Dryflex Green is a family of thermoplastic elastomer compounds based on raw materials from renewable resources such as plant and vegetable crops. Raw materials can be produced from various renewable sources, these include products and by-products from agricultural that are rich in carbohydrates, especially saccharides such as grain, sugar beet and sugar cane.
HEXPOL TPE has developed several new customisation options for the Dryflex TPE compounds. The hardness range has been expanded to include 20 Shore A to 50 Shore D, with amounts of renewable biocontent to over 90% (ASTM D 6866-12), depending on the hardness.
Thomas Köppl, manager central technology and development center at HEXPOL TPE commented, “One of the key challenges we faced with the Dryflex Green TPE compounds was to develop low hardnesses with high levels of renewable content, since most biobased raw materials in the market are quite hard on their own. We have now added lower hardnesses to the Dryflex Green range while at the same time maintaining mechanical properties.”
The biobased content in the Dryflex Green compounds can derive from various raw materials such as polymers, fillers, plasticizers or additives. For applications wanting a look even closer to nature, HEXPOL TPE has additionally developed compounds using organic fillers and natural fibres from plants, crops or trees, including cork. Cork is a natural product which comes from the bark of the cork oak tree. The removal of the bark does not harm the trees and the bark is only harvested after the first 20 years of growth. The removal stimulates a steady regeneration of the bark. Each cork tree provides on average 16 harvests over its 150-200 year lifespan.
Klas Dannäs, Global R&D coordinator at HEXPOL TPE added, “For customers that want biobased products that also have a natural look and feel, the use of cork and natural fibres helps to give an additional ‘organic’ appearance. With these new developments to the Dryflex Green TPE range, using different renewable content and covering a greater hardness range, we have created more design and sustainability possibilities.”
Dryflex Green TPE compounds can be processed using standard thermoplastic processing methods, including injection moulding and extrusion. Typical applications include; soft-touch grips and handles, tools and hardware, sports equipment and packaging.
