Kraiburg TPE is presenting a new series of compounds with high content of recycled materials. With at least a 20 % proportion of postindustrial recycled materials, these compounds meet the OEMs’ high requirements and contribute to building a circular plastics economy. The company said that it has made intensive efforts to understand the future requirements of European OEMs. As a result it is now presenting the new RC/UV series targeted to meet the high requirements for OEMs’ automotive exteriors such as weathering resistance and a high surface quality, using a proportion of postindustrial recycled materials ranging from a minimum of 20 % to a maximum of 40 %. These product solutions will enable suppliers to replace current components with recycled materials-based thermoplastic elastomers.
The main target of development has been achieved: the highest possible proportion of recycled materials in the individual hardness ranges. Adhesion to PP enables the implementation of single-component and multicomponent parts. The low density of the new compound series allows weight reductions of up to 25 % as compared to conventional TPEs. As an overall package, the properties of the new series are effective relative to the environmental aspect that the suppliers are focusing on. The RC/UV series is particularly suited for exterior, underside and under-the-hood areas of automobiles. Target applications include water tank covers, air duct parts, wheel arch liners, drip rails and window encapsulations.
Further technical details are:
- Hardness range from 50 to 90 Shore A
- Proportion of postindustrial recycled materials from 20 % to 40 %
- Ozone and weathering stability in accordance with OEM requirements
- Thermal stability of up to 90 °C
- The compounds are now available in black.
“To take the first steps towards a more sustainable automobile, the plastics industry needs to not only think about moving towards the circular economy but also has to take action. Solutions are needed that meet the high quality standards of OEMs and overcome challenges such as supply security and reliability,” says Matthias Michl, Head of Automotive Application Development.