DEVELOPMENT OF AN POLYESTER THERMOPLASTICS ELASTOMER (TPE-E) ETHER ESTER BASED FOAM GRADE

Abstract

In this project the attempts are described to come to an thermoplastics elastomer (TPE-E) foam, the influence of branching units, viscosity, thermoplastics elastomer (TPE-E) type and hardness, and carbon black as crystallization nucleator are investigated. All thermoplastics elastomer (TPE-E) grades can be easily processed to foam possessing a density of around 0.85 to 0.90 g.ml -1 and cell dimension of 100 to 200 µm using a chemical blowing agent based on a citric acid salt. The best result were obtained using 2% (w/w) Hydrocerol HK70 in thermoplastics elastomer (TPE-E) EM400 at a process temperature of 240 oC. Apart from the shut –off nozzle no adaptation of existing injection moulding equipment in necessary. No significant influence of the viscosity or branching agent on the foam process was observed whereas no significant decrease of the molecular weight due to the action of the foaming agent took place. In this project the attempts are described to come to an thermoplas...