Multinational Appliance Manufacturer Specifies Uniprene TPV Elastomer for Colorful 'Soft-Touch' Grip on New Steam Iron

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MEXBOROUGH, SOUTH YORKSHIRE, U.K., June 30, 1999: Morphy Richards Limited, a pioneer in the use of bright colors in small electrical appliances, has specified Uniprene thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) for the teal-green soft-touch handle grip on its new Comfi-grip Professional vertical steam, no-drip iron, it was announced today by Teknor Apex. A member company of the Glen Dimplex Group-a leading worldwide manufacturer of electric heating and domestic appliances-Morphy Richards selected a Uniprene product because it provides aesthetic and manufacturing advantages over conventional TPV compounds without additional raw material cost.

Uniprene TPV elastomer provides better colorability and more pleasing tactile properties, which are necessary to impart a luxurious feel to the handle of this high-end appliance, according to Russell Gordon, Senior Design Engineer for Morphy Richards. "The main reason we switched from the competitive product was because it was very UV-unstable; the green color quickly turned blue in sunlight," he said.

The colorful grip is overmolded of Uniprene TPV onto a high-impact polypropylene handle by Pentalpha Ltd., a contract manufacturer in Hong Kong, without need for adhesives or bonding agents. Processing benefits of the compound cited by Pentalpha include excellent moldability and the elimination of pre-drying steps required with conventional TPVs.

"The Morphy Richards Comfi-grip Professional iron is an excellent example of the global design trend to incorporate grips and other 'soft-touch' components into appliance, automotive-interior, and other products that contact the human hand," said Phil Morin, TPE Market Manager for Teknor Apex. "Besides providing a luxurious feel in grips, soft-touch elements are now emerging in applications where they improve product ergonomics, dissipate noise and vibration, and improve the safety of consumer and industrial tools."

One obstacle to broader use of TPVs in such applications has been the inherent yellowness of conventional formulations, according to Nat Mather, Pacific Rim Sales Manager for Teknor Apex International. "The totally new chemistry behind Uniprene TPVs solves this persistent problem, yielding compounds that are a light beige in their natural form."

The yellowness of conventional TPVs typically necessitates dual pigment systems for molded parts, Mather pointed out, one to overcome the yellowness and another to achieve the desired coloration. "In most cases, moreover, because the yellowness cannot be completely masked, brightness and hue are compromised. In addition, higher color concentrate loadings tend to increase the hardness of the molded component, decreasing its tactile appeal."

Uniprene TPVs are nonhygroscopic-i.e., during storage and handling they do not absorb moisture that must be removed by lengthy pre-drying before processing to prevent product defects such as warpage and surface irregularities like splay. "The pre-drying that is typically required for conventional TPVs forces processors to incur extra costs for equipment, energy, and labor," Mather said.

Teknor Apex International supplies Uniprene TPV products to Pentalpha through First Foundation Ltd., a distributor with offices in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China. General Manager of First Foundation is Roger Tang.

For more information on Morphy Richards and its products, contact the company at: Talbot Road, Mexborough, South Yorkshire, S64 8AJ, U.K. Tel: 44 1709 582402. Fax: 44 1709 570731. E-mail: info@morphyrichards.co.uk. Or visit the Glen Dimplex Group website at www.glendimplex.com.