THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS | MATERIALS
Thermoplastic elastomers are in big demand in medical products such as face
masks.Peter Mapleston writes about new soft plastics, including some containing recycled and bio-based materials
TPE development guided by Covid and sustainability
The Covid-19 pandemic has helped bring a surge of interest in soft thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), for various pieces of personal protective equip- ment (PPE). But it is not the only growth driver. TPE suppliers are also helping specifiers in multiple markets wanting to increase sustainability, devel- oping materials with higher levels of recyclate, or based on renewable resources. In the USA, United Soft Plastics (USP), which specialises in production of TPE compounds, reports a surge of interest in the use of TPEs for the production of many Covid-19-related medical applications, including face masks and face shields, and also ventilator parts. USP expects this demand to drop
gradually during the year, but Rudi Herbst, President, CEO and Chairman of the company, says there will still be more long- term support for these medical products than existed before the pandemic, particularly due to the growing use of antimicro- bial, antiviral, and antibiotic compounds. Covid-19 has caused a spike in interest both in replacing crosslinking rubbers with TPEs in current applications and in scaling those applications for the future, says Herbst.
www.injectionworld.com “We see a larger fraction of consumers become
more conscious of infectious disease and the ability that we have, both as manufacturers and consumers, to prevent the spread of disease through the choice of proper materials,” he says. The result is that many applications which
previously were not considered “medical” (he cites a pen cup in a public waiting room) will in the future need to hold up to different sterilization methods such as contact sterilization, according to Herbst. An example of custom-developed TPEs for face mask applications is one supplied through USP’s Mexican subsidiary for the Nvironone OvaOne interchangeable-filter face mask from Mexican manufacturer Nvironone. The mask has three containment plates that progressively block the dispersion of droplets and utilises an N95 filter that prevents the spread of aerosol particles. The injection mould- ed material for the mask’s base structure is designed to meet
FDA contact requirements and is safe for skin contact. The TPE
exhibits high tear strength and a smooth surface finish. “Despite the challeng-
ing business environment due to the pandemic, we’ve enjoyed strong growth in Mexico thanks to
May 2021 | INJECTION WORLD 13
Main image: Lubrizol Estane Silk 91T70 used in a watch strap application
Left: Face masks, such as this Nvironone OvaOne inter- changeable- filter face mask, are consuming increasing amounts of TPE
IMAGE: LUBRIZOL
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