PolyOne develops bio-derived TPEs

Cleveland, Ohio – PolyOne has launched a new range of overmoulding thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) with 40-50% bio-renewable content.

Derived from sugarcane, reSound OM offers hardness levels and performance comparable to standard TPEs, PolyOne said in a statement 28 Oct.

“OEMs want to incorporate environmentally responsible materials in their designs, especially those who manufacture consumer products, yet they also need to meet functional requirements,” said Jim Mattey, global marketing director, speciality engineered materials at PolyOne. 

The new TPE grades, he went on to say, address both issues by incorporating a significant amount of renewable content.

Commercially available in all regions, the product portfolio consists of four overmoulding grades compatible with rigid polypropylene and one suited for overmoulding onto ABS. 

All grades, according to PolyOne, are formulated for durability, delivering property retention and UV resistance comparable to traditional TPEs.

With an opaque natural colour, the new grades feature easy colourability, making them suitable for applications such as cosmetics packaging, personal care products, and consumer electronics.