Want to add a new aesthetic trick to your palette? Try any of the melt-processible rubber products from Advanced Polymer Alloys? Alcryn MPR line. The company recently announced that all of these thermoplastic rubber materials?in natural, translucent, and clear grades?have the ability to be colored with a variety of special effects pigments, including bright colors, clear tints, and pearlescent, thermochromic, and metallic colors. The idea that rubber has to be black is now old hat.

Why use a thermoplastic rubber rather than a TPE or TPV? APA says its Alcryn products outperform TPEs and vulcanized rubbers in durability, coefficient of friction, and resistance to abrasion, chemicals, oil, and fuel. Long-term UV exposure performance and other weathering benchmarks are also said to be superior. Accelerated aging tests conducted by APA demonstrate a long product life without deterioration or color change, despite environmental and chemical exposure. The company also maintains that independent tests show Alcryn MPR colors more vibrantly and with less pigment than many TPEs. In addition, all grades can be ordered with a flame-retardant additive.

Targeted end products include architectural components, such as window and door seals; automotive applications, such as color-matched trim and body molding; and industrial applications including soft grips for hand tools and appliances. Another potential end user: consumer products used in challenging environments.?MM

Advanced Polymer Alloys, Wilmington, DE
(888) 663-6005
www.apainfo.com