Technological watch

WASHINGTON, Pa.—Audia Elastomers has launched a range of thermoplastic elastomers based on marine-waste plastics.

The OP-labeled elastomer materials incorporate up to 45 percent marine waste and 70 percent total recycled material content in hardness from 35 Shore A to 95 Shore A, Audia Elastomers said.

The introduction, it said, "increases the potential market for marine waste beyond basic PET fibers and containers, and allows more brand owners the opportunity to help keep oceans clean and free from debris."

The focus is on recapturing beach clean-up materials, commercial fishing gear and ocean-bound plastics for use in TPEs, Anthony Marozsan, market development manager, Audia Elastomers said.

"These materials offer our customers a cost-effective way to incorporate marine plastics into products without sacrificing performance," Marozsan said. "A key component of this initiative is to create a market for recycled plastic from regions with poor existing waste infrastructure before it enters the ocean."

Incorporated using a proprietary compounding technology, sourced materials "are customized for each brand owner to focus on at-risk recycling, fishing gear, or beach clean-up," said the company. These materials, it claimed, "can compete in high-performance applications with conventional TPEs, TPVs, and TPU chemistries for use in consumer goods, toys, electronics, and sporting equipment."

Audia Elastomers is working closely with customers to commercially adopt its new marine waste-based TPEs for selected end-use applications, its statement added.

Part of the Audia family of companies, Audia Elastomers supplies TPEs for markets including automotive, consumer electronics, housewares, industrial and personal care. The Washington-based company's portfolio includes styrenic block copolymers, thermoplastic polyurethanes, copolyesters, and thermoplastic vulcanizates.