New ADDHERE(TM) Adhesive Tie Layer Bonds Acrylic Cap Layers to Substrates of Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) in Production of Sheet for Use in The...( Proprietary non-olefinic material b...),Health

Proprietary, non-olefinic material brings new levels of gloss, depth of

image, and surface durability to high-performance TPO sheet stock

MANSFIELD, Texas, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Solvay Engineered Polymers, Inc., has introduced its first adhesive tie-layer material for use in the production of extruded sheet. The new ADDHERE(TM) tie layer is designed specifically to bond an acrylic layer onto a substrate of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) for use in thermoforming applications.

Effective bonding of dissimilar materials

The ability of the ADDHERE material to bond simultaneously to both an acrylic and an olefinic layer is a major breakthrough in the production of olefinic sheet stock. "Acrylic films are well understood and widely used across many industries for high gloss, depth of image, and surface durability in decorative applications," explains Eric Short, manager of the thermoforming business unit at Solvay Engineered Polymers. "And engineered polyolefins are likewise valued for their impact resistance, dimensional stability, and low- temperature ductility. But until now, there has been no way to effectively bond these two dissimilar materials in an efficient, in-line process."

ADDHERE adhesive tie layer is a pelletized material that can be co- extruded with a TPO substrate, to which acrylic film rollstock can be laminated in-line. Or sheet producers can tri-extrude each of the three materials - acrylic, tie layer, and TPO - from the melt phase to produce a multi-layer sheet.

New ADDHERE tie layer can be colored and recycled

Color can be introduced into an acrylic/TPO sheet in the opaque tie layer. With the acrylic layer free of pigment, it can provide optimum gloss, depth of image, and scratch resistance. At the same time, the absence of pigment from the TPO substrate means its performance properties can be easily and economically controlled.

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