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].

Lanxess A.G. said it has developed Keltan 9565Q, an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber that can compete with natural rubber, which is susceptible to aging.

This new grade is characterized by its high molecular weight, Lanxess said, which gives the synthetic rubber its extremely high NR-type strength and resilience. As a saturated polymer, this grade still features the heat, weathering and ozone resistance typical of EPDM rubber. With these qualities, Lanxess said Keltan 9565Q not only is superior to natural rubber in terms of heat aging, but also can offer this benefit in highly dynamic applications. In addition, this new ultra-high-molecular Keltan grade opens new potential for more economical EPDM processing compared with NR, Lanxess claimed.

In rubber components subject to high stresses, natural rubber was considered almost indispensable, despite its heat sensitivity. Lanxess said the reasons for this dilemma are in the typical molecular architecture of the time-honored raw material.

With Keltan 9565Q, Lanxess said its chemists are taking a different, more sustainable approach—through improved synthesis they have been able to further increase the molecular weight of their new EPDM grade, thus achieving similar levels of dynamic performance as natural rubber, even after heat aging.

In terms of tear resistance and elongation at break, the material attains much better results than NR after 168 hours at 100°C and 120°C, which Lanxess said is where the fully saturated nature of the EPDM molecule makes itself felt.

For more information about Lanxess, click here.

AGC Chemicals Americas Inc. has released AFLAS 150E fluoroelastomers, advanced insulation material option for high-voltage cable.

AFLAS 150E fluoroelastomers outperforms XL-PE cable systems, AGC said, providing superior chemical resistance and high-temperature performance (200°C versus 150°C). Additionally, cable constructions using AFLAS are thinner, lighter weight and more flexible than those using XL-PE, the company claimed.

AFLAS fluoroelastomers can be used for both transmission cable and HEV/EV cable for automotive applications that need to be lightweight and continue performing reliably at high temperatures, AGC said. The material is compatible with aluminum and copper wire cores and is non-flammable, vibration resistant and flexible, the company claimed. AFLAS fluoroelastomers are copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene and propylene with high molecular weights, providing AFLAS products with unique properties, the firm said, over conventional FKM-type fluoroelastomers.

Classified by ASTM D 1418-01 as FEPM, AFLAS said its products excel in amine- and base-rich environments of oil and gas recovery and do not deteriorate under prolonged exposure up to 200°C (392°F).

For more information: visit www.agcchem.com or call 800-424-7833.

Shin-Etsu Silicones of America Inc. recently debuted its KE-2090 Select-Hesive LIMS (Liquid Injection Molding System) engineered to provide primer-less adhesion to a variety of thermoplastic substrates.

All LIMS processing demonstration parties were able to streamline effective solutions to overcome bonding barriers via the KE-2090 self-bonding material series' advanced handling and molding properties, Shin-Etsu claimed.

Optimal for multi-component silicone-to-plastic molding, Shin-Etsu explained the material is specifically engineered to adhere to the thermoplastic substrate (plastic inserts), but not to the metal surfaces of the mold.

Shin-Etsu's KE-2090 self-bonding material series was used over rigid substrates in 2-shot systems, producing a promotional open end mini-wrench with an LSR handle and a diaphragm disk for medical use or automotive fuel applications. The versatility of the advanced overmolding material was demonstrated in conjunction with the latest technology advancements of the following SESA partners: York, Pa.-based Engel Machinery North America, Cincinnati-based Milacron, Pittsburgh-based Bayer Materialscience Co. and Ossian, Ind.-based Roembke Manufacturing & Design Inc.

For more information, visit www.shinestusilicones.com.