THERMOLAST® K Compounds for Safe Dog Toys
Stylish dog toys with THERMOLAST® K overmolding from KRAIBURG TPE
KRAIBURG TPE has demonstrated its expertise in custom thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) with a compound that offers the perfect balance of hardness and flexibility for a durable dog toy, along with excellent adhesion to polyamide and outstanding colorability.
In the pet toy market, there is a growing awareness of the need for safe and sustainable materials that are free of hazardous substances while also being visually appealing and durable. Among the most important properties required are uncompromising processability, high flowability, tear resistance, adhesion to PA6, and dyeability.
“Pet toys are a growing segment of the consumer goods market, and consumers expect them to be just as safe, sustainable, and durable as children’s toys,” says Kevin Gase, Sales and Marketing Director at KRAIBURG TPE. “At the same time, manufacturers need innovative materials that meet their cost-efficiency requirements and help strengthen their competitiveness.”
With the selected THERMOLAST® K compounds, KRAIBURG TPE delivered a solution that fully meets these expectations. KRAIBURG TPE has extensive experience with hard/soft combinations. The thermoplastic elastomer can be precisely matched to the hard component and requires no adhesion promoters, even when co-injected with semi-crystalline resins such as PA6 and PA66. The wide range of proven applications extends from personal care products and machine tools to fasteners for the automotive industry.
In addition, the natural-colored material chosen for the dog bone can be dyed in bright, vivid colors, resulting in a highly attractive and scratch-resistant surface. THERMOLAST® K from KRAIBURG TPE is also extremely resistant to UV rays, ozone, and weathering. “We were also able to precisely adjust the mechanical properties of the compound to the required hardness and flexibility in order to achieve the desired resilience and soft feel,” notes Gase.
Another key requirement from the customer was a product that is safe. The TPE compound is manufactured according to strict quality and purity standards. Materials from KRAIBURG TPE comply with both REACH and RoHS regulations. No phthalates, halogens, latex, or heavy metals are added to the materials, and as a thermoplastic material, THERMOLAST® K can be recycled at the end of its useful life.
THERMOLAST® K from KRAIBURG TPE meets the demand in the pet toy market segment for safe, sustainable, and cost-effective materials that are easy to process and highly aesthetic. (Photo: © 2019 KRAIBURG TPE) Kraiburg TPE products are available on the Austrian market through Plastoplan Kunststoffe.
