Wilmington, Mass. — Trexel Inc., which developed the MuCell process to produce microcellular foamed parts, is offering an additive system developed by Polyfil Corp., and calling it TecoCell.
Officials at Wilmington-based Trexel say TecoCell represents the next generation in chemical foaming technologies. Since it has only one reaction point, unlike most foaming additive systems, TecoCell does not produce corrosive byproducts or require scavenger technology, according to Trexel.
Trexel has exclusive rights to commercialize TecoCell for all injection molding and automotive blow molding applications. Polyfil, based in Rockaway, N.J., will market its Ecocell line of chemical foaming agents for extrusion applications.
TecoCell's reaction temperature is 200°C (393°F). At that point, the system releases carbon dioxide to create a microcellular structure in the range of 20 to 80 microns. Trexel says that weight reductions of 30-35 percent for blow molding and 7-10 percent for injection molding are typical for the additive package.
Blow molding applications have excellent property retention, officials said.
The automotive blow molding applications for TecoCell include ducts — and Trexel officials are saying the lower density can give important weight savings.
TecoCell can be used on existing accumulator-head blow molding machines.
The company also is targeting packaging applications, where it claims TecoCell can cut material costs and improve material flow.