Water-Clear, Haze-Free TPEs provide greater clarity than other super-soft gels for ‘soft-touch’ and cushioning applications

Home > TPE > What's New > What's New

Teknor Apex Will Introduce New Monprene (R) Ultra Soft Gel Series at NPE 2006

PAWTUCKET, RI, U.S.A., February 25, 2006: A novel series of Monprene (R) thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) provides an unprecedented combination of ultra-softness and optical clarity, enabling designers of foot care, personal care, medical, and orthopedic products to add new functionality and consumer appeal, it was announced today by Teknor Apex. The Thermoplastic Elastomer Division will introduce the compounds at NPE 2006 (Booth 10150).

The new TPEs provide greater clarity than other products in the Monprene Ultra Soft Gel products or gels from competing suppliers, according to Edwin Tam, senior market manager. Teknor Apex can formulate them in hardnesses from 30 to 60 on the Shore 00 scale, values comparable to those of other Ultra Soft Gel products and well below those of conventional, non-gel TPEs, which are measured on the Shore A scale.

“These altogether haze-free Monprene gels impart a clear, sparkling appearance to grips, cushions, and other padding or ‘soft-touch’ products while providing a degree of comfort that is unattainable with non-gel TPEs,” said Tam.

Monprene TPEs are compounds based on hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers. A typical formulation in the new high-clarity series is Monprene MP-1238D, a 50 Shore 00 compound. Typical property values for this grade are: specific gravity, 0.88; tensile strength, 300 psi (2.1 MPa); tensile modulus, 40 psi (0.14 MPa); ultimate elongation, 700%; melt index (condition C), 20 g/10 min.

“Like all Monprene grades, the new high-clarity compounds from Teknor Apex are FDA-compliant and can be over-molded onto olefinic substrates,” said Elizabeth Ponte, sales engineer. “Their outstanding softness makes them suitable for shoe insoles, heel cups, ergonomic products, sporting goods, medical devices, and other applications that require cushioning between hard substrates and personal contact.”