DuPont, ExxonMobil advance TPVs for automotive seals

Geneva, Switzerland - DuPont Transportation & Industrial and ExxonMobil Chemical’s speciality elastomers business have jointly developed new thermoplastic vulcanisates (TPVs) for automotive corner-mould seals.

The companies replaced traditional organic slip additives with DuPont’s engineered silicone-based additives to develop a “next-generation” Santoprene TPV, said a joint statement issued 27 June.

Compared to previous grades, the new TPV material is said to offer improved bonding to EDPM substrates and a lower coefficient of friction (COF) for easier opening and closing of doors and windows.

The Santoprene TPV B260 range also delivers improved flow properties, abrasion resistance and resistance to UV, according to the announcement.

In response to customer demand, ExxonMobil had sought to enhance the bonding of Santoprene TPV to EDPM rubber while increasing its sliding performance.

However, reducing the COF to increase sliding performance can negatively impact bonding, the company said.

To address that, ExxonMobil collaborated with DuPont to explore the use of its silicone-based additives.

The DuPont development team, it said "found that synergies between a lower molecular weight silicone polymer and an ultra-high molecular weight silicone polymer delivered the low COF ExxonMobil was looking for.”

The collaboration, said DuPont marketing manager Christophe Paulo, has laid the foundation for future projects using silicone technologies to solve industry challenges.