hardware, sports equipment and packaging.
As MRC wrote before, Hexpol Compounding continues its commitment to rubber compounding in Mexico with the installation of a new, advanced 135 L rubber mixing line. The line will include significant building and infrastructure extensions to the current HEXPOL facility in Queretaro, Mexico, and will cost approximately 9.2M USD. Anticipating customer growth and expanding production needs, HEXPOL is planning ahead. This investment in rubber compounding capacity will support the growing demand from HEXPOL"s automotive and engineering customers in Mexico"s automotive production corridor, which also includes HEXPOL"s plant in Aguascalientes.
Hexpol is a world-leading polymers group with strong global market positions in advanced polymer compounds (Compounding), gaskets for plate heat exchangers (Gaskets) and wheels made of plastic and rubber materials for forklifts and castor wheel applications (Wheels).
MRC