Chemical News

DuraGrip TPE is a versatile material that enhances consumer or light industrial products through its elastomeric properties and features, including, when needed, a soft-touch feel. The DuraGrip TPE 6000 and 6800 series bond well to polypropylene and polyethylene, while the DuraGrip TPE 6100 series bonds to engineered thermoplastic materials, including difficult to overmold nylon substrates.

“The new series of DuraGrip TPE offers several advantages – better grip feel, the ability to create eye-catching colors, and faster cycle times – over similarly positioned materials,” said Jeff Senich, APA business development manager. “Its chemistry, functionality, and performance characteristics make DuraGrip an ideal material for everyday products. It is versatile enough to provide the tacky grip on a golf club or the silky feel of a fountain pen.”

The new DuraGrip TPE grades, available in 30 to 80 Shore A hardness, come in easily colorable natural, black, translucent, and clear.

Available grades include:
- DuraGrip 6000 series – the general-purpose grade that is easy to use in injection molding, overmolding, extrusion, and co-extrusion processes.
- DuraGrip 6100 series – bonds well to PC, ABS, PC/ABS alloys, nylon, ASA, and other engineered thermoplastic materials. Designed for overmolding and co-extrusion processing.
- DuraGrip 6800 series – the FDA-compliant grade designed to offer very good elastomeric properties and soft-touch feel. The 6800 series processes well in injection molding, overmolding, extrusion, and co-extrusion manufacturing.

When combined with rigid thermoplastic substrates, DuraGrip TPE adds an ergonomic soft-touch feel that can increase customer value in applications for industries including appliances, electronics, home improvement, household products, lawn and garden, office supplies, personal care, sports and leisure, and more. Additionally, its physical properties make it ideal for automotive applications.

For information about DuraGrip TPE or to request a data sheet, please visit www.APAinfo.com or call 1-800-663-6005.

About APA
Advanced Polymer Alloys (APA), a division of Ferro Corporation, is the world’s leading supplier of Melt-Processible Elastomers (MPEs).

APA’s broad line of elastomers spans the entire TPE price/performance range – from the wide appeal of soft, affordable DuraGrip®, to top-performing Alcryn® MPR, the world’s only melt-processible rubber™ (MPR).

Bridging the gap between design vision and engineering reality, APA’s unique material innovations deliver ideal performance properties to enhance the quality, appeal, and marketability of virtually every product.

APA’s goal is to provide customers with optimal material solutions for their specific needs – whether drawing from its full MPE line or compounding custom alloys.

Ferro Corporation is a major international producer of performance materials for industry, including coatings and performance chemicals. The company has operations in 20 countries and recorded sales of $1.6 billion in 2003.

For more information on the company’s product line, visit APA on the web at www.APAinfo.com or call 888-663-6005.

Alcryn®, Melt-Processible Rubber™ (MPR), DuraGrip®, and Melt-Processible Elastomers™ (MPE) are trademarks or registered trademarks of Ferro Corporation. APA is a division of Ferro Corporation.