09. Jul 2018

Eco-based TPVs from Arlanxeo look promising for future cradle-to-cradle applications

Arlanxeo, a leading producer of performance elastomers headquartered in Maastricht, the Netherlands, has developed and launched a new family of thermoplastic vulcanisates (TPVs). The new TPVs combine Keltan Eco EPDM rubber with green fillers, plasticizers and thermoplastics, resulting in EPDM products with up to 90% sustainable ingredients.

mKeltan Eco is the world’s first EPDM rubber manufactured using biobased ethylene extracted from sugarcane. Depending on the ethylene content of each rubber grade, the proportion of bio-based material ranges between 50% and 70%.
After evaluating the potential of creating sustainable alternatives for traditional polyolefin thermoplastics, plasticizer oils and (reinforcing) fillers, ARLANXEO now developed thermoset rubber compounds and thermoplastic vulcanisates based on Keltan Eco EPDM with the specific aim of maximizing sustainable content without compromising technical performance.
By combining Keltan Eco EPDM with green compounding ingredients the new EPDM compounds can also be used for dynamic and static automotive sealing applications with 85 to 90 weight percent of its composition having sustainable origin and a technical performance comparable to standard EPDM compounds.
Niels van der Aar, Business Development Manager EPDM/NBR at ARLANXEO said: “We can now identify potential partners to (co-)develop these innovative bio-TPVs. TPVs using Keltan Eco EPDM offer an excellent opportunity to replace regular thermoset rubber compounds and thermoplastic vulcanisates. These bio-based TPVs can make a significant contribution to the circular economy, scoring well in a cradle-to-cradle approach and helping to lower the carbon footprint.”
Studies have shown that both the characteristics and technical performance of these Keltan Eco EPDM grades are identical to those of conventional EPDMs produced via Ziegler Natta catalysis and/or those from monomers based on crude oil.
Today, these new bio-based EPDM grades are commercially tested and used in applications, such as window profiles for busses and buildings, automotive extrusion profiles, O-rings, TPV over-moldings for automotive interior, pharma applications, sport surfaces, and most recently in the sponge rubber layer directly underneath the outer cover of the official soccer ball of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the 21st edition of which is currently taking place in Russia.

http://www.arlanxeo.com

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