WEB EXCLUSIVE: Several new grades of clear SEBS-based TPEs from Elastocon TPE Technologies, Rochester, Ill., are designed for medical products such as grips for medical and dental utensils and knobs and buttons for medical equipment.

Higher-performance and easier processing PE film resins for packaging, a one-pass crosslinked PE for photovoltaic (PV) wire and cable, several higher-performing nylons and TPEs, “greener” plastics, and enhanced styrenic and PC resins are among the new materials that made their debut at the big show in Orlando, Fla., last month.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: A new SEBS-based TPE offers a degree of softness plus scratch/mar resistance and reduced coefficient of friction, which is said to minimize pickup of dust and debris in dirty, dusty environments.

Injection molders can simplify inventories by using a single TPE that is said to adhere to a wide variety of thermoplastics in overmolding.

 WEB EXCLUSIVE: Injection molders can simplify inventories by using a single TPE that is said to adhere to a wide variety of thermoplastics in overmolding.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: One of the latest series of styrenic TPEs from Elastocon TPE Technologies, Inc., Rochester, Mich., shows good overmolding onto a wide variety of acrylics.

A new series of clear, oil-free, SEBS-based TPEs eliminates oil bloom onto wood and other surfaces.

Olefinic TPEs originally comprised only two classes of rubber-modified polypropylene, known as TPO and TPV. More recently, these have been supplemented by new types of olefinic elastomers that can be used on their own or as the rubber component in TPO/TPV compounds. Additionally, a small handful of specialty TPEs using olefinic matrices occupy niche applications.

This first of two articles on directions in TPE development focuses on styrenic, copolyester, polyamide, and TP urethane elastomers. The following article covers olefinics—TPOs, TPVs, and POEs.