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AKRON, OHIO (April 26, 2006) – ExxonMobil Chemical has developed new
Santoprene™ thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) grades which bond successfully to
engineered thermoplastics (ETPs) in overmolding applications. New Santoprene™
TPE bonding grades eliminate the need for adhesives, bonding agents and
physical or mechanical interlocks. This can reduce processing steps which can
improve product development cycle times and reduce system costs. Additional
benefits include a distinctive soft-touch feel and easy colorability,
enhancing design flexibility. The combination of all these features and
benefits can improve overall part performance and appearance.
“For many years, processors used mechanical interlocks or chemical agents to
bond a soft TPE with a rigid ETP substrate in complex parts. This presented
numerous problems such as a non-uniform contact surface, bonding failure, and
high processing costs. For original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), these
problems could result in part failure and high system replacement costs,” said
Seth Barron, Market Segment Manager.
The new Santoprene™ TPE bonding grades have been designed for applications
which require a specific soft-touch feel, creative design and bonding to ETP
materials. These include polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
(ABS), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), acrylic (PMMA) and polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) using either two-shot injection molding or insert molding
processes. An advantage of the new Santoprene TPE grades is their performance
with room-temperature insert substrates and on thinner overmolds.
“The new grades will enable designers of products to be more creative and
introduce more functional, soft-touch components into their designs. These
grades will also enable designers to include multiple colors in their products
which can improve aesthetics and achieve product differentiation,” added
Barron.
Available in two hardnesses, 60 Shore A and 75 Shore A, Santoprene TPE
291-60B150 and 291-75B150 retain full bond strength in various environments
including hot air, oil and aqueous solutions. High bond retention values
enable the design and manufacture of parts which offer high quality
performance properties. These include long-term sealability and high bond
strength retention to extend the product lifetime, durable soft touch feel,
chemical and heat resistance (dishwasher safe) and slip resistant touch.
Santoprene™ TPE bonding grades have proved successful in innovative electronic
applications such as MP3 player covers, mouse covers and various parts of
video cameras.
About Santoprene™ specialty products
Santoprene™ specialty products, produced by an affiliate of ExxonMobil
Chemical, are recyclable elastomers commonly used in appliance, automotive,
consumer goods, plumbing, and other applications. ExxonMobil Chemical’s
Santoprene specialty products are the global leader in engineered TPEs,
materials with the performance of rubber and the processing ease of plastic.
Santoprene products are part of a broad portfolio of elastomers from
ExxonMobil Chemical providing innovative elastomeric solutions combined with
global support service in material selection, design, processing, and supply
chain management, plastics technology, product quality and customer service
with marketing operations in more than 150 countries around the world. For
more information visit www.santoprene.com
and www.exxonmobilchemical.com
.
Note to Editors:
1. Santoprene is a trademark of Advanced Elastomer Systems, L.P., Akron, Ohio.
2. The term "ExxonMobil Chemical" refers collectively to some or all of the
companies affiliated with Exxon Mobil Corporation which have chemical
manufacturing and/or marketing operations around the world.
3. Further information on engineered thermoplastic elastomers and vulcanizates
can be obtained from www.santoprene.com
.
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Media Desk: 330-849-5120
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