Extrusion International USA 1-2020

12 Extrusion International 1/2020 INDUSTRY NEWS KRAIBURG TPE GmbH & Co. KG www.kraiburg-tpe.com An innovativenewthermoplastic elastomer (TPE) familymade by KRAIBURG TPE transfers the established properties of injec- tion-moldable TPEs for multicomponent applications with poly- amide (PA) to extrusion. Cable management systems in motor vehicles are the first application for which the Schlemmer Group (Munich) is producingnewtypes of Polyflex corrugated tubes by co-extruding PA and a THERMOLAST ® KAD/PA/CS2 compound. Direct adhesion of TPEs to polar plastics, such as PA, requires carefully selecting the two components and matching them to the specific requirements for each application and processing method. KRAIBURG TPE has performed an extensive study of these criteria and is supporting its customers in using PA/TPE ap- plications by providing specific recommendations and custom- engineered compounds. The new types of Polyflex corrugated tubes for flexible cable management systems, particularly in vehicle construction, mean that the Schlemmer Group’s requirements for TPE components have risen. In order to avoid sharp edges and allow faster instal- lation thanks to slit corrugated tubes, the product developers’ design was aimed at combining PA and TPE by co-extrusion. “Wewere looking for a TPE that not only provides the necessary heat resistance and cold toughness for use in motor vehicles, but can also be extruded economically – i.e. without the use of bonding agents – with polyamide. It was also necessary to ensure reliable adhesive strength in this material composite,” explains Michaela Zagler, Material De- velopment Specialist at the Schlemmer Group. “THERMOLAST K AD/PA/CS2 is a compound that we found among KRAIBURG TPE’s THERMOLAST K materials that provides this combination of properties.” After extensive testing, Schlemmer chose a TPE from the new AD/PA/CS2 THERMOLAST K series, which was specially devel- oped for sophisticated injection molding and co-extrusion ap- plications with polyamides such as PA6, PA6.6 and PA12. The products are characterized by their excellent adhesiveness and provide an outstanding compression set. While their maximum service temperature is 125°C (3,000 hours), they also resist peak temperatures of up to 150°C for short periods (240 hours). They also feature high elongation at break, tear strength and resis- tance to tear propagation, as well as slow burning (UL94 HB). In addition, the TPE family provides a very aesthetic surface quality with excellent wear resistance that does not require finishing, at a hardness range between 40 and 80 Shore A. The selected compound shows a peeling resistance of more than 8.5N/mm during tests in accordance with the VDI 2019 standard. THERMOLAST K compounds in the AD/PA/CS2 series are avail- able worldwide in natural color (colorable) as well as in black, and they are produced in accordancewith identical quality stan- dards at all KRAIBURG TPE sites. Co-Extruded TPEs Guill Tool & Engineering, a global manufacturer of extru- sion crossheads, tips and dies, has announced its new 10-day tooling program. This program applies to eligible tips and dies that will be shipped within 10 business days of receiving the purchase order from the customer. The company’s quality precision tips and dies have been man- ufactured in the U.S. for 55 years. All Guill extrusion tools are produced using certified and documented quality steel mate- rial specifically qualified for the polymer to be extruded. Fur- thermore, Guill designs tips and dies for any application the customer needs. These feature multi-lumen, stripe, multiple stripe, wire and cable, hose, pipe, tube, fiber optic, blown film, corrugated tube and profile. Dies include face seal, shouldered, snap together, floating die plates, interchangeable die plate and custom dies. Available tips include single and multi-lumen, threaded style, snap together, fixed center shoulder, profile, ta- pered style and custom. To find out which tools are eligible for the program, customers can checkwith any sales representative. For all other parts, company personnel will review the custom- er’s drawing to determine if it is eligible for the program. 10-Day Extrusion Tooling Program launched Guill Tool & Engineering www.guill.com A typical Guill extrusion tip and coating wire eligible for the new 10-day delivery program Eligible tips anddies for this programcannot be plated andmust have a diameter less than 1.5” and a length less than 4.75.” Guill proudly manufactures all its products in the U.S. under the quality standards ISO 9001:2015 and AS 9100:2016. A new type of Polyflex corrugated tube for cable management systems in vehicle construction, which is co-extruded combining polyamide and a thermoplastic elastomer fromKRAIBURG TPE that provides outstanding temperature resistance, processability, adhesion and surface quality (Image: © 2019 Schlemmer)