A weekly look at new products, innovations

Editor's Note: Each week, Rubber & Plastics News will take a look at some of the rubber industry's new products and innovations on www.rubbernews.com. Does your company have a new product or new innovation? To be considered for inclusion in this recurring feature, email [email protected]

PolyOne Corp.'s PolyOne Colorant Chromatics has unveiled a chemical foaming solution for fluoropolymer wire insulation that can reduce part density while enhancing the stability and efficiency of the manufacturing process.

This advanced additive also enables customers to preserve electrical properties while reducing insulation thickness and raw material consumption through a consistent closed cell structure, PolyOne said.

According to the company, benefits include:

• Foaming performance: maximum gas generation resulting from no premature foaming enables greater process control;

• Tight tolerances: enhanced dispersion of active foaming ingredients produces a consistent cell structure of 200 micron or less—insulation thickness and density are reduced without adversely effecting electrical, chemical or thermal properties; and

• Thermalstability: heat resistance from 340-380°C supports effective homogenization of the foaming agent with high-performance polymers.

PolyOne said these new chemical foaming solutions for fluoropolymer wire insulation are suitable for FEP, PFA and MFA polymers and are available globally.

For more information, visit www.polyone.com/news.

Sick Inc. has launched its CLV600 IP 69K housing bar code scanners for high read rates in challenging conditions.

Sick said the IP 69K Housing is completely waterproof, which enables the scanners to be used in harsh wash-down environments where temperatures can reach up to 80°C. It is made of stainless steel housing with a plastic front window cover, designed to protect CLV600 series scanners from chemicals and cleaning agents in food and beverage environments. These scanners include IP 69K cables to protect against moisture and shock, the company said.

Since most common industrial interfaces are on the scanner, including Canopen, ethernet TCP/IP and Profitnet, no external converters or extra hardware is required, Sick said, and the CLV600 scanners come pre-mounted and include variants for both line and raster and oscillating mirror versions.

For more about the CLV600 IP 69K and other Sick products, visit www.sickusa.com.

Teknor Apex Co. has released Monprene RG-10100 Series injection molding, a series of standard grades that offer a wide range of choices for manufacturers of food containers, utensils, kitchen appliances and children's products.

Teknor Apex said the Monprene RG-10100 Series injection molding and RG-20100 extrusion compounds comply with multiple U.S. and European food-contact regulations, while enabling manufacturers of rubbery or flexible components to achieve vivid colors, smooth surfaces and end-use durability.

Standard grades are available with Shore A hardness levels, Teknor Apex said, ranging from a soft 40 to a semi-rigid 80. The compounds exhibit good tensile and tear strength, are readily colored and can be supplied as pre-colored products or in custom color-match grades, the company said.

This series can be used in kitchen appliance components, such as grips, gaskets, knobs and anti-skid parts; food containers and utensils, such as food saver storage products, secure-grip implements and ice cube trays; and children's and infant products, such as soft toys, teething rings, and non-spill lids, the company claimed.

In both single-use and repeat-use applications (as defined by U.S. and European regulations), Monprene RG compounds can be used in containers for dry, acidic, aqueous and alcoholic foods.

Visit www.teknorapex.com for more information