F&S awards Zeon for TPV “superiority”

By Patrick Raleigh, ERJ On-line news editor

Tokyo-Zeon Corp. has picked up a Frost & Sullivan Innovation Award for its development of Zeotherm thermoplastic vulcanisates (TPVs) for high temperature- and oil-resistant automotive applications, Zeon announced 13 July.

The award, part of a recent F&S study on Thermoplastic Elastomers, recognised Zeon as having “demonstrated technological superiority and innovation within the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) industry.”

F&S goes on to describe Zeon as being well positioned to be a major force in the high performance TPV market from 2004 to 2010. “As the first of its kind, Zeotherm is likely to continue dominating the high-performance TPV market as an established product,” the report states.

Based on a patented technology for combining polyacrylate rubber with nylon, Zeotherm TPVs are resistant to aggressive oils and lubricants at temperatures up to 175°C. The materials are designed to replace thermoset rubber and rubber-to-metal parts in under-the-hood automotive and various industrial applications.

The F&S Innovation Award recognises a company's ability to develop and introduce new technology, formulate a product family and make significant product performance contributions to the industry.