ORLANDO, Fla.—Lubrizol Corp. is working with Eastman Chemical Co. to improve adhesion strength of thermoplastic elastomers overmolded onto Eastman's Tritan-brand copolyester.
Officials with the two firms said the collaboration recognizes overmolding's importance in manufacturing while delivering product performance and aesthetics in consumer goods. Lubrizol's Estane ECO-brand thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) now is being overmolded onto items made of Tritan.
"This was a unique opportunity … to leverage sustainable multimaterial solutions that enable customer innovations and expand the limits of consumer product experiences," said Vince Haas, engineered polymers senior business director with Wickliffe, Ohio-based Lubrizol.
At NPE2024, Haas added, Lubrizol "is still introducing TPU to a lot of new engineers."
"There's upward growth momentum for TPU vs. PVC and rubber with PFAS," Haas said. "TPU is a logical place for customers to gravitate to."
Lubrizol is seeing new opportunities for TPU to be used in films, consumer electronics and footwear, as well as in soft-touch grips. The firm also has sustainable options available for customers and is seeing "a ton of opportunities" in dashboards, Haas said.
Lubrizol, founded in 1928, owns and operates more than 100 manufacturing facilities, sales and technical offices around the world. It has about 8,600 employees and is owned by investment firm Berkshire Hathaway.
In 2023, Lubrizol announced plans to invest more than $150 million in several projects across India, including a new chlorinated PVC resin plant in Vilayat. Lubrizol has operated in India since 1966.
