Advanced Elastomer Systems LP has added to its Santoprene brand of thermoplastic elastomers with new grades geared to the automotive interior market.
The M300 family is targeted for applications such as cup holders, mats, coin trays, grips and other areas where consumers want a soft, nongreasy touch, John M. Christensen, market manager for Advanced Elastomer´s automotive division, said at the recent Automotive & Transportation Interiors Expo in Detroit.
The M300 TPE boasts a 30 percent improved flow during molding and a 50 percent reduction in fogging over other Santoprene brands, Christensen said. It has a lower melt temperature, allowing for faster molding cycles.
The TPEs are available only in black injection molding grades of 65 or 80 Shore A hardness. AES of Akron, Ohio, expects to have other colors in a year, he said.
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