Zeon announces 175°C - TPE with 'rubber-like flexibility'

Tokyo, Japan - Zeon Chemicals says its latest thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) grade - Zeotherm 100-60B. - offers rubber-like flexibility, resistance to hot oils and useful strength up to 175°C.

The new grade is based on a polyamide hard block with elastomeric soft blocks. It has been optimised for thermoplastic injection moulding processes. For blow moulding processes, Zeon recommends its Zeotherm 130-90B product.

Tests run by Zeon Chemicals indicates the flex modulus of Zeotherm 100-60B to be nearly the same as thermoset rubber. Zeotherm 100-60B has a flex modulus of 8.5 MPa versus a comparable durometer AEM thermoset rubber compound at 7.5 MPa. The durometer of Zeotherm 100-60B is 60 ShA, which makes the grade more comparable to many thermoset rubber parts. Previously, Zeotherm thermoplastic elastomers had been limited to durometer ranges from 70 ShA to 90 ShA.

Zeon said the new grade is "ideally suited for underhood automotive and industrial components requiring resistance to high temperatures and aggressive fluids. Such applications include dust and dirt shields, isolator cuffs, steering system seals, suspension components and grips for industrial equipment."

The company added, "Additional long-term testing by Zeon indicates 100-60B can resist continuous exposure to 150°C temperatures in both air and hot engine oil in excess of 1000 hours. For short-term intermittent exposures, 100-60B has been proven to resist temperatures to 175°C. Under similar conditions, conventional thermoplastic elastomers (e.g, TEOs) have heat resistance limited to 125°C or less."

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press release from Zeon