4 Jul 2003
AUTOMOTIVE INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS REST ON KRATON® POLYMER-BASED COMPOUND FROM MULTIBASE, A DOW CORNING COMPANY
Multibase compound offers alternative to PVC with UV stability and good flow properties
Copley, OH (Jun 23, 2003) – When a major Japanese car manufacturer needed to replace PVC in the molded skin of its armrest, it turned to Multibase, A Dow Corning Company and a leading compounder of engineered thermoplastics and elastomers, to find an alternative.
“Many industries, including the automotive industry, are seeking substitutes to PVC,” said Jay Flint, global director for compounding and personal care for KRATON Polymers. “KRATON polymers can provide a safe and durable option.”
Multibase needed to produce a compound that had good surface appearance, mar resistance, soft touch and colorability.
Multibase combined its technical capabilities with KRATON Polymers’ expertise in block copolymer technology to develop a material that would not only address health and safety concerns, but also perform to strict automotive specifications.
KRATON G polymer-based MULTI-FLEX TPE® is a 60 ShoreA compound from Multibase that was a result of a two-year research and development effort. Processors can use MULTI-FLEX TPE in existing, standard injection molding machines.
“We’ve used KRATON polymers for more than 10 years, most recently in air bag covers,” said Ted Hays, America’s Technology Manager for Multibase’s automotive business. “We knew that KRATON polymers had the ideal performance characteristics for the interior arm rest application, including the best mar resistance of any TPE on the market.”
MULTI-FLEX TPE provides a number of benefits including UV stability to reduce cracking and improve color retention—key requirements by automotive manufacturers. It also offers uniform flow, allowing the color pigment to disperse more easily for good appearance. MULTI-FLEX TPE meets automotive performance requirements for fogging, too. When compared to PVC with plasticizers, test results show MULTI-FLEX TPE was less likely to release volatile fumes, which cause fogging.
MULTI-FLEX TPE is suitable for a number of car interior applications. It is available in the United States, Europe, South America and Asia, and continues to gain demand from OEMs. MULTI-FLEX TPE has recently been approved for use by several United States automobile manufacturers in new applications for their 2004 programs.
Reader enquiries
Multibase USA
10330 Hercules Drive
MI 48623 Freeland
U.S.A.
Notes for editors
Multibase A Dow Corning Company, (www.multibase.com), is a leading global supplier of differentiated thermoplastic/elastomeric materials and solutions. Multibase has manufacturing facilities in the United States, France, and India, and has commercial offices around the world.
The KRATON Polymers Group of Companies pioneered the production of styrenic block copolymers in the 1960s and today retains its position as the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of the technology. Manufacturers and formulators around the world use KRATON polymers in their compounds and applications to add value to their products through improved finish and advanced manufacturing processes. For more information, visit the KRATON Polymers Web site at www.KRATON.com, e-mail info@KRATON.com, or in the U.S. call toll-free 1-800-4KRATON.
Multibase (www.multibase.com), a Dow Corning Company, is a leading global supplier of differentiated thermoplastic/elastomeric materials and solutions. Multibase’s headquarters is located in France with manufacturing facilities in the US, France, and India, and commercial offices around the world.
Dow Corning (www.dowcorning.com), which develops, manufactures, and markets diverse silicon-based products, currently offers more than 7,000 products and services to customers around the world. Dow Corning is a global leader in silicon-based materials. Its shares are equally owned by Dow Chemical Company and Corning Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s sales are outside the United States.
® KRATON and the KRATON logo are trademarks owned by the KRATON Polymers Group of Companies.
MULTI-FLEX TPE® is a registered mark of Multibase, Inc.
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AUTOMOTIVE INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS REST ON KRATON® POLYMER-BASED COMPOUND FROM MULTIBASE, A DOW CORNING COMPANY