WEB EXCLUSIVE: Two new liquid silicone rubber (LSR) grades for fast production of soft yet bite-resistant silicone pacifiers and bottle nipples were recently launched by Germany’s Wacker Chemie (U.S. office in Adrian, Mich.).

More speed, more power, more precision, and more automated functions accomplished in and out of the mold. That’s exactly what injection machinery suppliers were offering at NPE2012.

Bioplastics take center stage.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: Injection molding biocompatible silicone valves whose slits won’t close up or “heal” during radiation sterilization is possible with new Silpuran 6610/40 LSR from Wacker Chemical, Adrian, Mich.

At this month’s Fakuma show in Germany, Wacker Chemie AG (parent of Wacker Chemical Corp., Adrian, Mich.) will introduce two new liquid silicone rubber grades that achieve UL 94V-0 flammability rating without abrasive fillers.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: At next month’s Fakuma show in Germany, Wacker Chemie AG (U.S. office in Adrian, Mich.) will introduce two new liquid silicone rubber grades that achieve UL 94V-0 flammability rating without abrasive fillers.

The K 2010 show will present new plastics materials for a wide range of industries, which makes it hard to generalize, but a few markets stand out prominently: packaging, medical, automotive, and electronic equipment.

Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) injection molding is a long established process but it is enjoying an upsurge in interest for medical, automotive, infant care, and general industrial 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.

Liquid silicone rubber is breaking out of its niche into a broader array of applications, helped by new developments in materials, machinery, and processing. Larger parts, micro-parts, foams, and multi-color or multi-material combinations are key areas of innovation.

The major thrust in new materials at K is engineering thermoplastics for automotive, appliance, medical, and electrical/electronic parts.

So-called hybrid TPEs of silicone elastomer joined to an organic polymer have entered commercial use, according to developer Wacker Chemie AG of Germany (parent of Wacker Silicones, Adrian, Mich.). The industry's fi rst silicone-based TPE, called Geniomer, is being used as a heat-sink material in electronics applications and as a damping material in distance sensors for automotive applications, says Wacker.

Compounders, molders, and extruders will be treated to a wide range of new additives at NPE 2006.

There is only a small contingent of NPE exhibitors in the thermosets and composites segment, but they will discuss several new advances, particularly in materials.

At a recent conference, suppliers revealed novel coupling agents for wood composites and nanocomposites, unusual nucleator masterbatches for OPP and thermoformed containers, and enhanced heat and light stabilizers, flame retardants, and processing aids.

The latest K show was rich in additives that can ease processing and end-use problems of thermoplastics and thermosets.

 Higher flow, higher heat, higher barrier, higher clarity, higher stiffness, lower durometer, lower smoke, lower odor—materials exhibits at the recent K 2004 show in Dusseldorf were stretching the bounds of processing and performance properties in all directions.

It doesn’t matter whether you extrude blown or cast film, sheet, pipe, profiles, or foam—the K 2001 show held something exciting and unexpected that will open your eyes to new possibilities.