MOSCOW (MRC) -- PolymaxTPE, a manufacturer of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), has developed a low hardness TPE elastomer exhibiting better performance than that of thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) widely used in weather seals by providing higher tear strength, lower compression set and cost benefits, reported GV.
According to the company, this new grade, D6940, is ideally suited for weather seal application that requires low deformation stress, rubberlike seal recovery, UV resistance, and paint stain resistance. With hardness reduced to 40 shore A, D6940 TPE still exhibits 12 % higher tear strength than a weather seal grade TPV with 60 shore A while providing low compression set of 14 % at 23 C and 36 % at 70 C, respectively.
"In response to growing demand for softer TPE elastomers in window sealing and telecom box sealing, this new TPE material achieves our goal of a higher tear strength elastomer with low compression set at hardness levels down to 40 Shore A," said Tom Castile, VP of Sales at PolymaxTPE.
“Although targeted as a cost benefit alternatives to TPV elastomers, these products also provide a significant improvement in cold temperature toughness versus flexible PVC in the window and door seals," noted Dr. Ron Sheu, VP New Business Development.
PolymaxTPE can produce weather seal TPEs grades at its new manufacturing locations in Chicago and also in Nantong, China.
We also remind that, as MRC informed before, the thermoplastic elastomers market size is projected to reach USD27.8 bln by 2020 at a CAGR of 8%, according to MarketsandMarkets' report. Asia-Pacific was the major market of thermoplastic elastomers in 2014, which is projected to register the highest CAGR between 2015 and 2020, owing to the increasing demand of tire and other rubber products from end-user industries, such as automotive and building & construction. Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the Thermoplastic elastomers market by 2020, with high investments from manufacturers in capacity expansion. North America was the second-largest market for thermoplastic elastomers in 2014 and is expected to get support from increasing tire sales with the recovering automotive industry.
MRC