Kraiburg seeks to take TPE to new applications

Friedrichshafen, Germany — German compounder Kraiburg TPE is bringing "the best of both worlds" together in a technology that can produce high-performance thermoplastic elastomer hybrids (TEH).

The company is currently at the testing phase of the TEH technology, which can combine the processability of plastics with application properties of elastomers to create chemical- and heat-resistant hybrid materials.

"With this technology, higher temperature resistance of up to 150°, we aim to enter into new markets such as automotive and industrial machinery," Kraiburg TPE CEO Franz Hinterecker said.

The performance properties of these TEH materials include hardness from 55-80 Shore A, permanent operating temperatures of up to 150° C (302° F) and chemical stability against materials such as oils, lubricants, fuels and coolants.

The products are particularly suitable for use in the environment of internal combustion engines, in heat management of drives and batteries for electric vehicles, as well as in lubrication and cooling systems of machines, process technology and buildings.

The difference between TEH materials and other conventional thermoplastic elastomers is the polymer basis, according to Hinterecker.

"To put it very simply, we can use almost any kind of rubber to produce these products. So, we have created a kind of platform where we can compound different kinds of TPEs based on rubber technology," he said.

Up until now, classic TPEs used mainly EPDM/polypropylene blends as a base, which limited the performance of the product.

According to Hinterecker, Kraiburg TPE is currently collaborating with customers to find new applications for the material, which the company says offers the advantage of cost-efficiency in addition to fast processability.

With demand for TPEs on the rise, Hinterecker pointed to a number of expansion plans currently underway at various global locations.

In Malaysia, the company is adding a fifth extrusion line by the end of this year to add 5,000 metric tons of capacity.

In Waldkraiburg, Germany, an expansion project is already underway by adding an extrusion line, which should be ready by the first quarter of next year. The new 10-kilotonne-per-year line will raise the company's European compounding capacity to 40 kilotonnes.

Also on display this year at Fakuma are Kraiburg TPE's new series of Thermolast K multipurpose TPEs, developed specifically for the automotive interior market.

The new compounds focus on fogging and volatile organic compounds with low odor. The compounds feature properties such as reliable adhesion to polypropylene and good abrasion resistance. The materials can also be processed at relatively low pressures.

"Odor has become a big topic in the automotive industry. We have had different experiences with respect to odor. In China, customers want absolutely no odor in a new car, whereas in Europe, buyers expect the smell of a new car," Hinterecker said.

Testing the odor has proved difficult for the company as it can be a subjective issue.

Despite the different odor appetites, the VOC emissions remain a serious issue for every region, and the newly developed compounds will address that.