THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS | MATERIALS
The new products will be marketed under the name Desmoflex, a name first used for TPU blends co-developed by Covestro’s previous parent Bayer and German compounder PTS Plastic-Technologie- Service, which Teknor Apex acquired in 2016. Covestro points out that TPUs can be made with various properties, ranging from soft to hard and from elastic to stiff, depending on customer requirements. All products have in common a high abrasion and wear resistance as well as chemical and weather resistance. The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted many manufacturing companies to divert operations to assist in various ways to combat the spread of the disease. Numerous companies involved in TPE production and processing have quickly turned to join the effort to produce masks for operatives on the front line, and for the public at large. Mould maker Haidlmair recently developed and implemented a new mould solution for the production of integral-hinge TPE components of reusable masks in what injection machine making partner Engel says was record time. The mask design was invented by German company Providee. The mould solution is now being used by plastics processing companies worldwide. The masks provide protection for the mouth and nose for use in daily life and in certain work situations, for example in the construction industry. They can be cleaned and disinfected and different filter materials can be inserted. In countries that have exempted face masks from medical device legislation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, these masks can be produced and marketed by companies from a wide range of industries. “This solution allows us to help companies change their production at short notice in order to actively participate in the fight against the further spread of
Covid-19,” says Christoph Steger, CSO of Engel. Lubrizol has donated Estane TPUs in support of
efforts by Nike to develop full-face shields and powered, air-purifying respirator (PAPR) lenses for front-line medical staff in hospitals across several US cities. Lubrizol’s innovation team quickly evaluated materials, provided insights to optimise performance and re-structured its production and supply chain to produce the necessary material. Kraiburg TPE says some of its materials, used in many everyday applications such as toothbrushes, razors, and automotive components, have also become indispensable in numerous areas of systemic importance. “Currently, our TPEs are used in medical applications such as valves, connections and tubes for ventilators, face masks, respirators, as well as simple buttons and elastic straps,” it says. “Specialty Thermolast M and K compounds are needed here,” the company says. “The Thermolast M medical compounds in particular are characterised by a high degree of purity, which is guaranteed through a constant production process, permanently assigned production units and numerous quality assurance tests.” Kraiburg TPE recently decided to increase its
production capacities for these materials and to give top priority to their production. The company says stocks of the relevant raw materials have been increased to ensure constantly smooth and stable production capacity. The company cites its customer, BaS
Left: Lubrizol and Nike collaborated in
production of full-face shields and PAPR lenses to help protect
frontline medical workers fighting against Covid-19
www.injectionworld.com
Kunststoffverarbeitung in Eslarn, Germany, as one company that has decided to use at least some production capacity in the fight against Covid-19. “Instead of components for the automotive and electrical industry, the company is now producing reusable face masks/respirators for welfare and social-service institutions and medical offices,” it says. “It was the company’s close collaboration with Kraiburg TPE in the project, among other things,
May 2020 | INJECTION WORLD 51
Above: A reusable mask design by Providee features integral- hinge TPE components
IMAGE: NIKE
IMAGE: ENGEL/HAIDLMAIR
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