Lightweight TPE Incorporates Recycled Content Glass bubbles combine with 10 to 60% recycled content to deliver lightweight, sustainable materials for mobility, power tool, and sports applications. Industry demand for lightweight materials that have properties comparable to conventional materials has been increasing by leaps and bounds in recent years. The replacement of conventional thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) by lightweight TPEs with recycled content plays a central role here, according to elastomer supplier Kraiburg TPE. In the late 2010s, Kraiburg TPE developed technology that employed 3M Glass Bubbles to markedly lower overall material density, enabling the production of plastic-compatible components characterized by resilience and softness. Launched in spring 2020, these newly developed lightweight TPEs have proven to be popular with automakers, as well as manufacturers in other sectors such as aviation, power tools, and sports and leisure. New lightweighting milestone Kraiburg TPE’s latest expansion of the Lightweight series marks another milestone in the development of lightweight materials: The new Thermolast R compounds have almost exactly the same material properties as the existing series but with 10 to 60% of recycled content. This leads to a reduced product carbon footprint (PCF) for the compounds, which can have a positive impact on the sustainability targets of plastics-processing companies for many components. Inherently recyclable, shorter cycle times The use of lightweight TPEs with recycled content also reduces the weight of parts, which can lead to a reduction in energy consumption during the utilization phase of vehicles. In addition, components made of these materials can be recycled and reused in the same or similar applications. “Irrespective of any formal advantages that we achieve, it is measurably the case that the processing of Lightweight TPEs with recycled content saves more resources due to shorter cycle times,” explains Marius Kantoch, market manager, consumer, at Kraiburg TPE. “This shows once again that, in relation to sustainability issues, thermoplastic elastomers also represent the materials of the future.” The weight reductions achieved by using Lightweight TPEs with recycled content can save about 35% weight in mobility or consumer goods applications compared with standard styrenic-based elastomers (TPS), 30% compared with thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV), and up to 50% compared to PVC. Compatible with existing plastics processing equipment Other advantages of lightweight elastomers from Kraiburg TPE include easy processability. This means they can be processed — with low shrinkage and distortion in the part geometry — on all thermoplastic injection molding and extrusion lines. The material achieves excellent results due to its high surface homogeneity and outstanding compression set, said Kraiburg TPE. Lightweight TPE with recycled content is also characterized by its softness, damping properties, surface quality, and comfort in wearable applications. https://www.plasticstoday.com/automotive-mobility/lightweight-tpe-incorporates-recycled-content