GELEEN, NETHERLANDS, September 24, 2014: Drawing on two different thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) chemistries, Teknor Apex Company has developed new alternatives for molders of automotive window seals and exterior parts, providing improved processing and performance properties in comparison with currently used materials, the company announced today. Teknor Apex will introduce the compounds at Fakuma 2014 (Hall B5, Stand 5315).
Sarlink® 17100, ME-2500, and ME-2600 Series injection molding compounds are designed for window encapsulation and appearance parts such as screen finishers and trim seals. They provide enhanced processability for good surface quality and excellent UV stability. Their lower densities relative to EPDM and PVC make possible weight savings of up to 20 and 25%, respectively. Teknor Apex can produce all three series in Europe, North America, and Asia.
The new compounds are based on distinctly different polymer chemistries:
---Sarlink 17100 Series thermoplastics vulcanizate (TPV) compounds are improved, lower-viscosity formulations derived from the widely used Sarlink 4700 Series. Their high flow and low sensitivity to process variations make possible excellent surface properties and precise replication of complex shapes. As TPVs, Sarlink 17100 Series compounds maintain seal integrity at high temperatures, have high resistance to greases and solvents, and yield a low-gloss or matte finish.
---Sarlink ME-2500 and ME-2600 Series styrene block copolymer (TPE-S) compounds exhibit processing and end-use properties superior to those of standard TPE-S materials, providing higher flow, enhanced surfaces, and greater UV stability. While the ME-2500 Series compounds have densities comparable to EPDM, those in the ME-2600 Series are particularly low in density—0.93 g/cc, as against minimums of 1.1 for EPDM and 1.2 for PVC. The new TPE-S compounds are very easy to process, with a broad processing window; are readily colored; and exhibit high levels of UV stability. Their gloss level can be adjusted to meet customer requirements.
“Because Teknor Apex draws from an exceptionally broad range of TPE chemistries, our company takes a ‘polymer-neutral’ approach to supplying automotive customers, providing them with multiple TPE alternatives so that they can select precisely the best compound for their application,” said Ger Vroomen, senior European automotive market manager. “Besides our TPV and TPE-S products, in fact, we also manufacture PVC compounds for automotive window seal and exterior trim applications. For all these products, we are prepared to develop custom formulations, provide support in application development, and supply precisely the same compound grades no matter where in the world the customer operates its plants.”
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