Publication: 04. Tháng 3 2020 Last updated: 25. Tháng 3 2024

Comfortable to wear and compact in size


KRAIBURG TPE is supplying a skin-friendly thermoplastic elastomer for an innovative Protos® headset

The Austria-based company Pfanner Schutzbekleidung GmbH is having the headband for its Protos® Headset Integral manufactured by injection molding of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) from KRAIBURG TPE. The material provides excellent processability and ensures high wearing comfort.

From forestry and agriculture, to industry and road construction, through to hunting and air rescue services – occupational health and safety involves more than just functional reliability. For people to actually wear the appropriate or obligatory personal protective equipment they need, it has to have a comfortable, lightweight and practical design. And the same also applies to hearing-protection headsets, which need to be designed so as not to cause pressure marks and skin irritations or tug on the wearer’s hair.

A high-performance compound from KRAIBURG TPE’s VS/AD/HM THERMOLAST® K series was therefore selected for the headband of the Protos® Headset Integral, developed by Westcam (Mils, Austria) and distributed by Pfanner Schutzbekleidung GmbH (Koblach, Austria). In addition to its velvety surface (VS), outstanding adhesion (AD) and high mechanical (HM) properties, this high-tech material also offers a wide range of design freedom and allows cost-effective processing.

“The main challenge was to mold the relatively large headband for the headset in a dimensionally accurate way and with high repeatability in the shortest possible cycle times, while ensuring a clean, homogeneous impression without sink marks,” emphasizes Reto Huber, managing director of Huber Kunststoff AG. “The excellent flowability of the KRAIBURG TPE material perfectly matches these requirements and provides flawless surfaces directly from the mold.”

A steel spring wire that is incorporated into the headband ensures the required tension and serves to mount the clips on each side that accommodate the frames for the hearing protectors. The clips are made of an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) with a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) injection-molded on the inside for reliable insulation of the head from the steel wire. The TPE’s velvety and soft feel makes the headband and clips extremely pleasant, pressure-free and comfortable to wear.

The selected THERMOLAST® K compound combines a hardness of 60 Shore A with high tensile strength, tear strength and breaking strength. The wear-resistant surface also has long-term resistance to sebum, creams and common household detergents. In addition, the TPE meets the requirements of ISO 10993-10 for irritation-free tolerability of materials for applications that are in contact with skin.

“We already had very good experience with a thermoplastic elastomer from KRAIBURG TPE that was used for the visor of the Protos® Integral Safety Helmet,” adds Martin Greber, head of development at Westcam. “The TPE in that device serves as a cushioning and sealing lip on the inside of the visor. It’s combined with the edge of the visor, which is made of polyamide, using multicomponent injection molding. The adhesive strength of this hard/soft application has already been tried and tested many times in practical use, and that was why THERMOLAST® K was also shortlisted for the wire/TPE and ABS/TPE combinations in the headset from the start.”

The Protos® Headset Integral was specifically developed for capsule ear protection, with the advantages of a modular structure and compact size – with minimal protrusion when worn and a small packing size when folded. The hearing-protection cups are mounted in their own frames, which are fixed to the clips on each side of the headband and are also designed to accommodate the temple arms of the optional Protos® Protective Glasses, so that no sound bridges of any sort are created overall. Additional accessories include a Bluetooth communications solution with a USB charging bar, the technology for which is fully integrated into the hearing protectors.

All of the materials in the headset have been tailored to suit its function and design perfectly. The VS/AD/HM THERMOLAST® K compounds can be precisely colored and have excellent color and UV stability, even in the gray color of the Protos® headband. The materials are produced in accordance with identical quality standards at all KRAIBURG TPE sites and are available in the manufacturer’s portfolio worldwide.

About Pfanner Schutzbekleidung

 

Pfanner Schutzbekleidung GmbH, based in Koblach (Austria), has been specializing in the development and production of high-quality protective clothing, working and occupational clothes, and safety clothes for 30 years. The main area of application for the company’s diversified product range include forestry and tree care, hunting and survey as well as occupational health and safety, and outdoor applications. With the patented Protos® Integral Safety Helmet, the company set new standards in head protection. For further information, please see pfanner-austria.at and www.protos.at.

 

An easily fusible compound from the VS/AD/HM THERMOLAST® K series from KRAIBURG TPE gives the gray headband of the Protos® Headset Integral from Pfanner Schutzbekleidung GmbH a pleasantly soft and velvety touch and nonirritant skin tolerance in accordance with ISO 10993-10. (image © Pfanner Schutzbekleidung)

Tải về thông cáo báo chí

Trong gói phương tiện của chúng tôi, bạn sẽ tìm thấy thông tin toàn diện, đồ họa và hình ảnh về chủ đề này.

04.03.2020gói phương tiện truyền thông cho KRAIBURG TPE is supplying a skin-friendly thermoplastic elastomer for an innovative Protos® headset

Latest News

Cách mạng hóa ăng-ten ô tô bằng vật liệu TPE đổi mới
26.03.2024 Cách mạng hóa ăng-ten ô tô bằng vật liệu TPE đổi mới KRAIBURG TPE, nhà sản xuất có tiếng trong lĩnh vực nhựa nhiệt dẻo đàn hồi, tự hào mang đến thành tựu mới nhất của mình trong vật liệu dành cho ô tô – Dòng sản phẩm THERMOLAST® R RC/UV/AP chuyên biệt. ktpe_readmore
Kim bấm phẫu thuật đạt độ bám tối ưu với tay cầm TPE
22.03.2024 Kim bấm phẫu thuật đạt độ bám tối ưu với tay cầm TPE Dòng HC/AP của THERMOLAST® H có cảm giác xúc giác tuyệt vời và bề mặt mềm mại, đảm bảo người dùng có tay cầm chống trượt và sự thoải mái trong quá trình sử dụng thiết bị. ktpe_readmore
KRAIBURG TPE chiếm vị trí trung tâm tại Diễn đàn TECH TALK CHINAPLAS 2024
13.03.2024 KRAIBURG TPE chiếm vị trí trung tâm tại Diễn đàn TECH TALK CHINAPLAS 2024 Hãy tham gia cùng chúng tôi để khám phá các giải pháp TPE an toàn, chất lượng cao và bền bỉ của KRAIBURG TPE dành cho bao bì mỹ phẩm, bao bì tiếp xúc với thực phẩm, y tế và chăm sóc sức khỏe. ktpe_readmore
Cải tiến về độ khít và Cảm giác của Thiết bị Thực tế Ảo
07.03.2024 Cải tiến về độ khít và Cảm giác của Thiết bị Thực tế Ảo Dòng RC/AD1/AP của KRAIBURG TPE mang đến cho các nhà sản xuất những lợi thế đặc biệt, cho phép tạo ra các thiết bị và phụ kiện VR ưu tiên sự thoải mái của người dùng và chất lượng hình ảnh. ktpe_readmore

Our Communication team is happy to assist you.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact our press spokesperson.

Bridget Ngang

Juliane Schmidhuber

Mirna Pina