We think about the longevity of major appliances so that consumers don’t have to.
General-purpose TPVs are traditionally used for components like gaskets, seals, and motor mounts, but major appliances have unique demands. So we’ve developed better solutions to very specific requirements.
Consider the performance requirements of your household appliances: safety for food contact, or resistance to household chemicals, tolerance to freezing temperatures or high heat. Also, consider the increasing demand for aesthetics in appliances.
New specialty TPEs are now available, tailored for the unique demands of household appliances: washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators.
For designers and OEMs of white goods, a new eBook outlines key considerations and opportunities opened up by the development of a rich portfolio of specialty TPEs and TPVs:
Basic material requirements. TPEs are available with hardness levels ranging from super-soft to semi-rigid. They can be formulated with functional additives such as antimicrobials and antistatic agents. And they can be supplied as standard, off-the-shelf products for rapid sampling and short lead times; as either natural or custom color-matched compounds; or as custom-developed grades designed for specific customer needs.
End-use conditions. What temperatures will the component encounter and the length of this exposure? What’s the likelihood of exposure to UV or moisture? Is there a need for resistance to household chemicals or cleaning solvents?
Regulatory concerns. Must the TPE meet FDA requirements for food-contact? Will it need approvals from standards bodies like UL or NSF? Must it comply with European standards like REACH or RoHS?
Besides addressing issues where general purpose TPVs may fall short, these specialty TPEs provide performance advantages over flexible PVC and EPDM rubber.
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