US custom compounder Teknor Apex (Pawtucket, Rhode Island; www.teknorapex.com) has introduced four grades of its “Recyclon” compounds, based on recycled nylon 6 and 6.6, to the European market. The company, which said in July that it was making its Recyclon range available in Europe – see Plasteurope.com of 25.07.2014, said the Recyclon 400 Series PA 6 and 500 Series PA 6.6 injection moulding compounds are suitable for applications that do not require the elevated property profiles of premium-priced grades, and are available with filler contents of 15% and 30%.

“The cost advantages of these products derives from our backward integration into a carpet recycling process that provides a guaranteed supply of high quality feedstocks,” said Peter Verhooren, senior automotive market manager. The compounds incorporate recycled PA, glass fibre reinforcement and performance-enhancing additives, and have exhibited a minimum of 80% property retention after 1,000 hours of heat aging at 140°C.

Teknor Apex also said it has developed new TPE injection moulding compounds for automotive window encapsulation and exterior parts such as screen finishers and trim seals. The thermoplastics vulcanisate (TPV) and styrene block copolymer TPE (TPE-S) compounds form part of the company’s “Sarlink” range of TPE compounds, and provide enhanced processability and UV stability. “Their lower densities relative to EPDM and PVC make possible weight savings of up to 20 and 25% respectively,” the company added.

The new Sarlink 17100 series TPV compounds are improved, lower-viscosity formulations derived from the Sarlink 4700 series, while the Sarlink ME-2500 and ME-2600 TPE-S compounds have better processing and end-use properties than those of standard TPE-S materials, Teknor Apex said.