ADVANCED ELASTOMER SYSTEMS
"Santoprene 8000": New fully vulcanised TPE / No pre-drying necessary
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) rank among the "rising stars" in the field of polymers, with an annual rate of growth of 7-8%. Consumption is currently 950,000 t/y worldwide. The leading TPE producer on the market is held to be the US American company Advanced Elastomer Systems (AES), a joint venture between the Chemical Group of Monsanto Company and the Exxon Chemical Company, with main headquarters in Akron / Ohio. Alongside production sites in Ohio and Florida, AES also produces TPE for the European market in Newport, South Wales. With about 500-600 employees, the US American company is aiming for a turnover of USD 250m in 1996.
AES is probably also one of the most innovative global players on this sector when it comes to broadening the TPE range. The proof for this can be found not least in "Santoprene 8000", a new line of thermoplastic elastomer products which was introduced in Europe at the beginning of October by Advanced Elastomer Systems N.V./S.A. (Av. de Tervueren 270-272, B-1150 Brussels), the company responsible for this market. "Santoprene 8000" is a series of fully vulcanised non-hygroscopic TPEs intended primarily for engineered applications. The distinctive features of the material are that it does not need to be dried before processing – unlike conventional TPEs – and is also particularly easy to colour. AES' new product range is suitable for both injection moulding and extrusion.
Zev Gurion, the Europe/Africa business director at AES, is convinced that the new so-called dynamic vulcanisation technology (TPV, which stands for ThermoPlastic Vulcanisate) will considerably expand the use of TPEs. At the moment, the "Santoprene 8000" series is available in twelve different grades with varying properties and hardness ranges. Other types are to follow in order to broaden the range of applications. Existing areas of application are in the automotive and construction industries, but the new material from the USA also has great potential in other markets such as household appliances, cables and medical articles as well as food packaging and consumer goods.
READER SERVICE: Detailed press information about AES and "Santoprene 8000" (English): PIE-No. 40106.
AES is probably also one of the most innovative global players on this sector when it comes to broadening the TPE range. The proof for this can be found not least in "Santoprene 8000", a new line of thermoplastic elastomer products which was introduced in Europe at the beginning of October by Advanced Elastomer Systems N.V./S.A. (Av. de Tervueren 270-272, B-1150 Brussels), the company responsible for this market. "Santoprene 8000" is a series of fully vulcanised non-hygroscopic TPEs intended primarily for engineered applications. The distinctive features of the material are that it does not need to be dried before processing – unlike conventional TPEs – and is also particularly easy to colour. AES' new product range is suitable for both injection moulding and extrusion.
Zev Gurion, the Europe/Africa business director at AES, is convinced that the new so-called dynamic vulcanisation technology (TPV, which stands for ThermoPlastic Vulcanisate) will considerably expand the use of TPEs. At the moment, the "Santoprene 8000" series is available in twelve different grades with varying properties and hardness ranges. Other types are to follow in order to broaden the range of applications. Existing areas of application are in the automotive and construction industries, but the new material from the USA also has great potential in other markets such as household appliances, cables and medical articles as well as food packaging and consumer goods.
READER SERVICE: Detailed press information about AES and "Santoprene 8000" (English): PIE-No. 40106.
31.12.1996 Plasteurope.com [19658]
Published on 31.12.1996