MUNICH—Wacker Chemie A.G. will introduce Genioplast Pellet 345, a new high-performance additive for thermoplastic elastomers, at the K 2019 International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber, in Duesseldorf, Germany, Oct. 16-23.
Genioplast lowers the hardness of thermoplastic polyurethanes while boosting elasticity and enhancing properties, and can be incorporated into TPUs, according to a Wacker release.
The product, which has fewer secondary effects than conventional silicone products, has been developed with TPUs in mind, but can be used for modifying other thermoplastic elastomers, Wacker said. It complements Wacker's portfolio of silicone-based additives for compounding of thermoplastic polymers and can boost the properties of thermoplastic polyamide and copolyester elastomers. It is authorized for food contact applications in Europe.
As a silicone copolymer processed like a thermoplastic, organic polymer segments in Genioplast Pellet 345 allow it to disperse finely throughout a polyurethane matrix, Wacker said. It boosts the surface smoothness of thermoplastic polyurethanes to improve scratch and abrasion resistance, and makes surfaces more resistant to foodstuffs and cosmetics at additions of 3-5 percent. Adding more than 10 percent to a TPU elastomer makes it softer and more elastic, and for each 10 percent rise in amount added, the hardness drops by about 5 points on the Shore A scale. The polymer loses some mechanical strength as it softens, but to a lesser extent than with other silicone-based technologies.
