10 Nov 2023
Compounds with higher content of post-industry, post-consumer waste offer a range of adhesion options
Waldkraiburg, Germany – Kraiburg TPE has extended its range of Thermolast R compounds with new thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) containing a high percentage of recycled materials.
With up to 70% recyclate-content, even in low Shore A hardness materials, the TPEs are claimed to represent an “important milestone” in the development of such compounds – particularly with regard to adhesion properties.
Allowing adhesion to polyamide (PA), PC/ABS or PP, the elastomers are suitable for single-, two- or multi-component parts requiring high proportions of recycled material, said Kraiburg TPE.
According to the company, its recyclate-content TPE with adhesion to PA “is the first TPE worldwide with a proportion of PCR and PIR materials of 43 to 60% depending on their hardness.”
These elastomers, it stated, can be used for a large number of applications for two-component parts, in hardnesses ranging from 40 to 90 Shore A.
The TPEs with adhesion to PC and ABS have a proportion of post-industrial and post-consumer recycled materials between 42% and 54% depending on hardness – with 40 to 70 Shore A options available.
Kraiburg TPE went on to note the availability of ‘second-generation universal PCR TPE’ containing up to 79% recycled materials, and available in hardnesses ranging from 30 to 90 Shore A.
“All new TPEs are available in natural colours and can be coloured in many different ways depending on customers’ wishes and requirements,” the company added.
Target applications include: power tools, E&E products, household goods, sports and leisure items, for example in grips, handles and damping elements.
“Using these compounds will help customers to effectively reduce the carbon footprint of their final products, while ensuring durable solutions,” said Eugen Andert, project manager, advance development, at Kraiburg TPE.
“Due to the chemical structure of the compounds, Kraiburg TPE [is offering materials that] combine performance with the concept of sustainability,” added Andert.
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