materials | Thermoplastic elastomers Right: Foster
Corp’s ProFlex SEBS product line includes six grades
offering USP Class VI
biocompatibility compliance
from repeated antiseptic use. Both grades provide a soft touch for products such as housings on hand-held scanners, patient monitors, infusion pumps, defibrilla- tors, reusable surgical devices and other durable medical devices. This March, Foster Corporation, which specialises in
polymer solutions for the healthcare industry, intro- duced ProFlex SEBS grades for medical device applications. It says they offer a low cost alternative to other thermoplastic elastomers with superior elasto- meric properties. “Vibration damping and insulating properties make ProFlex SEBS ideally suited for over-moulding of medical instrument handles and grips,” the company says. Foster manufactures six standard grades of ProFlex SEBS that meet USP Class VI biocompatibility standards, ranging in Shore hardness of 35A to 85A.
Drinking the benefits Kraiburg TPE says it has been researching and developing drinking water compliant TPE solutions for years, “because this market requires maximum quality and safety.” It notes that stringent regulations in various European countries (WRAS in the UK, ACS in France, KTW in Germany, for example) require that approvals be confirmed for the finished product. The company offers three series that are specially
adapted to the requirements of the drinking water market. “The secret of drinking water compliant TPEs is the special formulation of the compounds,” it says. “The growth of mould and bacteria is prevented without the addition of biocides.” Materials in Kraiburg TPE’s DW series range in hardness from 50 and 80 Shore A and Kraiburg can colour them without affecting the drinking water certifications. Also aimed at applications in contact with drinking water, So.F.teR’s new Laprene 830.556 TPS (SEBS) is
Right:
So.F.teR’s new Laprene
830.556 TPS
carries WRAS approval for drinking water applications
described as a “plasticizer-free compound characterised by high transparency and excellent flexibility.” The grade is said to offer a smooth, slippery surface that minimises the build-up of dirt and impurities that may be present in the pipes and inhibits the growth of biofilms and bacteria. The new grade is approved for contact with drinking water according to the WRAS (BS 6920) norm. The Laprene 830.556 TPS grade is suitable for injection moulding and extrusion and provides adhesion on polypropylene in overmoulding applications. It can be used for the production of flexible tubes for dishwash- ers or water dispensers, soft parts of shower heads, and fittings for the faucet and plumbing sector.
Appliance grades Teknor Apex has introduced four specialty TPEs for seals, gaskets, motor mounts, drain tubes, shock absorbers, feet, and other components of major appliances. The new compounds include two Sarlink TPVs. Sarlink 4160BW2 for dryer components is a heat-resistant 60 Shore A grade for door seals, gaskets, and drum rollers. The compound exhibits no cracking or tackiness at temperatures up to 135°C and excellent property retention after heat aging. It provides good elastic recovery for noise reduction and is abrasion resistant. Sarlink 4145BW1 (Shore A 45) is for dish- washer components such as sump and pump seals, door gaskets, and motor mounts; it is stabilized to protect components from copper and other metal-cata- lysed degradation found in dishwashing. The compound withstands high water temperatures and is resistant to dishwasher soaps and detergents. Last year, Polymax Thermoplastic Elastomers
40 INJECTION WORLD | May 2016
www.injectionworld.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68