DETROIT — Teknor Apex Co. of Pawtucket, R.I., is working to move its Tekron-brand thermoplastic elastomer from the medical field into the automotive market.
The styrenic block copolymer Tekron—a styrene ethylene butylene styrene—is being targeted for automotive applications that require noise and vibration dampening, Charles Gates, automotive compounds industry manager, said in an interview at SAE '98.
``There's been a lot of interest in controlling noise in some form or other,'' Gates said at the Detroit show, held Feb. 23-26. ``The soft Tekron grade can cut down on noise by offering more shake.''
The Tekron grades on display essentially were soft grades of a product that was commercialized in 1995 and has been used in blower motors in auto heating systems.
The soft Tekron grades were commercialized late last year, but its medical uses so far have outnumbered automotive 3-to-1, Gates said.
Teknor Apex also was promoting its Flexalloy oil-resistant PVC/rubber blends, which Gates said have uses in steering suspensions and door conduits.
