US-based materials firm Teknor Apex has developed styrenic thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) that it claims offer similar cost/performance profiles to those of widely used thermoplastic vulcanisates (TPVs).

The company says that its Sarlink ME-2200s styrenic TPEs exhibit higher flow than comparable TPVs, enabling moulders of exterior components such as gaskets, seals and trim to process complex, intricate designs while shortening cycles through reduced packing and cooling time. In applications where TPV compounds are “over-engineered”, these TPE compounds provide a claimed cost saving while still meeting the performance requirements of the part.

Like TPVs, the Sarlink ME-2200 series compounds are less dense than EPDM and PVC, yielding weight savings of up to 15% and 23%, respectively.

Offered as part of Teknor Apex’s established family of Sarlink TPV compounds, Sarlink ME-2200 series styrenic TPEs are available in hardnesses from 65 Shore A to 40 Shore D.

The company claims the new materials exhibit excellent UV stability, provide good flexibility over a wide temperature range and yield a Class A surface appearance. The compounds are readily coloured and, unlike many TPVs, do not require pre-drying prior to moulding.

“Sarlink ME-2200 Series TPEs are already in commercial use for static seals, cowl vent seals, and mirror gaskets,” said Jeffrey E. Dickerhoof, senior marketing and sales manager for the thermoplastic elastomer division of Teknor Apex. “These new products are the latest examples of a Teknor Apex programme to offer a wide-ranging, polymer-neutral portfolio, one that enables us to recommend a compound not because it happens to be what we make but because it is exactly the right material for a customer’s application.”