Materials manufacturer Kraiburg TPE has launched new grades of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) for food contact and other uses.
New Thermolast brand materials comply with FDA regulations and are free of phthalates, BPA, latex and heavy metals, said Josh Ackernecht, director of the medical and consumer team, during a webinar of August 24 organized by Plastics News.
Grades can be used for food packaging, food storage, kitchen utensils and personal care for single use or repeated use. Two of the grades can be used with fatty foods, while two others work best with non-fatty foods, Ackernecht said.
Color options for the new materials are natural (opaque white), translucent, transparent or a wide range of special colors, he added. They also offer an optimized injection and extrusion flow and process as well as improved abrasion resistance.
Other potential applications for the new materials include toothbrushes, toys, cosmetic packaging, cleaning appliances, consumer electronics, handles and other soft-touch products. Grades intended for fatty foods can be used in the packaging of butter, cheese, mayonnaise, crisps, ketchup or other condiments.
The materials are dishwasher safe and fully recyclable. Compared to silicone, Ackernecht said the new TPEs are easy to process, have reduced cycle times and can be recycled in a post-consumer waste stream.
Kraiburg is a preparer based in Waldkraiburg, Germany. The company also operates factories in Malaysia, South Korea, Mexico and Buford, Georgia. Last year, Kraiburg launched new recycled content and super soft TPEs.
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