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]

Polymax Thermoplastic Elastomers Inc. has expanded a line of premium quality TPE for use in extreme condition applications.

Polymax will debut the product at the 2015 National Plastics Exposition March 24-27 in Orlando, Fla.

Developed using new product formulations and custom-engineered production machinery, Polymax said its extreme conditions application materials are designed to perform under very high and very low temperatures, during medical sterilization procedures and demanding environmental conditions. Some of the new TPEs are formulated to endure exposure to ultra-violet light, abrasion, caustic substances and flammability conditions, the company claimed.

PolymaxTPE has a full-service facility in Waukegan, Ill., which produces the company's range of more than 500 grades of thermoplastic elastomers, develops next-generation TPE innovations and provides custom-developed materials and technical service.

For more information, click here.

Wacker Chemie A.G. will showcase two new products at the 2015 National Plastics Exposition in Orlando, Fla. at booth #28073 in the South Hall.

On display will be the Genioplast Pellet S, a novel all-around additive for thermoplastics, and Wacker's optically clear Lumisil LR 7600 liquid silicone rubber.

The Genioplast Pellet S is a high molecular weight silicone additive, Wacker said, that works both to improve surface properties of the plastic substrate and to make compounding and shaping of thermoplastics more efficient and economical. Genioplast Pellet S is a silicone additive in pellet form with an active ingredient consisting of a non-crosslinked, ultra-high molecular, linear silicone polymer (silicone gum). This ingredient allows for a smoother surface compared to thermoplastic polymers, Wacker said, which is a desired characteristic that can enhance the polymer's mar, scratch and abrasion resistance. Basic polymer properties such as tensile strength, hardness and heat distortion as well as print- and weld-ability are not adversely affected, the company claimed.

Wacker said the silicone additive also acts in synergy with flame-retardant fillers adding to its all-around versatility.

Wacker also will be displaying the Lumisil LR 7600 LSR, which is suited for primary and secondary lens optics because it allows light to pass through virtually unimpeded, the company said. Wacker will be demonstrating live injection molding by technical experts at its booth each day of the exhibition.

The Lumisil LR 7600 series offers outstanding optical transparency, Wacker added, which exceeds that of polycarbonate and polymethylacrylate. The series features exceptionally high transparency and is heat and weather resistant, while being able to withstand prolonged exposure to temperatures of up to 200°C.

Genioperl P52, a particulate polymer modifier in powder form, was developed to improve the impact strength of thermoplastic and thermoset polymer systems, especially at low temperatures, Wacker said.

For more information, go to www.wacker.com.

Struktol Company of America has developed process additives for polymers containing high levels of mineral fillers and increased amounts of flame retardant packages.

The company will debut the product at the 2015 National Plastics Exposition March 24-27 in Orlando, Fla.

These products are useful in a variety of resin systems, Struktol said, from polyolefins to engineered plastics, offering greater dispersion and processability.

The process additives are targeted for compounds containing greater than 50 percent mineral fillers, as well as those utilizing higher than traditional loadings of flame retardant packages. Struktol said they are beneficial in applications involving difficult to disperse materials, such as pigments and natural fibers.

Struktol TR 451 is a product designed to improve the incorporation of fillers into polyolefin compounds and enables the user to increase filler content, reducing the overall economics of the compound, Struktol said.

The additive provides significant viscosity reduction, mold release and consistent processing, Struktol said.

The base technology in TR 451 can be altered and/or combined with other Struktol technologies to further enhance a specific desired property.

Visit www.4struktol.com, call (330) 928-5188, or email [email protected] for more information.