Wacker to launch silicone foams and silicone-based TPEs

By Liz White, ERJ staff

Munich, Germany-Wacker is set to unveil new solid silicone foams at the Fakuma exhibition in Friedrichshafen, Germany, 18-22 Oct. These foams combine low density with excellent compression set, claims Wacker, and are easy to process, suitable for food contact use, and can be extruded, injection moulded and added to peroxide-curing and platinum-curing silicones.

New liquid silicone and fluorosilicone rubber grades and Geniomer silicone thermoplastic elastomers will also be highlighted at the Fakuma show, Wacker said.

The Geniomer TPEs are highly transparent, and combine the properties of thermoplastic polymers-mouldability when heated-with the major advantages of silicones, such as low-temperature flexibility, abrasion resistance, haptic properties and water repellency, the company says. "A symbiosis of organic and inorganic components makes this possible," said Wacker.

According to Wacker, silicone TPEs have "a property profile that has never yet been achieved in either thermoplastics or silicones." These include the easy processing typical of thermoplastics, as well as ready overpainting with paints and coatings. The materials have "outstanding low-temperature properties without the need for additives, good storage stability and excellent water repellency."