By Liz White, UT staffShirley, Massachusetts-TPE Solutions Inc., which claims to distribute "industry's broadest lines of TPEs (TPRs, TPVs and TPOs), says it is now selling a full line of thermoplastic urethanes (TPUs), sourced from Spanish TPU experts Merquinsa of Barcelona. The firm has inventories of the TPUs in the US and says supply of these materials-noted for their high abrasion resistance and ease of processing-are immediately available in a broad range of hardness grades from 69 Shore A to 75 Shore D. These have special soft-touch characteristics, and are offered as well in special flame resistant and overmolding grades, said the firm. Potential uses of the soft TPUs lie in automotive, consumer and industrial goods and wire and cable, according to TPE Solutions. The materials are marketed under the Pearlthane and Pearlcoat brands, for injection moulding and extrusion. Merquinsa is "the world's only stand-alone and largest privately held TPU producer, said TPE Solutions, in a company announcement.TPUs, also known for their wear resistance and 'printability,' are ideally suited for a variety of applications, as indicated in the novel application illustrated-animal identification tags. "This recent product line addition truly gives us a broader range of chemistries and offerings than any other TPE seller and service group anywhere," said Jonas Angus, president of TPE Solutions, Angus set up TPE Solutions in 2004 and the firm says it "stands apart from most TPE material suppliers by offering all types of TPE technologies." These include olefinic elastomers, TPVs, SEBS, MPR, TPU, COPE , COPA as well as super TPVs and speciality alloys. "
