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].

Dow Corning Corp. has launched Xiameter AFE-1530 Antifoam Emulsion, a 30-percent active formulation with antifoaming persistency used in multiple applications. The Xiameter AFE-1530 is a food-grade silicone antifoam emulsion and complies with U.S. FDA regulations and European Community directives. It is accepted for use in kosher and halal foods, according to the company. Dow Corning said it also is approved by the U.S. EPA for use in pesticide formulations.

The product is suitable for use in a wide range of foam control applications, Dow Corning said, including food and beverage processing, chemical processing, agricultural chemicals and wastewater treatment.

Based on a silicone foam control technology from Dow Corning, the dilutable 30 percent active silicone formulation is highly effective at low concentrations, the company said, and is easy to use in both hot and cold systems.

Available through Dow Corning's Xiameter business model, the product can be purchased by clicking here as well as from authorized Xiameter brand product distributors around the globe.

Elastocon TPE Technologies Inc. has released super tough and super clear thermoplastic elastomers offered under the firm's CLR series.

Elastocon said applications for these durable, Shore A 65 and 75 formulations include, but are not limited to, grips for medical and dental utensils and knobs, as well as buttons for medical equipment. They are oil-free and formulations are odorless, can be injection molded or extruded, have exceptional tear resistance and offer high flow during processing, Elastocon said, among other features and benefits.

These thermoplastic elastomers utilize materials that are FDA compliant an easily d can be color tinted, Elastocon said, resulting in products with vibrant, highly resilient and shiny surfaces. The two grades offer high flow during processing as well, giving them the ability to be molded in products with complex configurations, the company said. They are both reclaimable and recyclable.

For more information on the new line of TPEs, email [email protected] or go here.

3M has unveiled its Acrylic Plus Tape Series EX4500 for primerless application of trim components for global automakers and supplier customers.

3M said the EX4500 series allows for robust adhesion to Medium Surface Energy (MSE) substrates and is compatible with a variety of paints without the need for an adhesion promoter or other surface pre-treatment methods.

The EX4500 series utilizes a proprietary 3M adhesive technology to offer primerless adhesion to MSE plastics, 3M said, such as acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylonitrile ethylene styrene (AES), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), polycarbonate (PC) and PC+ABS, while also ensuring compatibility with a variety of paints, including paints composed of carbamate, epoxy / acid powder and 2K urethane.

The deep black color of the EX4500 tapes help to conceal bondlines to ensure an aesthetically pleasing and streamlined appearance, while fewer steps in the adhesion process can lead to faster tack times, which can help to increase capacity and reduce unit cost.

To learn more about the 3M Acrylic Plus Tape Series EX4500, visit here.