Zotefoams: TPE foam for protective clothing

Zotefoams plc announced that it will be using Foam Expo Europe 2019 as a platform to premier its latest thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) foam as the company extends its High-Performance Product (HPP) line. The trade fair for the technical foam industry will be held from 10 – 12 September 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany.

The new TPE foam joins a line-up of high-performance foams manufactured from fluoropolymers, engineering polymers and speciality elastomers. TPE exhibits, e.g., very good high and low temperature resistance, energy return, chemical and abrasion resistance, thermoformability, and thermal conductivity. Its physical and chemical properties make it an ideal alternative to current silicone solutions, ensuring cost and weight reductions to the market, said the company. Anticipated uses include protective clothing, in sports and other areas, where energy return rather than energy absorption is desirable.

Zotefoams will present a special product showcase (Wednesday, 11 September 2019 at 14:00 hrs, stand 654) led by Director of Technology and Development, Dr. Karl Hewson, detailing the distinctive properties of its latest TPE technology, many of them derived from the Zotefoams three-stage process.

The manufacturer of lightweight, cross-linked polyolefin block foams grouped under brand name Azote, Zotefoams has in recent years developed its HPP range which it sells and licenses under the Zotek brand. Azote and Zotek foams are produced via a three-stage process that is said to give an exclusive combination of beneficial properties, differentiating the materials from all other foams. The Azote range incorporates many grades and densities, including one of the world’s lightest FR grade closed cell foams. Each foam is formulated to satisfy a specific range of applications for a variety of markets including automotive, aerospace, product protection, medical, construction, sports and leisure.

On show at Foam Expo Europe 2019 will be recently-added grades specifically for product protection applications in transit, conservation and storage, where its dimensions will optimise yield. LD29ABK is available as a 2,000 mm x 1,200 mm x 53 mm sheet and a 2,000 mm x 1,200 mm x 102 mm block. With a density of just 29 kg/m3 and a consistent cell size of 0.8 mm its impact-resistant properties maximise protection of goods, whether on the move or in storage, says the company.

Also new is packaging grade LD30LX ideal for product display and optimum presentation. Offering a soft touch and fine cell size of just 0.4 mm LD30LX guarantees the aesthetic appeal and ultimate product protection required for luxury goods.

www.zotefoams.com

About Zotefoams
Zotefoams is a pioneer in cellular materials technology with a legacy of innovation that stretches back to 1921. Utilising a variety of manufacturing processes, including environmentally friendly nitrogen expansion for lightweight Azote polyolefin and Zotek high-performance foams, the company sells to diverse markets worldwide. Zotefoams uses its cellular materials to manufacture T-Fit insulation for demanding industrial markets. In addition, the company owns and licenses patented MuCell microcellular foam technology from Trexel Inc., developed specifically for extrusion applications, from a base in Massachusetts, USA, to customers worldwide. The company is headquartered in Croydon, UK, with additional manufacturing sites in Kentucky and Oklahoma, USA (foam products manufacture and conversion), Massachusetts, USA (MuCell Extrusion LLC) and Jiangsu province, China (T-Fit). A third foam manufacturing site in south west Poland is planned to begin manufacturing in 2020. The group employs over 450 staff around the world.

Zotefoams at Foam Expo Europe 2019
Hall 10, stand 654