RTP Company: The Global Leader in Specialty Compounding

Innovating with TPEs

TPE Division Emerges with Innovative Materials to Transform Part Design

When RTP Company expanded its advanced thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) technology and launched the RTP TPE Division in October of 2006, an exciting evolution occurred. By applying well-established technology principles inherent at RTP Company, a unique and impressive TPE portfolio was created to complement the specialty compounds product group.

In addition to standard TPE products offered to the customer, RTP Company places specific focus on conductive, wear resistant, flame resistant and color technologies. These advancements set RTP Company apart from other TPE suppliers in the industry.

Utilizing RTP TPEs in single material applications continues to be a common solution for many customers. However, new RTP TPEs formulated for optimum bondabilty, coupled with new, innovative processing techniques and equipment, have enabled a whole new realm of overmolded, multi-shot opportunities. These innovations provide distinct advantages to transform part design:

• Replacement of thermoset rubber, reducing scrap, cycle time and overall cost to the end product.
• Ensure true chemical adhesion of the base material to the "soft" second shot material, eliminating costly and inferior adhesion methods.
• Replacement of metal inserts with alternative structural/plateable base materials.
• Improved part economics through part consolidation.

Multi-shot Scraper

ProCo Technologies, a division of Rolco, Inc., developed this scraper using multi-shot molding techniques and thermoplastic materials from RTP Company for both shots:

• 1st Shot
  RTP 100 Series polypropylene: chemically coupled with 20% glass fiber. This lightweight compound provides excellent stiffness without a large loading of glass.
• 2nd Shot
  RTP 2800 B Series olefinic thermoplastic elastomer: with a 40 Shore A durometer hardness. TPE provides excellent grip performance, chemical resistance and an ideal balance of performance and price.

Rolco, Inc., a custom injection molder, produces precision dual material components using multi-shot techniques. By combining what would traditionally be two separate parts into a single homogeneous component via multi-shot molding, Rolco can provide its customers with higher quality products at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.rolcoinc.com or call 507-931-4525, ext. 37.