With an eye to meeting growing demand for environmentally friendly thermoplastic elastomers, Kraiburg TPE (Waldkraiburg / Germany; www.kraiburg-tpe.com) has developed a modular system for developing custom-engineered thermoplastic elastomers containing variable proportions of renewable raw materials. The company said this system will be deployed in close collaboration with customers, thus making it possible to develop specified materials. Here, it plans to leverage its core competence in custom-engineered TPEs based on both existing and new innovative formulations.

In the collaboration with customers, the company will first determine their individual requirements and translate these into a “sustainable and cost-effective solution.” Part of the challenge after learning what customers expect from the properties, CEO Franz Hinterecker said, is assessing the environmental balance of the materials’ entire life cycle, including their impact on ecosystems and human health. Additionally, the material will have to meet “strict criteria regarding the conformity and performance.” In this respect, he noted, “renewable raw materials also have carbon footprints, as well as water footprints.”

The Kraiburg chief said it has also become apparent to the company that what customers expect from the properties of biomaterials varies widely depending on the application. While in classical approaches, it is technically possible to produce bio-based materials with very high proportions of renewable raw materials, this usually means high raw materials costs but only very limited mechanical properties.

The company said initial pilot projects based on the classical approach are showing a trend towards bio-based, certifiable proportions of 20% and more. Potential applications for the products Kraiburg intends to make cover all TPE applications in the consumer, industry and automotive markets, with examples ranging from toothbrushes and hypoallergenic elastic watch straps to fender gaskets.

Up to now, Hinterecker said, the company’s approach has been particularly well received by customers looking for sustainable solutions. Typical performance characteristics of the “green” elastomers are said to include mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation, as well as good processing properties, heat resistance and adhesion to PC/ABS or PP and PE.