At the German Plastics Industry Exhibition held in Friedrichshafen from October 17 to 21, this year, Keppel Brand has launched a new thermoplastic elastomer product line with excellent encapsulation and UV resistance, Developed specifically for two-component applications for EPDM.
The new compounds of the THERMOLAST K series are mainly used in the automotive sector, such as EPDM tracery and sealing profiles with molded TPE elbow fittings and end elements.
The automotive industry is the largest and fastest growing thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) market, with new applications such as door and window sealing segments requiring dimensionally stable elbow fittings and end pieces.
In the past, this requirement was achieved with SBCs and crosslinked TPV rubbers.However, the TPV is very cost-effective due to various factors in the manufacturing process This is especially true for tracery, which is a good replacement for the Kepler EPDM plastic wrap product line.
The core requirements of the tracery profile elbows and end elements include excellent overmolding properties and weatherability that can be achieved through the long-term process stability of the TPE / rubber joints.To shorten the cooling and cycle times of two-component elements , You also need to minimize the injection temperature of the TPE solution.
The EP / EPDM / UV series meets all of these requirements by combining the best encapsulation properties with the long-term resistance to UV radiation and the thermal effects of hardness of 70 Shore A. The EPDM profiles are neither compressed nor damaged or deformed. The compound has the same color fastness to EPDM and TPE with no tendency to stick or phase separation.
Kappa Inspector examines the suitability of new materials for comprehensive testing of encapsulation, weathering and heat aging, and optimizes processability and stability through close cooperation with machine and mold manufacturers Several customers in the automotive industry The AD / EPDM / UV technology has been tested and the results show that the cleanliness of the EPDM surface in contact with the TPE is of crucial importance for these two-component components and the newly cut sealing profile results in the best encapsulation performance.