THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS | MATERIALS
New Injection Molded Soft Skin technology is one of a number of recent developments in the thermoplastic elastomers
sector.Peter Mapleston finds out more
TPEs take on more markets and applications
Advances in polymer chemistry, compounding capability and injection moulding sophistication are taking thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) into new territories. As is so often the case, the automo- tive industry is providing the greatest impulse for development, but it is not the only one. TPE suppliers are also increasing their offerings for high performance applications in medical, consumer electronics, and beyond, with materials that can help processors and OEMs cut costs and improve sustainability. Possibly the most interesting recent develop-
ment in TPEs comes from one of the oldest names in the business: Kraton. Shell came up with the name when it invented SEBS hydrogenated styrene block copolymers in the 1950s. The now-independ- ent Kraton Corporation earlier this year intro- duced Kraton Injection Molded Soft Skin (IMSS) technology. It says IMSS enables injection mould- ing of large, thin-walled soft-skin products, “open- ing the market to larger applications including door panels, consoles and instrument panels (IPs) as thin as 0.8mm.” The capabilities of the new technology were demonstrated in front of processors and OEMs during a week in January at a plant operated by Hi-Tech Mold & Engineering in Rochester Hills, MI,
www.injectionworld.com
USA. Production trials were carried out on a 30,000 kN Engel injection machine fitted with a mould for an IP skin. According to the company, the demonstration
proved that its polymers can be thin-wall injection moulded with minimal changes to the slush moulded design’s A-surface. “It also shows how the IMSS technology can be used on standard equip- ment and under normal processing conditions, using both skin-only and over-moulded injection moulding processes,” the company says. Kraton has developed TPE grades with melt flow indices much higher than “regular” SEBS types to facilitate thin-wall moulding. These include Kraton MD6951, which has an MFI of 48 g/10 min (230°C, 2.16kg); and Kraton MD1648 has an MFI of around 220 g/10 min. It says compounds based on these polymers can have MFI as high as 500 g/10 min. Both polymers are said to present a balance of high elasticity, tensile strength and lower melt viscosity. MD6951 belongs to the Kraton A family, which have greater polarity than other types. MD1648 is an ERS (enhanced rubber segment) copolymer, more compatible with polyolefins. According to Kevin Campbell, Kraton’s Vice
President, Emerging Business, IMSS is the only solution on the market for injection moulding large
May 2018 | INJECTION WORLD 43
Main image: Elastocon TPE Technologies has introduced new medical grade TPEs
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
