EuroWire September 2022

Technology News

TPV with high-quality recycled content Teknor Apex has introduced Sarlink® R2 3180B TPV (thermoplastic vulcanisate) with 25 per cent recycled content. The multi-purpose TPV contains high-quality post-industrial recycled (PIR) content, but is claimed to process and perform like its virgin counterpart.

carrier for seals and profile extrusions, gaskets, pipe hanger brackets, dunnage, grommets and automotive body plugs, which can then all be recycled at end of life. “At Teknor Apex, we recognise our responsibility as part of the value chain, to manufacture our products as sustainably as possible, while continuing to deliver more sustainable material solutions to the market,” said Jonathan Plisco, new business development manager. “We understand sustainability is complex and interconnected. There are many paths to sustainability, and our products play an integral role. Every day we are investigating new sustainable raw materials, processes, technologies and partners to continue to deliver sustainable solutions to the market.” Sarlink TPVs are manufactured according to the standards of ISO-9001 in the USA, Singapore and Belgium, with strict formulation control and traceability.

Sarlink TPVs are suited to applications that particularly require elasticity and long term performance, such as extruded seals and hoses or moulded gaskets. The TPVs have been replacing thermoset rubber, like EPDM, in sealing applications due to improvements in processing, design and weight reduction. Unlike EPDM rubber, Sarlink TPVs are recyclable, both in process and at the end of the product’s life cycle. The new Sarlink R2 3180B grade is based on the existing Sarlink 3180B technology, but incorporates 25 per cent PIR content. The pre-coloured black, high-durometer multi-purpose TPV is essentially the functional equivalent of its virgin counterpart in terms of processing and performance. Teknor Apex states that Sarlink TPVs in general have faster cycle times or throughput rates than competitive TPV products, and the addition of recycled content has proven to maintain this advantage during processing trials. The use of PIR content versus post-con sumer recycled (PCR) content provides for a cleaner, more consistent raw material stream that can be used for extrusion pro cesses without issue. Teknor Apex treats

Sarlink R2 3180B is a multi-purpose TPV containing PIR content

recycled feedstocks like prime raw ma terials, and they are subject to the same quality assurance testing and must meet relevant specifications for use. The use of recycled content helps to promote a circular economy while decreasing reliance on virgin fossil based resources and energy. This allows brands to meet consumer and regulatory demands for enhanced sustainability of their products and contributes toward a lower carbon footprint by avoiding the impacts of manufacturing virgin petroleum-based materials. Sarlink R2 3180B is the first TPV with sustainable content to launch, but softer grades and more speciality TPV formulations containing sustainable content are currently under development, to be released later this year. Automotive, industrial, and building and construction industries are suitable markets for the new Sarlink TPV, which can be over-moulded or co-extruded with PP or other thermoplastic elastomers. Applications include the backbone or metals, automotive, academia or medical engineering. ZwickRoell’s wide range of testing machines, instruments and systems are used in research laboratories as well as in production and quality control. The company states that its machines and software solutions provide accuracy, repeatability and reproducibility, as well as traceability of determined results. The testing machines are modularly designed. Control electronics, software, test tools, load cells and extensometers can be adapted to meet new testing requirements through the intelligent plug and T-slotted system. ZwickRoell Ltd www.zwickroell.com

Teknor Apex Company www.teknorapex.com

Materials testing expertise ZwickRoell is a global supplier of materials testing machines. The company has a significant role in the field of static materials testing, and in dynamic testing it has been providing solutions for fatigue testing systems for decades.

It also offers BUP sheet metal testing machines, hardness testing machines and instruments, extrusion plastometers for melt index determination, and products for medical impact testing. The company’s machines are used in research and development and quality assurance in more than 20 industries. Its experts have a detailed understanding of the individual requirements of the different industries, enabling it to provide customised solutions for specific testing needs, whether for plastics or

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September 2022