Essentially Rubber – Sept/Oct

Leading-edge designs and applications showing how elastomer materials contribute to all aspects of life and lifestyle in the 21st century:

Borflex has designed a new material for critical applications in the nuclear industry. Tailored to provide “optimum” absorption of thermal neutrons, the Flexibore-branded material is made from natural rubber and 50% by weight of  B4C [boron carbide] powder.  Seals made from the material are suitable for zone 4 uses – those with the highest levels of radioactivity, added Borflex. Flexibore. It noted, is also used in neutron spectrometry to reduce background noise and improve measurement accuracy.

Claiming an industry 'first', Shin-Etsu Chemical has announced the development of a heat-shrinkable silicone rubber tube for covering busbars. Busbars are conductor rods made of metals, such as copper and aluminium, that are used to connect and distribute power sources. They are used in various applications, including distribution boards and control panels, and have been increasingly in demand, driven by the growth in demand for electric vehicles.  Read more

Bridgestone Soft Robotics Ventures has developed a soft robot hand which can pick up objects with different shapes, hardness and materials, using artificial rubber-based muscles. Tetote features four fingers powered by rubber muscles, which are “impact resistance, light weight, and highly efficient.” The robotic hand has been developed to automate various tasks that currently rely on humans, such as piece picking at logistic sites. Unlike conventional robotic hands that can pick up flat objects, Tetote can handle objects of various shapes, leveraging both the ‘suction’ function of robots and the ‘hand design’ feature that aids in grasping products.  Read more

Budapest-based maker of thermal imaging cameras (TICs) Medirlab is employing graphene nanotube materials in a new range of explosion-proof devices for firefighters. Medirlab selected the nanomaterials from OCSiAl to enhance ATEX safety: integrating the nanotubes into silicone camera-body parts and aramid neck strap of the Pyrolater. The TICs are designed to transform infrared radiation into visible light, enabling firefighters to see through smoke, darkness, or heat-permeable barriers... Read more

Huntsman has developed a range of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials for the production of footwear with enhanced grip, durability and ‘circularity’. Tailored for use in soling applications, the new Avalon Gecko TPU series includes an extrudable grade for creating "super thin" outsoles and a product that can be foamed to produce a very low density material with a unique touch and feel.  Read more

Essentially Rubber - July/August