Kraiburg presents new compliant elastomers for water hoses

Waldkraiburg, Germany - Kraiburg TPE has launched a new series of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) for sanitary and drinking water tubes and hoses.

The Thermolast DW series grades comply with the German KTW-BWGL drinking water standards, which will becoming binding for TPEs as of March 2025, said Kraiburg 16 Oct.

The compounds, it added, are easy to process on conventional polyolefin extrusion lines and provide ‘kink-resistant’ tubes and hoses with “extremely smooth surfaces.”

Tubes and hoses produced with the materials “have considerably improved tensile strength, tear resistance and elongation at break as well as excellent kink resistance”, said Hartmut Arheidt, market manager industry.

“We have set a considerably higher standard for the performance of compliant TPE compounds,” added Arheidt.

The new TPEs, which replace Kraiburg's DW/H series, are currently available in six hardness grades, ranging from 70 Shore A to 40 Shore D.

The compounds are said to be suitable for “efficient manufacturing of cold-water and warm-water tubes and hoses, providing up to 50% better mechanical properties and good adhesion to PP.”

Thermolast DW materials are also claimed to provide the necessary resistance to the growth of microorganisms due to their smooth surfaces and to have no impact on the odour, taste or clarity of water.