Kraiburg develops compounds for drinking water

Waldkraiburg, Germany – Gummiwerk Kraiburg GmbH has developed a new generation of elastomer compounds for contact with drinking water ahead of regulation changes in Germany in 2022.

The new elastomer guideline published by the German environment agency Umweltbundesamt (UBA) will come into effect at the end of 2021, Kraiburg said 2 April.

Under the new guideline, sulphur cross-linked compounds can no longer be used in drinking water applications.

Kraiburg has developed a series of EPDM compounds with a hardness between 50 Shore A and 85 Shore A, to address the new requirements.

The compounds feature materials that will be allowed after 2021, while maintaining the mechanical requirements for drinking water applications, Kraiburg said.

The company said it had “successfully” tested the suitability of the compounds and achieved approvals from German, UK and French water authorities.

In addition to materials safety, the compound is claimed to vulcanise faster and more efficiently than “comparable products”.