Huntsman will showcase the wide range of polyurethane systems it provides to the global plastics industry. Taking centre stage will be Huntsman’s brand new Iroprint additive manufacturing platform. In parallel, Huntsman’s global elastomers team will highlight its capabilities in film and sheet, hot cast elastomers, wire and cable, regulated markets, PU Elastomers, and footwear.
Additive manufacturing
A highlight at K show will be a range of new additive manufacturing materials. Huntsman’s Iroprint additive manufacturing platform contains three different kinds of urethane-based materials (resins, powders and filaments), which can be 3D printed using a variety of additive manufacturing methods including stereolithography (SLA), high speed sintering (HSS) and fused filament fabrication (FFF). Initially, Huntsman is launching the materials in the global footwear and sports industry, where 3D printing is being used to make both customised and mass manufactured shoes. Longer-term, Huntsman plans to roll the Iroprint platform out across a much wider range of applications and industries.
Footwear
In addition to the new Iroprint materials for footwear Huntsman will promote the latest technologies from its Daltoped platform of fully formulated PU systems, which are designed to meet the lightweight, comfort and high-performance requirements demanded by sports, casual and safety shoe manufacturers. The team will also highlight its comprehensive portfolio of Avalon TPUs, which deliver soft, rubber-like properties alongside superior slip resistance.
Film and sheet
Huntsman has a range of TPU elastomers that can be processed, via flat-die- or blown-film-extrusion techniques, into films that offer a combination of toughness, transparency and can perform at a wide range of operating temperatures. Huntsman’s Krystalflex TPU films are an established brand of interlayer films for laminated safety glazing applications. The business has a range of Krystalgran TPU resins that offer very good transparency, UV resistance and durability for surface protection applications. Huntsman’s recyclable Irogran TPU resins are also well known for their use in barrier and adhesive applications, such as roofing membranes, textile or inflatables applications, to name just a few.
Wire and cable
Huntsman provides a range of elastomers for cable jacketing electrical wires used in automation, automotive, energy, and consumer electronics applications. Huntsman’s wire and cable solutions include Irogran FR TPU, a family of halogen-free, flame retardant (HFFR) cable jacketing materials that offer improved performance when it comes to strength, durability and resistance to environmental factors including ageing, oil, water, hydrolysis and temperature heat changes exposure.
Regulated markets
The availability of plasticiser-free, hygienic TPU grades is essential to the global food and drink industry, and Huntsman has a range of elastomers for picking, processing and packaging tasks that adhere to rigorous food contact material (FCM) health and safety standards. Produced on dedicated lines, where good manufacturing practice (GMP) procedures are in place, these specialist products include elastomers for conveyor belts that have very good wear and tear properties, and an inherent resistance to water and microbial attack – which makes them easy to clean. Huntsman also offers elastomers for use in the potable water industry, which pass migration and smell tests such as NSF / ANSI / CAN 61 standard (National Sanitation Foundation) or KTW guidelines from Umweltbundesamt.
Hot cast elastomers
Through its global Tecnoelastomeri business, Huntsman offers a range of Tecnothane engineering elastomers and a suite of Castech processing machines. The latest material innovation is a family of very resilient polyurethanes for the manufacture of wheels, castors and industrial parts, which need to perform in extreme working conditions. Easy to process, the Tecnothane VTER range includes six elastomer systems with customisable features, which can be adapted to customer requirements.
When it comes to machinery, the Castech machines are a flexible, low maintenance, equipment solution that can enable the precision metering and mixing of hot-cast elastomers and microcellular elastomer foams from all kinds of isocyanate and chain extender combinations. The most recent model, the HP3000 machine, provides precision dosing with good mix homogeneity; a high output; and precise shot casting capabilities.
PU elastomers
The product range of PU elastomers includes MDI-based variants, available under the Suprasec brand, and a range of fully formulated Daltoped polyol systems. Huntsman offers a variety of PU elastomers for modeling, tooling and prototyping (MTP) applications; electric and electronic encapsulants; synthetic leather; cold cast elastomers; and gaskets and filters. The business also has a range of fully formulated Acoustiflex elastomers for noise vibration applications.
Huntsman at K 2019, hall 8a, stand K22