9 Nov 2007
GLS INTRODUCES NEW FAMILY OF TPES BASED ON THE DOW CHEMICAL CO.’S OLEFIN BLOCK COPOLYMER TECHNOLOGY
DYNALLOY® OBC Injection-Molding and Blow-Molding Grades Offer Unique Performance Properties and New Customization Opportunities
DUSSELDORF, GERMANY – Oct. 24, 2007 – Here at Kunstoffe 2007, Germany, GLS Corp., a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of high-performance, custom-formulated thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), today introduced a new family of TPEs based on INFUSE™ olefin block copolymers (OBC) from The Dow Chemical Company. The new DYNALLOY® OBC injection-molding and blow-molding grades allow GLS to offer customers a broad array of standard and customized TPE alloys for a wide range of applications. With the new DYNALLOY line, GLS has expanded the existing property and application range of OBC technology with exceptional softness, unique feels, a wider range of flow characteristics in injection molding, and introduced a new blow-moldable grade range. DYNALLOY OBCs offer a silky soft touch feel, excellent colorability, isotropic shrinkage, and flow characteristics enabling use in complex molds with long flow paths.
Walter Ripple, vice president of global sales and marketing for GLS Corp., stated, “We are very pleased to be selected by The Dow Chemical Company as a global TPE compounding partner to help them expand the application range of their newly introduced INFUSE olefin block copolymers. This new class of TPEs are a significant complement to GLS’s portfolio of customizable materials, and offer huge potential for both standalone and overmolding applications. They enable us to offer customers TPE characteristics that were not previously available.”
The five standard injection-molding grades of DYNALLOY OBC include opaque and translucent materials and provide hardness levels ranging from 60 Shore A down to a gel-like 5 Shore A. They offer excellent colorability as well as a non-tacky, soft touch feel that avoids dust pick-up. Other performance highlights include improved compression set and creep resistance. In addition, GLS utilized the unique rheology characteristics of OBC to formulate a unique soft feel and flexible blow-molding grade with a 50 Shore A hardness that can be customized for higher or lower softness to meet specific market needs.
In addition to property enhancements, GLS’ new line of DYNALLOY OBCs can be formulated for optimized flow characteristics to fill complex molds with long flow paths, providing a unique isotropic shrinkage characteristic. Most grades are suitable for two-shot and insert overmolding with polypropylene.
Target markets include consumer and office products, hardware, food packaging, and medical for applications such as comfort grips for writing instruments, cosmetic items, prosthetics and overmolding applications with fabric.
The six grades listed below will be featured at GLS’ booth at Kunstoffe 2007 (Hall 8A / D08). They are commercially available worldwide.
Injection-molding grades:
DYNALLOY OBC8000-N30: 30 Shore A, 1.05 Specific Gravity TPE, Color: Natural
DYNALLOY OBC8000-B30: 30 Shore A, 1.05 Specific Gravity TPE, Color: Black
DYNALLOY OBC8000-T40: 40 Shore A, 0.88 Specific Gravity, Translucent TPE
DYNALLOY OBC8000-T60: 60 Shore A, 0.88 Specific Gravity, Translucent TPE
DYNALLOY OBC8000-T05: 5 Shore A, 0.87 Specific Gravity, Translucent Gel TPE
Blow-molding grade:
DYNALLOY OBC8200-BT50: 50 Shore A, 0.9 Specific Gravity, Translucent TPE
Reader enquiries
GLS Corporation
GLS Headquarters:
833 Ridgeview Drive
McHenry, Illinois 60050
U.S.A.
Notes for editors
About GLS Corp.
GLS Corp., a global leader in the development, manufacture, and supply of high-performance, custom-formulated thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), is headquartered in the United States near Chicago in McHenry, Ill. The company specializes in the manufacture of application-specific soft and ultra-soft TPEs for injection molding and extrusion. GLS has supplied specialty TPEs to the industry since 1979, and is recognized as a worldwide leader in TPE technology solutions. Specific products sold by GLS include proprietary DYNAFLEX® TPE compounds based on KRATON® polymers (available in injection molding and extrusion, as well as medical and FDA grades); VERSAFLEX® TPE specialty alloys (available in soft-touch, lightweight, ultra-soft, ultra-clear, and overmolding grades); VERSALLOY™ TPV alloys; and VERSOLLAN™ TPU alloy compounds. GLS recently announced it has signed a non-exclusive license agreement with The Dow Chemical Company for GLS to offer TPE compounds based on INFUSE™ olefin block copolymers under GLS’ DYNALLOY® OBC trade name, and with the tag line “Powered by INFUSE™ olefin block copolymers.” GLS is also the exclusive distributor of KRATON compounds and polymers for the compounding market in the United States, and also distributes KRATON compounds and polymers globally.
For more information about GLS Corp., please visit:www.glscorporation.com.
About The Dow Chemical Company
Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power of innovation, science and technology to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company offers a broad range of products and services to customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability, Dow has annual sales of $49 billion and employs 43,000 people worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
Related images
DYNALLOY® OBC injection-molding and blow-molding TPE grades from GLS Corp. - which are based on INFUSE™ olefin block copolymers and technology licensed from The Dow Chemical Company - offer exceptional softness, a silky feel and a wide range of flow characteristics. Potential applications for standard and custom grades encompass medical, consumer goods, tools, appliances, sporting goods and infant care.
Editorial enquiries
Walter Ripple
GLS Corporation
Nathalie Chaimbault
EMG
John Gallagher
EMG