The automotive industry is the largest and fastest growing market for TPE. Kraiburg TPE has identified the growing demand for TPE compounds for high-quality external applications and accelerated the development of application-specific, efficient TPE solutions for the industry.

    Recent developments include the adhesion of vinyl propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM). This series of products are mainly used in two parts of automobile surface application, with good adhesion, with good uv resistance. These new compounds are primarily used in automotive applications, such as window triads and corner joints made of ternals and sealed profiles with end elements made of TPE.

    This technology is used in the two-component EPDM, which is mainly used in the economical production of window type three and other precision external automotive profiles.
    TPE compound and EPDM material can show excellent adhesion even if the contact surface is very small. EPDM has good adhesion, good resistance to ultraviolet radiation and thermal effect, good uv resistance and heat resistance, and good weather resistance. In developing individual compounds, TPE specialists focused on adhesion (TC7EAZ) and processability and low fog value (TC7EFZ).

   Styrene-butadiene compounds (SBC) and cross-linked thermoplastic vulcanization (TPV) rubber have been used primarily for these applications, particularly in large vehicle series. The cost-effectiveness of these materials is limited because geometric designs vary between vehicle series. Kraiburg TPE's material solution, in the injection molding process with EPDM adhesion, provides a new opportunity.

   The application of the advanced EPDM bonding series has been successfully implemented in practical collaboration with machinery manufacturer LWB Steinl and has been validated in comprehensive laboratory and customer testing. First, the emphasis is on the adhesion to EPDM. In addition to the adhesion tests on epdm/tpe specimens, ISO 37-based tests were conducted according to the general vc2019 standard (at room temperature and within 1500 hours after 90 ° c). With the elongation of tensile stress, the absolute force to destroy the specimen is determined.

    In these adhesion tests, the new material has achieved good results in the work of foamability and compacting composite. Initial adhesion is decisive, allowing the finished product to be easily disassembled from the mold and to be used in the shortest possible cycle time. In addition, test results show that adhesion is mainly dependent on the cleanliness of inserted EPDM configuration files.

    In order to achieve optimal and reliable reproducibility results, the section cutting time should be shortened as much as possible before the TPE components are formed, so that the cutting time is faster and the bonding effect is better. Key requirements for external vehicle components also include enduring heat and weather resistance, even with increased uv radiation. This is done by exposing material samples to hot air for simulations to accelerate aging tests (1500 hours 90 ° c and 120 ° c), as well as environmental conditions in Florida (hot and humid) and the kalahari desert (hot and dry), for example, in weathering tests. In all these weatherability tests, the AD /epdm/uv series was shown to have stable mechanical properties, as well as significant dry and non-viscous surfaces.

    Kraiburg TPE and LWB Steinl GmbH are among the companies that receive information on AD /epdm/uv compounds. LWB Steinl is one of the world's leading manufacturers of vertical conveying presses and horizontal injection molding machines. Its product range includes 200-16,000kn clamping force and high-efficiency injection device with injection capacity of 500,000-30,000cm. Tests are carried out in the manufacturing laboratory using vertical machines without strips. The test tool was developed by Olga oga of pfut in baliba, Germany.

    Epdm /tpe components with vertical motors have the advantages of space saving and downstream machinery. However, it also requires careful coordination of the control process over the materials used. The special TPE formula can minimize the ballast pressure and avoid the deformation of EPDM workpiece.

   Although it may look like a good idea to corner and end the part of the car sealing material in epdm used in the trim window, as the rubber cross-linking will result in longer cycle times, requiring more complex machinery and processing steps. Improving process stability means reducing scrap rate, which is one of the most important factors in economic production of two parts. Therefore, reducing the typical cycle time for injecting TPE into EPDM artifacts is another goal of the project partners.

  Kraiburg TPE's new EPDM adhesion compound also has the characteristics of economic processing. They are treated at relatively low temperatures of 200-220 degrees Celsius. This results in a lower cooling time, which in combination with the minimum holding time, speeds up the entire production process, which in turn changes the entire production process. Together with these characteristics, the initial adhesion of specially developed TPE compounds to EPDM materials ensures that finished parts can be removed more easily from molds, thereby reducing cycle time. Together with LWB Steinl, Kraiburg TPE has successfully optimized materials and processes to meet the needs of different automotive window systems. The permanent adhesion and weather resistance of the material are not affected. In addition to comprehensive customer support, Kraiburg TPE also offers customized design color balance, taking into account glossiness, as opposed to individual EPDM or OEM color specifications。