Automotive and medical applications of TPEs are increasing. They now comprise around 20% of the elastomeric gasket market in the USA, and are found in footwear, personal care products, packaging and sports applications, among others.

Overmoulding is a key use of TPEs and there are developments in materials and processing techniques to facilitate the simultaneous moulding process. TPEs can enhance appearance and feel compared to conventional rubbers.

Now in its ninth year, this international conference is firmly established as Europe’s premier event for the thermoplastic elastomers industry. These proceedings focus on the latest TPE materials, performance, processing and applications.

Paper 1 Implications of Asian market shifts and new technologies on TPE demand and intra-TPE competition
Robert Eller, Robert Eller Associates, Inc., USA

Paper 2 Novel developments in thermoplastic elastomers for overmolding applications
John Simons, GLS International, The Netherlands & Dr Krishna Venkataswamy, Dr Jiren Gu & Joe Gerkhardt, GLS Corporation, USA

SESSION 2. STYRENIC TPEs

Paper 3 Innovative SBC additive for high flow and high melt strength TPEs
Emmanuel Colchen, KRATON Polymers, France, Xavier Muyldermans & Emmanuelle Coignoul, KRATON Polymers Research, Belgium

Paper 4 HSBC based TPE for higher temperature resistance
Dr Markus Beitzel, KRAIBURG TPE GmbH, Germany

Paper 5 New developing grades of HSBC with crosslinkable hard blocks
Mizuho Maeda, Kuraray Europe GmbH, Germany

Paper 6 Performance characteristics of a styrene-isobutylene block copolymer
Koji Noda, Kaneka Belgium NV, Belgium, Katsuhiko Kimura, Ryuji Fukuda & Makoto Tawada, Kaneka Corporation, Japan

SESSION 3. TPVS FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

Paper 7 How TPV out-performs EPDM in acoustic properties for automotive sealing
Rob Janisch, Shawn Jyawook, Jim Browell, Mark Steward & Ralph Richardson, JYCO Sealing Technologies, USA

Paper 8 TPV for automotive sealing applications
Yuichi Ito, Hideyo Tsutaya, Takuo Asami, Tadashi Imai, Kimihiko Kamo, Hayato Kurita & Hidetake Nakano, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Japan

SESSION 4. TPV DEVELOPMENTS

Paper 9 Crosslink density of dynamically vulcanized polyolefin blends (TPV) based on EPDM/PP
Norbert Vennemann, Klaus Bökamp & Dirk Bröker, University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück, Germany

SESSION 5. THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANE (TPU)

Paper 10 Novel thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) for high performance aesthetics
Dennis H.W. Feijen, Merquinsa Mercados Quimicos S.L., Spain

Paper 11 Expanded thermoplastic polyurethane technology
Bart Van Edom, Huntsman Polyurethanes, Belgium

SESSION 6. COPOLYESTER TPE

Paper 12 A new non halogenated flame retardant COPE
Dr Dirk Zierer, Ticona GmbH, Germany & Ken Fletcher, Ticona LLC, USA

SESSION 7. TPE ADDITIVES AND FINISHING

Paper 13 Advances for siliceous mineral products within TPE systems
Julian Danvers, World Minerals, France & Roger Rothon, Rothon Consultants, UK

Paper 14 Overview of talc properties in SEBS compounds
Gilles Meli & Denis Lejour, Rio Tinto Minerals, France, Gert Joly & Jaak Moerenhout, KRATON Polymers Research, Belgium

Paper 15 Advanced laser welding of TPE using NIR-absorbers
Matthias Hopfner, ALLOD Werkstoff GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, Dr Rolf Klein & Dr Gareth McGrath, Gentex Corporation, UK

SESSION 8. PROCESSING TPEs

Paper 16 Latest developments in multicomponent molding thermoplastic Elastomers
Charles Page, PolyOne Th. Bergmann GmbH, Germany

Paper 17 Improving the injection moulding process with special screw design
Jan Brus, Kluin Wijhe BV, The Netherlands