New TPEs and TPE Alloys For Overmolding.

Several new Dynaflex and Versaflex TPEs from GLS Corp., Thermoplastic Elastomers Div., McHenry, Ill., have been tailored for good adhesion in hard/soft overmolding and multi-shot applications. The Dynaflex line of styrenic TPEs (based on Shell's Kraton) includes general-purpose, medical/FDA, and specialty grades with a hardness range from 3 to 90 Shore A. Among the new grades is G7736, a g-p, 37A material said to have a wide processing window and very good aesthetics. Like several other Dynaflex grades, it can be overmolded onto PP.

Versaflex TPEs are proprietary alloys. Among several new grades is the CL Series for overmolding onto PP. It includes Versaflex 2000, a very clear and soft (3 Shore A) grade. Two other new entries for PP overmolding are WT3O-55 for wet grip applications and LT2O-55 for "light-grip" applications (it has a low specific gravity of 0.85). Both have 55A hardness.

New Varsaflex 0M6050x (50 Shore A) can be insert molded together with nylon 66. New Versaflex 0M2040x (40A) and 0M2060x (60A) are for co-molding with copolyester and cellulose acetate propionate. There's also 0M1262x (62A) for molding with polycarbonate, 0Ml060x (60A) for PC/ABS, and 0Ml040x (40A) for ABS.