Products: Teknor Apex unveils TPE compounds

Pawtucket, Rhode Island – Teknor Apex Co. has released a new generation of thermoplastic elastomer compounds.

The firm said its Monprene OM compounds exhibit improved bond strength when overmoulded to rigid polymers used in a variety of industries, including consumer product, small appliance, power tool and other components requiring a soft/hard material combination.

“These new-generation overmolding TPEs are more thermally stable than our earlier products,” noted Hilarie Rubin, senior market manager for consumer products.

The compounds can be moulded at higher temperatures, which are more conducive to obtaining good adhesion, she added.

Four series of standard grades are available. Teknor Apex said each can adhere to specific substrate materials, and the firm also can develop custom formulations to meet customer requirements.

Three of the four new standard series are based on styrenic TPE technology and exhibit dry haptics for good tactile properties in grips, handles, and other “soft-touch” components.

The fourth is based on TPV (EPDM + PP) technology for improved chemical resistance.

Monprene OM-19300: Grades range in hardness from 30 to 70 Shore A. The compounds are designed for adhesion to general-purpose and high-impact polystyrene and styrenic copolymers such as methacrylate-butadiene-styrene (MBS).

Monprene OM-19400: This general-purpose series ranges in hardness from 40 to 70 Shore A and can be overmoulded onto a very broad range of engineering thermoplastic substrates, some of which are polycarbonate (PC), ABS, PC/ABS blends, copolyester, PET, PBT, acrylic (PMMA), acrylate copolymers (PSA, ASA, and SAN), and acetal (POM).

Monprene OM-19100: Characterised by low compression set as well as dry haptics, this series is designed for overmoulding onto polyamides. The hardness range is from 40 to 70 Shore A.

Monprene OM-19100V: This series also consists of low compression set compounds designed for overmoulding onto PA6, 66, 12. However, it also exhibits enhanced chemical resistance. The hardness range is from 65 Shore A to 40 Shore D.

“Drawing on our experience in manufacturing both TPE and engineering thermoplastic compounds, Teknor Apex has developed a new generation of TPEs that bond to the widest range of polymers,” said Rubin.

Teknor Apex also complements the products by offering safety compliance support, development facilities for part design, tooling & adhesion testing as well as engineering expertise for process optimisation.

The company has also launched a new web page called The Overmoulding Academy where it offers blogs, whitepapers and guides to help source the right materials and assist in product and tooling design.