Markets

• Wearables, electronics, interior automotive parts, consumer goods and extruded parts in general

Polymer

• ESTANE SILK thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)

Key Benefits

• Soft touch, pleasant haptics

• High mechanical and abrasion resistance

• Non-yellowing, excellent weathering stability

• Good adhesion to polar substrates

• Good moldability and extrudability

Lubrizol has launched a new material solution that provides a smooth, soft surface for highly aesthetic end-uses. The most recent development has color-stable, UV-resistant properties and stands out for itssoft touch, silky feeling combined with mechanical performance and faster processability, even in complex extrusion processes.

While maintaining the long-lasting durability and resilience recognized in TPUs, this new development adds comfort and design flexibility. By applying this new grade from Lubrizol Engineered Polymers, the final product is silky smooth and color stable, it is just the silky finish that consumers are demanding as in the example of mobile phone cases which can become more comfortable to hold.

The new development has a shore hardness of approximately 70 Shore A, and a fast injection molding cycle. It provides fast processing with 25% injection molding cycle reduction vs other aliphatic TPU alternatives. It is also a product suitable for an extrusion process and can be overmolded onto a variety of substrates (like PC or PC/ABS) providing outstanding adhesion. The new material can also be colored and reprocessed/recycled due to its thermoplastic behavior. It has high hydrolysis resistance and high mechanical strength.