In the new products, the polyether glycols in the soft segments are replaced with polyether glycols made from renewable, plant-based raw materials that do not compete with the food value chain. The proportion of renewable raw materials varies with the Shore D hardness, which ranges from D 30 to D 63 in the standard types, with renewable materials accounting for a proportion of up to 72% by weight. All Hytrel® ECO B materials are produced at a factory that operates on electricity generated from 100% renewable sources. In terms of performance and processability, the products offer the same qualities as established materials but with a significantly smaller carbon footprint. The new materials also bring advantages over existing sustainable Hytrel® RS products, as they no longer need to be physically separated in the recycling process.

The Hytrel® product family combines the flexibility of an elastomer with the strength and processability of a thermoplastic, and the materials offer outstanding flexibility and flex cracking resistance at both low and high temperatures – from -40°C to 150°C, depending on the application. Other properties offered by Hytrel®, which is known by the international acronym TEEE (thermoplastic elastomer ether ester), include good elasticity, excellent resistance to compression set and creep, and resistance to swelling in oils and aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in the medium temperature range. Special properties such as UV, flame and temperature resistance can be improved by the addition of Hytrel® concentrates.

Areas of application for the product family include the automotive industry and the wire and cable sector. Other example applications include conveyor belts, bedsprings, gears, membranes and films – and Hytrel® is also used as an applicator in the cosmetics industry, e.g. for the application of mascara.

“The sheer volume of enquiries demonstrates the level of interest in resource-friendly polymers among our customers,” explains Niklas Bornhöft, Product Manager Performance Elastomers. “With that in mind, we’re  delighted to be adding new, sustainable products to our range in the form of the Hytrel® ECO B products from our long-standing partner DuPont. Hytrel® ECO B is produced in accordance with the mass balance approach set out in the ISCC PLUS standard. As we’re also an ISCC PLUS-certified distributor, our customers benefit from the utmost value chain transparency as they seek to meet their sustainability targets.”

“With the launch of Hytrel® ECO B, we are able to provide our customers with a range of true drop-in solutions that enable them, immediately, to reduce the environmental footprint of their products,” said Csaba Holop, Global Business Director, Hytrel®. ”And thanks to our channel partners such as Biesterfeld, even more manufacturers will be able to transition to these new grades.”

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