Thomas Nilsson, managing director at HEXPOL TPE AB commented, “We’re seeing that interest in biobased materials in the automotive industry has accelerated over the last few years and it’s an upward trend”. Dryflex Green Biobased TPEs are being adopted for several applications previously using conventional TPE compounds, both as a drop-in substitution, without the need for mould or tool modification, and also for new developments.
Since most biobased raw materials in the market are quite hard on their own, a major challenge has been to develop compounds with high renewable content at low hardnesses, while at the same time maintaining mechanical properties at acceptable levels. With grades from 15 Shore A, Dryflex Green TPEs divert from other soft thermoplastic materials on the market, by also including soft materials with high levels of renewable content. Depending on the hardness, compounds with a renewable share of over 90 % (ASTM D 6866) are possible. 
Alongside their sustainability credentials, materials used for automotive interiors also need to meet stricter requirements for Vehicle Interior Air Quality (VIAQ) and legislation regarding odour, fogging and VOC. New Dryflex Green Biobased TPEs with low emission values will be presented, for example a 65 Shore A compound with a renewable content of 40 % showed a very low amount of VOC (82 µg/g) and Fog (142 µg/g) in the thermodesorption test according to VDA 278. Odour, flame retardancy and processability performance also show good comparability with petroleum based compounds. Dryflex Green TPEs can be used in automotive interior applications such as floor mats, cup holder liners, fascia, trim and inlay mats.

ENDS
Über HEXPOL TPE
HEXPOL TPE ist ein global tätiges Unternehmen im Bereich des Polymer-Compoundings, spezialisiert auf Thermoplastische Elastomere (TPE). Unsere Produkte finden Anwendung in vielen Schlüsselindustrien wie der Konsumgüter-, Medikal-, Verpackungs- und Bauindustrie. Da es unsere Grundüberzeugung ist, das unkomplizierteste Unternehmen zu sein, mit dem man zusammenarbeiten kann, bietet HEXPOL TPE eine zuverlässige und bewährte Kombination aus Anwendungs-Knowhow, R&D, Produktionsmöglichkeiten und umfassendem technischen Service. Als Teil der HEXPOL Gruppe haben wir eine ausgedehnte globale Präsenz, die die EU, den Asien-Pazifik-Raum und Nordamerika umfasst und es uns erlaubt, unsere Kunden weltweit zu betreuen.
Für weitere Informationen über HEXPOL TPE kontaktieren Sie bitte:
Jill Bradford
Marketing & PR Manager
HEXPOL TPE
tel +44 161 654 2369
jill.bradford@hexpolTPE.com 
HEXPOL® und Dryflex® sind registrierte Marken im Besitz der HEXPOL Firmengruppe.