TPE Magazine 03/2019 is out now!

Data Source:Dr. Gupta Verlags GmbH  10. October 2019

TPE Magazine 03/2019 is out now!

 

https://www.gupta-verlag.com/magazines/tpe-magazine-international/03-2019.

Learn more about the new VDI guideline 2017 with focus on TPE, get insights of TPE in medical + healthcare markets, learn about Allod’s innovative materials with PTC effect, Uteksol/Albis’ high performance FR TPE, Kuraray’s new damping materials, and last but not least our extensive K 2019 preview.

Technical articles in this issue:

  • Stability and continuity – New VDI guideline 2017 Medical Grade Plastics defines requirements for plastics in medical, diagnostics and pharmaceutical packaging
    S. Roth (Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences)
    Safety for patient and user is an essential requirement for medical products, in-vitro diagnostics and pharmaceutical packaging. Subsequently, plastics grades used in medical have to fulfil particular requirements, i.e. constant properties, formulation lock or biocompatibility. Surprisingly, no standard has existed to define the requirements for medical grades so far. This gap has been filled recently by the new guideline VDI 2017 developed and launched by a work group of the German Engineer’s Society (VDI). This article addresses the development of the new guideline VDI 2017 “medical grade plastics” and presents the essential requirements to be covered by medical grade plastics (MGP).
  • Halogen-free flame retardant TPS compounds
    S. Zepnik (Albis Plastic GmbH), D. Pačnik and M. Fele (Uteksol d.o.o.)
    Flame retardant thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are gaining more and more attention in scientific work and R+D as well as in industries and markets with FR requirements. Styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers (TPS) have a very high market relevance due to their broad usability and versatile properties available via compounding. This includes also more and more technical applications and products where FR performance plays a key role. Albis Plastic GmbH recently complemented its TPE portfolio with flame retardant TPS compounds of the brand Solplast from Uteksol. This paper presents important properties and characteristics of these new compounds.
  • Flexible materials with PTC effect – Self-regulating heating systems based on electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomers with positive temperature coefficient (PTC)
    D. Koppler, A. Dill, B. Proksch (Allod Werkstoff GmbH & Co. KG) and F. Malz (Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF)
    Self-regulating heating systems are just one of many possible applications for polymer based positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistors. To create an electrically conductive polymer it is necessary to incorporate a conductive filler into the polymer matrix with a filler concentration around the percolation threshold. The specific property of PTC materials is the sharp rise of electrical resistance at an adjustable temperature. The steady state temperature depends on the selected polymer matrix, the applied voltage, the dimensions of the component or the electrodes. Besides this, the PTC effect is reversible. The materials available on the market often have an insufficient flexibility and a poor adhesion to the overmoulded electrodes. In order to solve these issues, the company Allod focuses on the development of flexible materials with PTC effect.
  • Excellent damping performance at elevated temperatures – Hydrogenated styrenic elastomer Hybrar SV-series
    Y. Senda (Kuraray Co., Ltd.) and J.-S. Weber (Kuraray Europe GmbH)
    Lately, the efforts to reduce automotive weight for fuel efficiency has increased the problem of vibration and road noise and led to a reduction in passenger comfort and driving pleasure. The electrification of the automobile has decreased engine noise which was major noise source but other noises such as road noise, wind noise and transmission noise which were hidden by the engine have become more noticeable. As described above, the demand to reduce vibration and noise is increasing and is diversified. Damping materials, which can effectively reduce vibration and noise without significantly increasing the car weight, have been addressed as a countermeasure. Kuraray has recently developed new hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers with excellent damping performance at elevated temperatures. This article describes properties and benefits of the new materials.