Bio-derived thermoplastic elastomers designed for overmolding

 

PolyOne (Avon Lake, Ohio, U.S.) has launched its reSound OM (overmolding) thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), the latest addition to its sustainable solutions portfolio. These new formulations, which comprise between 40-50% content derived from sugarcane — are said to offer hardness levels and performance comparable to standard TPEs.

According to the company, reSound OM addresses the goal of OEMs — particularly those who manufacture consumer products — to materials into their product designs that are both environmentally responsible and meet functional requirements.

The product portfolio consists of four overmolding grades compatible with rigid polypropylene, as well as one grade suited for overmolding onto ABS. All grades are formulated for durability, and are said to deliver property retention and UV resistance that are comparable to traditional TPEs.

The new grades also feature easy colorability for applications such as cosmetics packaging, personal care products and consumer electronics. With an opaque natural color, all reSound OM materials can either use traditional TPE colorants or be paired with sustainable colorants from PolyOne.