Dow Chemical (Midland, Michigan / USA; www.dow.com) has introduced a new polyolefin elastomer grade for thermoplastic olefins (TPOs) used in automotive interior and exterior components. The company says that when compounded with PP, the new “Engage” XLT grade provides improved impact performance compared with other TPO impact modifiers and allows the production of lighter weight parts.

Computer simulations suggest that using the new grade can cut the total weight of a part by up to 10%, Dow says. The low elastomer loading, caused by improved impact efficiency, results in improved TPO stiffness and melt flow, allowing a reduction in the wall thickness of parts, it explains. The simulations also demonstrate that the reduced wall thickness improves moulding cycle times, the company adds. “This grade represents the next advancement in TPO impact modification,” says Dave Mitchell, marketing manager at Dow Elastomers. “The ability of Engage XLT to facilitate the production of light, large parts with a faster mould time can help compounders and manufacturers to cost-effectively produce fuel-efficient vehicles without compromising quality.”

The product is delivered in free-flowing pellet form that can easily be handled in large-scale continuous compounding operations, Dow says.