Teknor Apex Monprene® Serves the Pet Toy Market with TPE Series Offering a Broad Range of Performance and Aesthetic Characteristics

(Teknor Apex, Pawtucket, RI USA) … For decades the Monprene® TPE product line has been the premier material choice for regulated consumer products. The latest series is now specifically designed for use in the manufacture of pet products. Monprene® CP-16500 series of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are durable and sustainable alternatives to thermoset rubber for dog toys, with a broad range of performance and aesthetic characteristics. This series includes clear, translucent and opaque grades with low, medium and high gloss.  All grades exhibit excellent colorability and are easily moldable. This extensive portfolio includes specialty grades that offer improved durability with superior resistance to puncture and tear—ideal for the demanding applications of dog chew toys.

In order to help compare the durability of different materials, Teknor Apex designed a “bite resistance” laboratory test to simulate the forceful action of a dog biting a toy. Based on the ASTM test method F1306 for flexible films, the Teknor Apex Bite Resistance test measures the puncture resistance, or the force required to penetrate an injection molded specimen. A “Puncture Rating” is assigned to each material based on this force, and uses a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 having the greatest resistance.

The figure below shows that the Monprene® specialty grades exhibit considerably high bite resistance.

While the general purpose grades offer an excellent balance of cost and performance, the specialty grades offer superior resistance to puncture, tear, and tear propagation.   All materials in this series mold with ease, with excellent flow characteristics. In the case that a pet product manufacturer has unique requirements, Teknor Apex will work with them to customize a Monprene TPE solution.

A Safe & Sustainable Alternative for Pet Products

The Monprene CP-16500 series is formulated with only FDA listed ingredients and is not formulated to contain PVC, BPA, latex, phthalates or metals, nor REACH SVHC or Prop 65 listed substances. These grades are also classified and suitable for use in Children’s Toys per the following regulatory standards: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), European Product Safety Standard EN 71, and the ASTM International's Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety (F963).

Monprene is also recyclable, offering a sustainable alternative to thermoset rubber dog toys. Scrap recovered from any step in the manufacturing process can be re-introduced into the process or used in the production of new parts. Additionally, used chew toys can be recovered, shredded, and recycled into new ones.

“The pet industry has been growing for years, especially recently with the rise in pet ownership during the pandemic. As a pet owner, I know what an important part of the family they are. We are excited to be an integral part of creating products that are safe, fulfill the durability promise, and help our partners succeed,” said Hilarie Rubin, Senior Market Manager for Consumer Products.

“Made in the USA” Monprene CP-16500 Series are manufactured in several ISO-9001 certified facilities in the USA, but are also manufactured in Singapore and Germany to serve local markets – all with strict formulation control and traceability.

Monprene® CP-16500 Series includes general purpose and specialty grades with a broad hardness range: 25 to 65 Shore A.