FlexPlast® Thermoplastic Elastomer

FlexPlast® TPE is a new plastic material that combines the processing advantages of a thermoplastic with the properties and performance of a rubber-like material. The product is a soft, flexible, highly elastic material that can be custom formulated to perform in a variety of processes, including injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, and thermoforming. These lower modulus, flexible materials can typically be stretched repeatedly, only to return to their original shape when relaxed. When heated, FlexPlast® will soften until it flows, making it suitable for formation into complex shapes using standard thermoplastic processing equipment.

FlexPlast® is soft, flexible, and resilient, with excellent chemical and moisture resistance. The material can be decorated, printed, reground, and reprocessed without any significant loss of properties. FlexPlast® is a controlled viscosity material, formulated with specific properties for specific applications. The material is available in uniform pelletized shape, the natural color being clear to translucent. The material can easily be blended with other materials, including colorants. FlexPlast® is a uniquely designed, ready to process product, available within a Shore-A Hardness range of 00 to about 75. Thermoplastic elastomers have been widely used to replace traditional rubbers, and in recent years have been used to modify the properties of rigid thermoplastics.

Early applications were generally focused upon improvement of impact properties. More recently, TPEs have found niches in a wide-variety of applications and new part designs, due to their ease of processing, their potential for part consolidation and weight reduction, and their ability to provide ergonomic and cosmetic improvements. Applications include soft grip/soft touch over moldings, liners, sealants, coatings, closures, barriers, gaskets, membranes, films, soft-skins, toys, handles, grips, medical devices, sporting goods, personal care products, and footwear. FlexPlast® also can be positioned as a potential alternative for PVC and urethanes in some applications. FlexPlast® is manufactured using FDA compliant ingredients.