Ultra-Light TPE Composites for Footwear
Xenia’s new Xelight composites are based on Arkema’s Pebax TPE
A new ultra-light composites family based on Pebax thermoplastic elastomer, a polyether-block-amide (PEBA) TPE from Arkema, is newly available from Italy’s specialty compounder . They are reportedly well suited for many applications in the footwear arena. For the last few years, the two companies have had a cooperative agreement to develop lightweight long-chain nylon composites, starting with the well-known Pebax, particularly for sports-related applications. Xenia boasts unique expertise in compounding specialty lightweight thermoplastic composites.
Due to their exceptional density value, which is below 0,90 g/cm3 , Xelight grades stand out for their incredible lightness. At the same time, they are said to feature excellent impact strength, especially at low temperatures, great flexibility and high energy return, while maintaining the properties of the base resin. The Xelight grades also are said to combine a good hydrolytic resistance and dimensional stability as well as great processability and thermal resistance. In addition, they are colorable and available in biocompatible grades. The materials are available in North America through direct sale as Xenia does not yet have a distributor in the region.
Related Content
-
Polymer Showdown — PC/ABS vs. PC/PBT — May the Best Material Win
First in a series, experts from plastics engineering consultancy The Madison Group will pit leading thermoplastics against each other to see how they differ in processing characteristics, chemical resistance, thermal and mechanical performance, and more.
-
Prices Up for All Volume Resins
First quarter was ending up with upward pricing, primarily due to higher feedstock costs and not supply/demand fundamentals.
-
Polymer Science for Those Who Work With Plastics: Why Entanglements — Not Just Molecular Weight — Drive Plastic Performance
Ever try running your fingers through tangled hair? Yeah … that’s not fun, but that’s what happens at the molecular level when polymer chains reach the right length. They wrap around each other, intertwine and … get stuck — and those tangles are the real reason plastics perform the way they do.
