Ludwigshafen, Germany – BASF has launched a new ether-based thermoplastic polyurethane series. Elastollan 1400 is said to provide good hydrolysis and microbe resistance, combining stable processing behaviour with good compression set properties.
The company said it has good burst pressure performance, and can be processed by both extrusion and injection moulding. It also has good ageing stability.
Its hydrolysis resistance and good mechanical properties make it suitable for use in industries such as transportation, industrial manufacturing and footwear, BASF said. In particular, its wet slip resistance should be advantageous in footwear applications.
The material’s dynamic properties result from a discrete glass transition temperature allied to an extended viscoelastic plateau. These contribute to an improved dimensional stability, and a wide thermal application range.
Further advantages, the company said, come from its lower carbon footprint than TPU grades with a comparable performance. For example, for a hardness of Shore 80A, the footprint can be reduced by up to 30%.
Experimental grades for specific applications and processing technologies are now available for sampling.