Conference highlights changing face of elastomers

Papers presented at Rapra's recent thermoplastic elastomers conference in Brussels reflected the changes that are occurring within the industry.

Papers presented at Rapra's recent thermoplastic elastomers conference in Brussels reflected the changes that are occurring within the industry.

This was excellently summarised by Robert Eller on his paper entitled "TPE value and growth opportunities".

Established suppliers are experiencing high price pressure from customers and increased competition therefore presented papers that demonstrated competitive advantage or support services.

DSM presented papers on the use of a slip coating to eliminate the need for flocking in weatherseal applications and the launch of a new soft touch TPV with good colourability, feel and low emissions (fogging).

Exxon Mobil (formally AES) presented a paper showing TPVs with good bonding to fabrics and metals substrates, also grades with excellent compression set resistance.

Kraton Polymers presented a new TPE-S with improved clarity for transparent compounds with good temperature, high flow and over-moulding characteristics.

Now that some TPV patents have expired, there is now increased competition from compounders as TPOs can be dynamically crosslinked with conventional twin screw extruders.

Bassell and DuPont Dow Elastomers are now promoting polypropylene and EPDM specifically for TPV manufacture and independently presented papers to demonstrate how they can provide support.

A paper jointly written by the Honam Petrochemical Corporation, Sung Jin Construction Company and Daeheung Industrial Company demonstrated the ability for companies to vertically integrate the supply chain.

The paper covered the applications of TPVs in roofing and geomembranes.

For the TPE-S compound market, Goodyear presented a paper on the modification of SEBS to improved oil resistance, compression set and wet grip characteristics.

Some new materials were presented, particularly for high temperature applications.

Zeon Chemicals is promoting Zeotherm, an oil-resistant, high-temperature-performance polyacrylate/polyamide based TPV but surprising stated that it was not for sealing applications.

Multibase (a Dow Corning Company) presented a paper on the used of TPSiVTM, a TPV based on silicone and polyamide for automotive hoses.

Optatech Corporation is looking for licensees for a new TPV material (Pacrel HT) with improve oil and heat resistance based on crosslinked polyacrylate dispersed in TPE-E.

Trexel presentated a paper on the development of microcellular TPV foam, using supercritical fluids, for automotive weather seals.

Work by Tony MaNally at Queens University, Belfast on the application of nanocomposites in SEBS was very well received.

As well as increasing mechanical properties, nanotubes have been found to improve conductivity whereas nonoclays provide polymers with ASTM UL94V0 rating and very low oxygen transmission rate eliminating the need for multilayer packaging.

Through development of a TPV based on natural rubber, Stuart Cook of TARRC challenged the belief that TPV's exist as an island structure.

He found that if the polypropylene is dissolved out, a 3D network can exist for some materials.

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