TPEs With Higher Levels of Recycled Content

Hexpol TPE now offers new thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) materials with recycled content. The Dryflex Circular TPE portfolio now includes:

• TPEs with 20-75% levels of PCR content now available in a hardness range 40-95 Shore A. Various color options are available, including natural. Compared to equivalent virgin TPE grades, these PCR grades enable a product carbon footprint (PCF) reduction up to 35%.
   
• TPEs with a 35-60% PCR/PIR recycled content for multicomponent applications that offer adhesion to thermoplastics such as PP, PC, PC/ABS and nylons. The TPEs have been tested according to the VDI 2019 standard. For example, Dryflex PCR 68.01B270, which will be used for power tools, is a 68 Shore A TPE with 60% recyclate, it has fracture pattern D with 5.0 N/mm in peel strength with 30% glass-reinforced nylon 66.
   
• TPEs with up to 75% PCR/PIR recycled content for automotive interior mats and deflector seals. TPEs with 25-50% PCR sourced from within the automotive industry are available for exterior applications such as mud flaps and other soft trims. They comply with new targets proposed by the European Commission as part of the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive. These TPEs are already in use with several European OEMs. They enable a product carbon footprint (PCF) reduction of around 25% compared to equivalent virgin TPE grades.
  
  TPEs for interior applications, with PCR/PIR content up to 75%, have been tested to automotive standards for odor and emissions. For example, Dryflex PCR 853405 with 85 Shore A and 25% PCR content achieved 3.0 for odor (VDA 270, B3), 65 µg/g for thermodesorption VOC (VDA 278) and 607 µg/g for thermodesorption FOG (VDA 278).