Jun 28 2004
Advanced Elastomer Systems, an Akron, Ohio-based affiliate of ExxonMobil Chemical, and Trexel, Inc., Woburn, Mass., have announced a long-term exclusive license agreement to develop dynamic sponge/foam automotive weatherseal systems. Under the agreement, AES will focus on the development of Santoprene(TM) thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) products designed to take full advantage of Trexel’s MuCell® microcellular foam process.
This agreement is intended to propel the use, and help meet the industry demand, for innovative dynamic weatherseals that perform comparably to traditional EPDM seals in the areas of compression load deflection, compression set, water absorption, surface aesthetics, and economics. TPVs also are used for static and semi-dynamic weatherseals due to the material’s processing advantages, excellent sealability, design flexibility, UV-resistance and weatherability, and recyclability. AES invented, patented and introduced the first foamed TPV commercialised for automotive weatherseal applications more than a decade ago.
Automotive weatherseals are a growth segment for both the Santoprene automotive product line and Trexel. AES anticipates increasing opportunity in this market during the next several years, mainly due to broader recognition and adoption of Santoprene TPV as a material of choice for these systems; and the company’s continued focus on driving product/system innovation to meet customer needs and create new opportunities, coupled with increased demand by OEMs worldwide for TPV-based sealing systems. Trexel's innovative extrusion technology is targeted primarily at TPV and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) applications, with an emphasis on the growing dynamic weatherseal market within the automotive industry.
"Santoprene TPVs have been used in the transition from EPDM to TPV weatherseals systems for many years, and we now see an innovation potential for overcoming some of the final barriers to broad adoption in dynamic applications," said Zev Gurion, Global Automotive Marketing manager, AES. "Trexel and AES bring together exceptional capabilities to support customer adoption decisions. We anticipate a standard repeatable system that can be broadly implemented and supported."
Trexel will specify a full turnkey process optimized for Santoprene TPV, and will make available standard equipment packages under its worldwide manufacturing and product support systems. Its patented MuCell Process provides significant cost savings and quality improvements to TPV extrusions. Due to the continuous introduction of small, precise amounts of supercritical nitrogen gas into the molten resin during the extrusion process, the MuCell Process enables stable high-speed production of foamed profiles with consistent properties and smooth appearance.
With its closed cell structure, MuCell already demonstrates many of the desired properties, but according to Jere Anderson, technical director, Trexel, "The ability to customize material formulations with Santoprene TPVs to take advantage of the unique processing characteristics of MuCell will move performance into a whole new range."
"An alternative approach would involve many separate materials development programs throughout the world, leading to inconsistent results and broad differences in processing conditions and performance,"Anderson added.
David Bernstein, president and CEO, Trexel, said, "In addition to the extraordinary support that will be available from AES and Trexel, Santoprene TPV customers who use the MuCell Technology will have the added incentive of license rights bundled into their purchase contracts for Santoprene TPVs."
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