Hexpol’s Dryflex Green TPE portfolio has been expanded with a number of new grades, the company announced.
The series now includes grades based on Styrenic Block Copolymer (TPS) and Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) technologies, with amounts of renewable content to over 90% (ASTM D 6866-12) and hardness from 15 Shore A to 60 Shore D. The new TPEs are recyclable, they are easy to colour, and grades are available with raw materials that are compliant with food contact regulations.
Hexpol developed the series as part of its ambition to provide a more sustainable alternative to conventional, oil-based plastics. Its Dryflex Green TPE compounds contain raw materials from renewable resources coming from renewable sources such as products and by-products from agricultural that are rich in carbohydrates, especially saccharides.
Although derived from plant and vegetable crops, these compounds not only offer mechanical and physical properties comparable to TPE compounds from fossil based raw materials, as a drop-in solution, there is also no need for tool modifications. They also show very good bonding behaviour to PE and PP, with special grades for bonding to ABS, PC/ABS and PET.
Hexpol will continue to work on expanding its portfolio of resource saving materials, said Klas Dannäs, Global R&D Manager HEXPOL TPE. “We continue to trial new and emerging raw material combinations and further test the possibilities of Dryflex Green TPE compounds,”
Various of the new grades have also been tested for use in automotive interior applications and have been found to comply with the requirements and legislation regarding fogging, odour and VOC emissions. Suggested applications for these compounds include floor mats, cup holder liners, fascia, trim and inlay mats.