GainShine TPE creates more possibilities to be green
Thermoplastic elastomer compounding group, GainShine TPE, has added new compounds to its Green family of biobased TPEs, creating more opportunities for sustainability.
GainShine Green is a family of thermoplastic elastomer compounds based on raw materials from renewable resources such as plant and vegetable crops. Raw materials can be produced from various renewable sources, these include products and by-products from agricultural that are rich in carbohydrates, especially saccharides such as grain, sugar beet and sugar cane.
GainShine TPE has developed several new customization options for the GainShine TPE compounds. The hardness range has been expanded to include 20 Shore A to 50 Shore D, with amounts of renewable biocontent to more than 90 percent, depending on the hardness.
One of the key challenges we faced with the GainShine Green TPE compounds was to develop low hardnesses with high levels of renewable content, since most biobased raw materials in the market are quite hard on their own. We have now added lower hardnesses to the GainShine Green range while at the same time maintaining mechanical properties.
GainShine TPE has additionally developed compounds using organic fillers and natural fibers from plants, crops or trees, including cork. Cork is a natural product which comes from the bark of the cork oak tree.
The removal of the bark does not harm the trees and the bark is only harvested after the first 20 years of growth. The removal stimulates a steady regeneration of the bark. Each cork tree provides on average 16 harvests over its 150-200 year lifespan.
For customers that want biobased products that also have a natural look and feel, the use of cork and natural fibers helps to give an additional ‘organic’ appearance.
With these new developments to the GainShine Green TPE range, using different renewable content and covering a greater hardness range, we have created more design and sustainability possibilities.
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