New Compound Cuts Cost of Flexible Cord Jacketing and Plugs with No Compromise in Outdoor Performance and Durability

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PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, U.S.A., October 5, 2000: A new vinyl thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compound for extruded flexible outdoor cord jacketing and insert-molded electrical plugs provides far greater elasticity and low-temperature toughness than conventional flexible vinyl yet costs 20 to 40% less than competing TPEs, according to Teknor Apex. The company introduced the compound at Wire Focus in September.

Designated Flexalloy [Registered Trademark] 9604-75, the compound has a Shore A hardness rating of 78, an elongation of 285%, and a brittle point of -47 C. "The outstanding low-temperature toughness and flexibility that these data represent is equivalent to that of competing styrenic and olefinic TPEs list-priced in the range of [USD] $1.25 to $2.00 per pound," said Donald G. Ouellette, Wire and Cable Industry Manager for Teknor Apex. "And in other valuable properties, such as abrasion resistance, Flexalloy 9604-75 compound is superior. Yet even in comparison with the least expensive competing TPE it is significantly less costly."

Applications that Teknor Apex recommends for the new compound include products such as snow blowers, lawn and garden tools, and extension cords. Noting that color is often a key value in these applications, Ouellette said that the new Flexalloy compound is readily colored with vinyl-based concentrates at letdown ratios equivalent to those used for conventional flexible PVC.

Flexalloy 9604-75 exceeds the heat deformation test standard for flexible cords in Underwriters Laboratories Subject 62 and has received UL listing for outdoor use.

The Flexalloy product line is based on Teknor Apex technology for compounding ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW) PVC to yield high-performance vinyl TPEs with greater toughness, chemical resistance, and heat resistance than many styrenic and olefinic TPEs. The PVC resin component contributes durability and low-temperature performance by virtue of a molecular weight as high as 150,000, compared with 30,000 to 75,000 for conventional PVC.