Sustainable TPE with recycled content for Automotive exterior & interior applications for Americas Market

KRAIBURG TPE has introduced a new series of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) featuring post-industrial recycled materials, specifically designed for applications in the automotive industry, suitable for both interior and exterior use. For the first time, customers will have the opportunity to enjoy the advantages of various compounds with a high degree of recycling derived from post-industrial waste streams. Additionally, these variations encompass a mid to high Shore A hardness level, display excellent high flow properties, and provide bonding capabilities with polypropylene (PP). These new compounds were introduced to the U.S. market last month at the SPE 2023 TPO Global Automotive Conference and to the Latin American market at Plastimagen 2023. From its headquarters in Buford, GA, USA, and its commercial offices in Monterrey, MX, the thermoplastic elastomer manufacturer is effectively meeting the increasing demand in the sales regions of the United States and Latin America by offering "ready-to-use" solutions.

The new solutions expand the THERMOLAST® R product line, enabling a high recycling rate that, unlike existing products, surpasses 30% in materials with mid to high Shore A hardness. This represents a notable milestone in the development of innovative compounds with adhesive properties. With this launch, KRAIBURG TPE is addressing market demands and the increasing interest in eco-friendly materials containing post-industrial recycled content (PIR). These new series are in line with customers' sustainability goals and support them in achieving their objectives in this regard.

Highlights of the new product lines:

• The RC/UV/AM series is intended for automotive exterior applications with adhesion to PP and incorporates a post-industrial recycled content of 30-50%. These compounds are suitable for UV resistance applications and contribute to reducing the carbon footprint. They are available in black color and offer various hardness options ranging from 65 to 90 Shore A.

• The RC/FG/AM series comprises thermoplastic elastomers with recycled content designed for automotive interior applications with adhesion to PP. They offer post-industrial recycled content of up to 41%, depending on the desired hardness. These compounds meet the requirements of original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers while also supporting carbon footprint reduction and meeting emissions, fogging, and odor requirements. They are available in different hardness options ranging from 65 to 85 Shore A.

Furthermore, these compounds provide consistent quality and are readily available in black color. The recent solutions, featuring post-industrial recycled content (PIR) for automotive applications with adhesive properties, present extensive opportunities for processors to address the evolving requirements of both the industry and consumers.

With this new series of PIR Recycling Content TPEs, KRAIBURG TPE primarily aims to serve OEMs, designers, engineers, and product managers operating in automotive market segments dedicated to both interior and exterior applications.