Blender
Teknor Apex has developed a series of standard grade TPEs offering a varied choice for the manufacturers of food containers, utensils, kitchen appliances and children's products that have recently been given the green light from regulators in the US and Europe.
The Monprene RG-10100 Series injection moulding and RG-20100 extrusion compounds comply with multiple food-contact regulations in both the States and EU, while enabling manufacturers of rubbery or flexible components to achieve vivid colors, smooth surfaces and end-use durability.
Standard grades are available with Shore A hardness levels ranging from a soft 40 to a semi-rigid 80. The compounds exhibit good tensile and tear strength, are readily coloured and can be supplied as pre-coloured products or in custom color-match grades. For moulded-in seals, 'soft-touch' grips and other over-moulded applications, they provide adhesion to polyolefins such as those used for kitchen containers and utensils, while custom formulations are available for over-moulding onto engineering polymers.
In both single-use and repeat-use applications (as defined by U.S. and European regulations), Monprene RG compounds can be used in containers for dry, acidic, aqueous and alcoholic foods.
Stef Hordijk, Senior Market Manager for the Thermoplastic Elastomer Division of Teknor Apex, said: "Teknor Apex has ensured that Monprene RG Series compounds are pre-compliant with food-contact regulations in order to help customers shorten lead time for bringing new products to market. In addition to our standard grades, we can work with customers to develop custom formulations to meet special needs and to provide engineering support for application development."
Every ingredient used to manufacture the Monprene RG series of standard products is 'Generally Recognised as Safe' (GRAS) according to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, subject to an effective Food Contact Notification (FCN), Threshold of Regulation (TOR), or is identified in at least one section of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, these grades comply with European Directives for Food Contact, EU 1935/2004 and PIM10/2011, as well as the Toy Safety Directives: 2009/48/EC and EN-71-3.
All Monprene RG products are phthalate-, latex, and BPA-free and are compliant with RoHS and REACH SVHC directives. Grades thus far available in the Monprene RG series are based on styrenic (TPE-S) polymer chemistry. Teknor Apex can also develop custom formulations based on thermoplastic vulcanisates (TPE-V), olefinics (TPE-O and OBC), or specialty alloys.
Teknor Apex's Monprene RG-10100 Series injection moulding and RG-20100 extrusion compounds will be featured at the company's stand at Fakuma this year.
