Automotive Manufacturer Specifies Super-Soft TPE for Vibration Management

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To protect sensitive electronics, a first-tier automotive supplier has selected a new "super-soft" thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) from Teknor Apex Company for coinjection molding a vibration seal onto a housing component, Teknor Apex announced today at the SAE International Congress & Exposition.

The customer selected Tekron (registered trademark) 96-E0807A-03 compound over other TPEs because its exceptional softness and elasticity make it an effective medium for vibration management, according to Charles E. Gates, Automotive Industry Manager for Teknor Apex.

Recently introduced by Teknor Apex, the TPE compound is a polyolefin/SEBS (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) alloy which has a rating of only 3 on the Shore A Hardness test and an ultimate elongation test value of 1100%. No other TPE available as a stan dard product exhibits a durometer rating this low, according to Gates.

"Besides providing high capacity for dissipating shock, Tekron 96-E0807A-03 compound makes possible design innovation and parts consolidation because it can be overmolded or coextruded onto a rigid structure," said Gates. "This is a powerful combination for automotive manufacturers looking to protect sensitive devices, reduce noise, or enhance the smoothness and comfort of vehicle performance."