What are medical grade TPEs? The good news is that medical grade TPEs can be made at whatever level is necessary for the product and/or application. Risks are mitigated during the entire production process to create different medical grades.

SHANGHAI, China – February 27, 2023 – Today, Avient Corporation announced the expansion of its reSound™ REC Recycled Content Thermoplastic Elastomers portfolio to include more sustainable grades containing up to 45 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. The new PCR-containing reSound REC formulations are initially available in three grades with up to 45 percent PCR content from recycled lubricant oil and food packaging, covering a hardness range from 40 to 60 Shore A. Avient is also working to extend the portfolio with customized grades to meet specific application needs like color, hardness, and required recycled content percentage. 

The new grades utilize natural fillers from cellulose fiber, providing an alternative to conventionally filled polyolefins.   The portfolio now includes newly added grades with up to 40 percent filler from cellulose fiber. The cellulose grades have good gloss and surface finish, are easy to color and show improved mechanical properties compared to mineral-filled alternatives.  

Caption: Avient announces reSound™ Ultra Low Carbon Footprint TPE series with industry-first grades offering a negative or neutral product carbon footprint. The addition of these eco-conscious grades to our expanding reSound TPE portfolio offers yet another way for customers to leverage our material science to achieve their sustainability goals.”   The grades, which overmold to polypropylene and polyethylene, can be used in personal care, household appliance, consumer electronics, and consumer packaging applications when a more sustainable material is preferred.

Long glass fiber reinforced grades of Complēt moisture-resistant nylon feature surfaces that are smooth and virtually free of visible fiber, making it suitable for a wide range of consumer applications.  Complēt moisture-resistant nylon 6 and 6/6 grades are globally available in several fiber loading levels (weight percentages) using long glass fiber, long carbon fiber, or hybrid combinations. Additionally, Complēt nylon grades provide lower shrink for applications that require high dimensional stability.

These new grades contain 35 to 75 percent bio content, validated using ASTM C6866-21 method B. Eight of the new grades can be overmolded on polypropylene (PP) and the ninth grade bonds to both PP and polyethylene (PE).

They offer a more sustainable alternative to density modified grades based on prime/virgin polymers. Gravi-Tech BIO bio-based grades enable visual surface effects and aesthetics including metallic finish, cool touch and color variation, suitable for applications in packaging and consumer goods such as cosmetic caps and closures, perfume caps, spirit bottle caps and luxury boxes. Broad modulus range, from very flexible to very rigid grades

This custom Versaflex grade provides 60 Shore A hardness and superior tear strength. For the mouse feet, Avient formulated a special grade of LubriOne™ filled acetal as an improvement over the neat acetal found in traditional designs. The LubriOne grade offers a kinetic coefficient of friction value (0.108), which is roughly 50% better than that of the traditional material.

This custom Versaflex grade provides 60 Shore A hardness and superior tear strength. For the mouse feet, Avient formulated a special grade of LubriOne™ filled acetal as an improvement over the neat acetal found in traditional designs. The LubriOne grade offers a kinetic coefficient of friction value (0.108), which is roughly 50% better than that of the traditional material.

It provides clarity with no discoloration, enabling higher rPET content or use of any PET grade, and with no negative impact to the recycle stream. In addition, the additive is compatible with many different rPET grades to help brand owners achieve their sustainability targets.