Thermoplastic Elastomers Washington DC

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The growth rates for thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are, on average, about 6.2% worldwide. This indicates that TPEs are replacing other elastomeric materials in new fields or are being discovered as an innovative material to optimize the function and design of products and components. Above-average growth opportunities are being observed especially for TPE-V, that is, compounds with a chemically cross-linked elastomer phase. These are found traditionally in the automotive sector, with its demanding requirements regarding resistance of compounds to heat and oil. Here, there is a trend to encounter TPE-V in the well-established markets for rubber formulations based on EPDM, CR or HNBR and even ACM rubber. These so-called Super TPE-Vs are intended for use at service temperatures of up to 175℃ while retaining excellent oil resistance and can be viewed as predestined for applications in the engine compartment.

For some time, Kraiburg TPE, Waldkraiburg/Germany, has been working on innovative compound formulations and production processes that, with improved long-term temperature resistance, would open up new opportunities to expand into new fields of application. With the aid of novel concepts to raise the service temperatures of styrene block copolymers, it was possible to create a new product class of thermoplastic elastomers specifically for use at elevated temperatures. This was the first step on the path to successful development of the Super-TPV.

Selective chemical cross-linking
The softening temperature of the styrene domains represents the Achilles heel of the temperature resistance of TPEs based on hydrated styrene block copolymers (HSBC). This cannot be raised further even by increasing the molecular weight of the HSBC employed. Numerous attempts to improve the temperature resistance of HSBC via subsequent cross-linking have failed, since all known cross-linking agents react only with the elastic middle block.

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