Zeon Chemicals (Zeon) and Advanced Elastomer Systems, L.P. (AES) announced an agreement that gives Zeon exclusive rights to license certain AES technology involving heat and oil-resistant
thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs).
TPVs, a special class of thermoplastic
elastomers, offer the feel and performance of thermoset rubber, but process with the ease, convenience, cycle time advantages and recyclability of a thermoplastic.
Zeon will combine AES technology with its specialty
elastomers to produce and market TPVs capable of withstanding the harsh fluids and the higher temperatures experienced in some of today’s under-the-hood applications in automobiles and in certain industrial environments. Zeon will market the new TPVs under the Zeotherm(TM) trade name.
Prototype TPVs based on Zeon’s polyacrylate elastomers (ACM) have proven to have excellent retention of physical properties at 150°C after 1500 hours continuous exposure to automotive
oils, transmission fluids, and greases, including
synthetics, while maintaining a low hardness range of 70-90 Shore A.
Ideal applications for Zeotherm(TM) TPVs include automotive shaft and
bearing seals, transmission
sealing components, inboard CVJ boots, air ducts, as well as industrial and consumer goods.
Initial grades will be based on Zeon’s vulcanized HyTemp® brand polyacrylate elastomer dispersed in
nylon and/or
polyester thermoplastic matrixes. Zeon plans to develop future grades based on Zetpol® HNBR and Hydrin® ECO elastomers. The materials can be processed via
extrusion,
injection molding and
blow molding.
Zeon has sampled limited quantities of acrylate-based TPVs to select customers in North and South America, Europe, and Asia and will commercially launch Zeotherm(TM) in February 2003.