Kraiburg TPE has partnered with Chase Plastics, a thermoplastic distributor and Innotech Precision Inc, a leading manufacturer of precision plastic components, to create a window solution for the automotive manufacturing industry.
Chase Plastics was working with Innotech Precision on an automotive A-pillar window application for a US-based OEM. Innotech was seeking a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) for its second shot soft-touch plastic that would adhere to two key hard substrates – acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
The manufacturer had previously trialed three different kinds of TPE brands and none were able to fulfill the application requirements. The materials displayed issues from processing, where it would stick to the mold cavity to adhesion difficulties where the compounds would not bond to the harder substrates.
Kraiburg TPE’s THERMOLAST K came to the rescue as start of production approaching. The grade exhibits superior chemical bonding and higher ease of processing than other testing material, according to the material supplier.
As said, this hydrogenated block copolymer is now utilized as the soft touch element in the A-pillar window for over 250,000 vehicle models. Production is expected to run for five years.
In addition to its strong ASA & PC/ABS bonding capabilities, Kraiburg noted that THERMOLAST K can also bond with other engineered plastics such as PC, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyoxymethylene (POM) and polyamide (PA), while featuring good sealing and non-slip properties.
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