New possibilities from TPUs

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a class of polyurethane plastics with many special and highly useful properties.TPUs offer multitude possibilities to meet the manufacturing challenges. They are highly versatile, resistant to chemicals and abrasion. More important, they can meet requirements for injection moulding, extrusion, adhesive, coating and films. They are utilised to improve the performance of many finished products and industrial parts and supplies.

The global TPU films market is expected to reach $724.6 million by 2020, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Automotive applications dominated the TPU films market. Increasing use of TPU films in automotive applications such as paint protection, scratch protection, anti-chipping and rear bumper protection coupled with growing after sales market is expected to fuel market growth.

Growing need for improved process performance
Lubrizol Engineered Polymers launched its innovative TPU products:Estane ZHF 85AB3, Estane ZHF 90AB3 and EstaneZHF 85AT8. These new products are designed specifically to fulfil growing market needs for improved process performance - combined with nonhalogen flame retardant properties - by extrusion and moulding companies. Estane ZHF 85AB3 and Estane ZHF 90AB3 are both polyester-based TPUs with a hardness of 85A and 90A, respectively.

Both grades exhibit high mechanical strength. In addition, EstaneZHF 85AT8 is a polyether TPU with a hardness of 85A. It has excellent low temperature performance and hydrolysis resistance. Besides their unique features, these three products have common performance advantages, including very good extrusion performance, silky matte surfaces, and excellent flame retardance (UL-94 V0 & UL1581 VW-1). Mr.Jiaming Zhang, industrial marketing manager, Asia Pacific, notes "Our new non-halogen flame retardant TPU grades have received a great response from our customers. They offer a combination of excellent process performance with nonhalogen properties, which is sought out by a large portion of industrial market sectors. Lubrizol is committed to continuing to provide high performance products to support our customers' growing needs."

UV-protected TPU grades
Huntsman has developed two UV protected grades of TPUs for use in offshore, oil and gas, and mining wire and cable applications. The polyetherbased TPU materials – part of Huntsman's established IROGRAN product range – are designed forjacketing the cables of heavy duty pieces of equipment, which have to function in harsh, abrasive and outdoor environments, and are exposed to the elements.Over time, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can cause cabling materials to degrade, losing performance in tensile strength,abrasion and elongation.

On oil rigs, offshore wind farms and in underground applications, any form of deterioration incable quality is unacceptable and could have costly consequences. Huntsman's wire and cable innovations were developed in response to requests from customers in theAmericas, who were asking for increasingly demanding performance levels from their cable jacketing materials. Easily processed and offering a wide temperature window, Huntsman's IROGRAN materials contain a UV package that is not listed as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) under REACH regulations. Designed to increase cable longevity, the inclusion of this additive is beneficial for wire and cable manufacturers who are looking to improve performance and comply with stringent environmental standards.

Prior to the launch of its new products, Huntsman has tested the performance of the materials extensively with bothgrades surpassing industry standard UV tests. The two grades available are IROGRANA 85 P 4394 UV DP, which has a hardness of 85 Shore A and IROGRAN A 92 P 4637 UV DP, which has a hardness of 92 Shore A. Rhona Watson, Development Center Manager Americas at Huntsman, said, "Creating new UV protected cablejacketing grades for industrial applications, using a specialised UV package, demonstrates that Huntsman is a providerof innovative wire and cable solutions, which are closely aligned to market needs."

Huntsman launched UV-protected grades of TPUs.