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].

Trexel Inc., in partnership with Lubrizol Engineered Polymers, has developed a high performance thermoplastic polyurethane foam technology called BounCell-X.

Lubrizol's Estane TPU chemistry with the MuCell physical foam injection molding technologies created BounCell-X, a plasticizer-free, thermoplastic foam with low density and superior performance, the company said.

According to Trexel, BounCell-X benefits include:

• Lightweight.

• Long-term cushioning.

• Thin solid skin for durable TPU performance.

• Broad property range: hardness and energy absorption/return.

• High efficiency injection molding process with over-molding feasibility.

• Use of industrial regrind/post-consumer recycling, possibility due to no crosslinking or chemical blowing agents in foaming process.

For more information, go here.

Romeo RIM Inc. has used long fiber technology and polyurethane products supplied by longtime collaborator Bayer MaterialScience L.L.C. to produce a prototype agricultural combine side panel, measuring 111x73x5 feet deep.

According to Romeo RIM, the component creates a shielding system with a value proposition focused around cost and weight savings when compared to alternative materials, such as sheet molding compound.

The prototype combine panel was on display at Bayer's booth at the recent Composites and Advanced Materials Expo in Orlando, Fla.

In addition to supplying polyurethane products, Bayer said its contributions included on-site technical support of the product development, led by Romeo RIM, to make such a large part. Support to achieve a high-gloss finish was provided through Bayer laboratories in Pittsburgh, while design assistance to meet the structural integrity and mounting requirements was provided by Bayer's engineering group.

During the LFT process, Romeo RIM said long glass fibers are chopped and injected into an open mold along with polyurethane resin in a one-step process. A fiberglass chopper is attached to the polyurethane dispensing mixhead, which is attached to a robot. The robot is programmed to move over the open mold cavity while simultaneously dispensing both the long glass fibers and the polyurethane resin in an open-pour method. At the end of the pour, the mold is closed, and the part is formed.

Use of a sprayable in-mold coating, also provided by Bayer, results in an agricultural Class-A surface right out of the mold, the company said. In addition to the agricultural market, large, Class-A surface LFT parts are also well suited to building and construction, mass transit and heavy trucks, among others, it said. /

For more information, go to http://www.romeorim.com.

Hernon Manufacturing Inc. has unveiled its Fusionbond 372, which the company claims is the toughest structural adhesive on the market.

Fusionbond is a highly thixotropic two-component, room temperature cure methacrylate adhesive system that is specially formulated to bond many diverse substrates and offer unparalleled chemical resistance. Hernon said it resists fatigue and impact and maintains the ability to fill gaps.

Fusionbond also offers shear strength not found in other adhesives, Hernon said, and in impact tests, Fusionbond 372 successfully withstood 50 Joules. Tests to ASTM D1002 have demonstrated shear strengths of more than 5000 psi on abraded steel and up to 3660 psi on abraded aluminum, the company said. ASTM D4501 standard tests have show strengths up to 1340 psi on epoxyglass. In the same testing standard PVC failed before Fusionbond at 2520 psi.

According to Hernon, Fusionbond 372 features include:

• Impact resistant.

• Halogen/chlorine free.

• Fast and/or slow curing options.

• Strong chemical resistance.

• High shear strength.

• Bonds to most substrates, including composites, wood, metals, plastic, glass, ceramics and fiberglass.

Watch the Video here or for more information, visit http://www.hernon.com.