The robust characteristics of Elastollan make it the superior choice for use in hose and tube applications.
Elastollan provides puncture and abrasion resistance, along with an impressively high burst-pressure rating, yet it also ensures a high degree of flexibility for kink resistance and ease of coiling. BASF also has the chemical expertise to enhance additional key Elastollan properties:
Polyether-based grades of Elastollan offer improved microbial resistance, enhanced resistance to weak acids/bases and moisture/humidity, and low service temperatures.
Polyester-based grades of Elastollan supply improved resistance to oils/solvents and weather (UV), along with high service temperatures.
Grades of Elastollan can be formulated with flame-retarding characteristics as well the ability to meet FDA and other certifications.
Water Hoses (NSF)
When used in the health and safety industry, water hoses benefit from Elastollan traits like high burst pressure and hydrolytic stability, as well as NSF 61 certification.
Need help finding an Elastollan TPU product for a hose and tube application that isn’t listed? Contact Alliance Polymers & Services at 734-710-6700 or info@apstpe.com and one of our TPU professionals will provide you with expert advice on how Elastollan TPUs can help meet your needs.
Spiral Hoses
Elastollan TPU is the perfect choice for spiral hose manufacturers, providing great long-term and low-temperature flexibility, superior abrasion/cut/tear resistance and excellent hydrolytic stability.
Pneumatic Hoses & Brake Tubes
Top-rated pneumatic hoses and brake tubes can be easily produced using Elastollan, which adds abrasion/tear/cut/puncture resistance, high burst pressure, high elasticity and coil retention, long-term flexibility, oil/fuel resistance, low-temperature flexibility and hydrolytic stability
Organic Waste Pipes
Notable impact and abrasion resistance, high burst pressure and resistance to waste chemicals are just some of the Elastollan qualities relied on in making organic waste pipes.
Medical Tubes
Makers of quality medical tubing can depend on Elastollan for high burst pressure, hydrolytic stability, transparency, clarity and both FDA and USP Class VI certification.
Irrigation Hoses
Traits such as impact and abrasion resistance, high burst pressure, resistance to weathering, color stability and resistance to farm chemicals allow Elastollan to be successfully utilized in irrigation hoses.
Hydraulic Hoses
When used to manufacture hydraulic hoses, Elastollan is notable for its ability to impart fuel/oil resistance, low-temperature flexibility, abrasion/cut/tear resistance, puncture resistance, hydrolytic stability, creep resistance and high-temperature resistance.
Fuel Hoses
Offering fuel/oil resistance, low-temperature flexibility, abrasion/cut/tear resistance, puncture resistance, hydrolytic stability, creep resistance and high-temperature resistance, Elastollan can fuel the production of high-quality fuel hoses.
Fire Hoses
When used to manufacture fire hoses, Elastollan offers a high burst pressure and excellent hydrolytic stability, along with certification from NSF.
Conveyer Hoses
Exceptional tear/cut/abrasion resistance, high puncture resistance, long-term flexibility and low-temperature flexibility are among the qualities Elastollan brings to the manufacture of conveyor hoses. And BASF's polyester-grade Elastollan is particularly suitable for fuel conveyor hoses.
Cured-in-place Pipe (CIPP)
Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) applications demand superior Elastollan properties such as high burst pressure, long-term flexibility, NSF certification, hydrolytic stability, and chemical resistance.
Catheters (FDA & NAMSA)
Microbial resistance, high burst pressure, hydrolytic stability, transparency and compliancy with FDA, USP Class VI and NSF 61 all combine to make Elastollan an excellent product for manufacturing catheters.
For premium wire and cable products, Elastollan offers a variety of outstanding properties. Among them are its durability, flexibility through a wide temperature range and excellent moisture resistance. Elastollan also has unique characteristics for more specialized uses, such as outstanding abrasion resistance and coil-retention for coiled cable products. Further, Elastollan formulations can be adjusted by leveraging BASF’s expertise in the chemical industry:
Because it is available in both polyether- and polyester-based forms, Elastollan can be formulated for improved microbial resistance and resistance to weak acids/bases, oils/solvents, weather (UV), and low or high temperatures.
It can also be made with flame-retardant qualities using both proprietary halogenated and non-halogenated additives.
It has the ability to meet FDA and other certifications.
Land Seismic Cables
Elastollan can shake things up by being used to manufacture land seismic cables that stand out in terms high puncture resistance, long-term and low-temperature flexibility, microbial resistance, hydrolytic stability, resistance to weathering and color stability
Snow Cables
Getting a good grip on snow cable manufacturing is simple with Elastollan, which supplies low-temperature flexibility, hydrolytic stability, high elasticity, high tensile strength, microbial resistance and abrasion/cut/tear resistance.
Robot Cables
Imparting good tear/cut/abrasion resistance, long-term flexibility, low-temperature flexibility, microbial resistance, hydrolytic stability, oil/fuel resistance, resistance to weathering and color stability, Elastollan is an excellent selection for making robot cables.
Over-Molded Connectors & Components
For outstanding results in the production of over-molded connectors, Elastollan offers tight seals, good adhesion to substrates, hydrolytic resistance, strain reliefs, microbial resistance and resistance to oil.
Oil Exploration Cables
Companies searching for the right material for oil exploration cables can rely on Elastollan for high puncture resistance, long-term flexibility, low-temperature flexibility, microbial resistance, hydrolytic stability, resistance to weathering and color stability.
Mining Cables (MSHA,UL)
When made from Elastollan, mining cables can be certified by both MSHA and UL. In addition, they benefit from flex-fatigue resistance, long-term and low-temperature flexibility, and hydrolytic stability.
Elastollan characteristics such as long-term flexibility, low-temperature flexibility, hydrolytic stability, good electric properties and microbial resistance all help in the manufacturing of first-class flex cables.
Flame Retardant Mining Cables
In addition to its flame-retarding characteristics, Elastollan also imparts flex-fatigue resistance, long-term flexibility and low-temperature flexibility to flame retardant mining cables.
Cable Jacketing
Superior cable jacketing requires superior Elastollan qualities that include long-term flexibility, low-temperature flexibility, hydrolytic stability, good electric properties and microbial resistance. Flame-retardant and halogen-free Elastollan grades are particularly well suited for high-performance cable uses.
Automotive Sensor Cables
High-quality automotive sensor cables require Elastollan properties such as abrasion/tear/cut resistance, long-term flexibility, low-temperature flexibility, microbial resistance, hydrolytic stability, oil/fuel resistance, resistance to weathering and color stability.
Automotive ABS Cables
Companies can stop looking for a TPU that excels in automotive ABS cables; Elastollan has it all, including low-temperature flexibility, long-term flexibility, abrasion/cut/tear resistance, hydrolytic stability, microbial resistance and oil/fuel resistance.
Need help finding an Elastollan TPU product for a wire and cable application that isn’t listed? Contact Alliance Polymers & Services at 734-710-6700 or info@apstpe.com and one of our TPU professionals will provide you with expert advice on how Elastollan TPUs can help meet your needs.
Elastollan offers a wide range of products and superior properties for film, sheet and fabric-coating applications. These characteristics include excellent transparency, outstanding abrasion/puncture resistance and tensile strength, and good low-temperature flexibility. In addition, specific Elastollan properties can be enhanced by BASF’s expertise in polyurethane chemistry:
Aliphatic grades are available.
Special Elastollan grades can be formulated for high Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR), good UV resistance and the ability to achieve FDA and NSF certifications.
Polyether-based grades of Elastollan offer good microbial resistance, enhanced resistance to weak acids/bases and excellent hydrolytic stability.
Polyester-based grades of Elastollan provide good oil/solvent resistance and high-temperature performance.
Wound Dressings
In addition to the characteristics mentioned above, Elastollan also provides wound dressings with hydrolytic stability, FDA and USP Class VI certification, and washability.
Wheelchair Cushions
Imparting washability, microbial resistance and hydrolytic stability, Elastollan is an important part of the manufacture of wheelchair cushions.
Softball Covers
Elastollan is a big hit with makers of softball covers, who prefer the BASF TPU for its tear/cut/abrasion resistance, high puncture resistance, long-term flexibility, low-temperature flexibility, hydrolytic stability, resistance to weathering and color stability.
Ski Laminates
Tear/cut/abrasion resistance, high puncture resistance, long-term flexibility, low-temperature flexibility, hydrolytic stability, resistance to weathering and color stability are just some of the Elastollan characteristics that aid the production of ski laminates.
Collapsible Fuel Tanks
When used in the manufacture of collapsible fuel tanks, Elastollan can impart abrasion/tear/cut resistance, high burst pressure, good adhesion to fabric, barrier properties, low-temperature flexibility, hydrolytic stability, fuel resistance, resistance to weathering and color stability.
Breathable Sport Fabrics
For breathable sport fabrics, Elastollan has you covered with traits such as cut/tear/abrasion resistance, high puncture resistance, low-temperature/long-term flexibility, hydrolytic stability, resistance to weathering and color stability.
Bike Seat Covers
Elastollan can help smooth the road to producing superior bike seat covers with characteristics including tear/cut/abrasion resistance, high puncture resistance, long-term flexibility, low-temperature flexibility, hydrolytic stability, resistance to weathering and color stability
Automotive Foam-In-Place Seats
Manufacturers are comfortable using Elastollan for automotive foam-in-place seats because of the TPU’s significant tear/cut/abrasion resistance, adhesion to fabric, barrier properties, low-temperature flexibility, hydrolytic stability, resistance to weathering and color stability
Bedsheets (Moisture Barriers)
Elastollan offers products with excellent hydrolytic stability and microbial resistance for use in manufacturing bedsheets.
Need help finding an Elastollan TPU product for a film and sheet application that isn’t listed? Contact Alliance Polymers & Services at 734-710-6700 or info@apstpe.com and one of our TPU professionals will provide you with expert advice on how Elastollan TPUs can help meet your needs.
A new, clear grade of Polymax Maxelast® C-Series thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) comprising one of the most complete product lines of soft and clear styrenic TPEs available, has just been introduced by Alliance Polymers & Services, LLC (APS). Suggested applications range from soft gel shoe insoles and health and exercise equipment through harder grades for child and pet toys as well as a wide range of consumer and personal care applications.
With one of the broadest range of Shore A hardnesses of TPEs available on the market O Shore A to 99 Shore A the new non-toxic and environmentally friendly, odorless Maxelast C-Series of TPEs is also latex and phthalate-free. The C-Series is suggested as excellent alternatives to silicone and PVC and can be overmolded onto polypropylene or polystyrene. Further, the ultra-soft grades are ideally suited for gel shoe insoles and exercise paraphernalia where softness combined with durability (i.e. mechanical strength and rapid elastic recovery) are required.
About Alliance Polymers & Services, LLC
Alliance Polymers & Services, LLC (APS) in Romulus, MI, is a full service warehousing, distribution, shipping and technical service organization dedicated to helping TPE, TPU and other elastomer marketers and processors with all their product and technical support needs. The firm currently markets and supports Polymax Maxelast® TPEs and BASF Elastollan® TPUs. APS is unique in that they offer elastomer materials in quantities large and small (from truckloads down to drums and bags). APS works with a series of independent technical agents located in key cities and markets throughout North America.
Try to name the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. and possibly the world. If you said soccer, football, or lacrosse, the correct answer is Ultimate, a sport using flying discs. It is now being played in more than 42 countries by 4.9 million men, women, boys and girls in the US alone. One reason for its popularity is the game can be played on nearly any existing field and incorporates all the beneficial elements of a fun sport. Added to this is the low cost of the equipment (flying discs) and readily available facilities. Plus, Ultimate is easy to learn and enables players to hone their skills very quickly.
Companies that make the equipment attest to the growth of this sport based on their increasing sales volumes. Producers of the discs, the Ultimate players’ trade association, and the leading materials supplier for the disc, have all experienced ongoing growth. These firms include disc manufacturer Discraft, Inc. (Wixom, MI); USA Ultimate, the US national governing body for the sport of Ultimate (Boulder, CO); and Alliance Polymers & Services (APS), (Romulus, MI). APS is the supplier and materials consultant for BASF Elastollan® brand of TPUs (thermoplastic polyurethanes) used in the manufacture of the special high performance discs.
Ultimate Explained
USA Ultimate (www.usaultimate.org) boasts more than 30,000 members. The sport of Ultimate combines the non-stop movement and athletic endurance of soccer with the aerial passing skills of football. The game is played by two, 7-player squads with a high-tech proprietary polyurethane disc on a field similar to a football field (70 yards of playing field and two, 25 yard end zones). The object of the game is to score by catching a pass in the opponent’s end zone. A dropped pass, holding a disc for more than 10 seconds, an interception or a pass out of bounds all cause a turnover. There are no officials needed in that the game is governed by the “Spirit of the Game ™”, a tradition of sportsmanship for fair play. More than 3,000 Ultimate fields now exist across the US.
No small wonder the popularity of Ultimate and other uses for discs that millions of flying discs are produced each year by Discraft at their Wixom, MI headquarters. Included in their family of products for Ultimate, Discraft has the distinction of manufacturing the Ultra-Star 175 series of Ultimate discs, the only official disc for sanctioned tournament play.
Esquire magazine ranked the Ultimate disc as #19 on their List of 31 Things Every Man Should Own.
Material a Key Factor in Quality/Flight of Disc
According to spokesmen at the Discraft headquarters, no material used in the manufacture of rugged flying discs works better than TPU (thermoplastic polyurethanes), and specifically a proprietary blend of TPU from the BASF Elastollan series of TPUs, distributed by Alliance Polymers & Services (APS). Company sources note that this particular type of thermoplastic elastomer ensures the Ultimate disc fly, handle and perform just right. Features and benefits of the discs made with TPUs include: they remain flexible in all types of weather, are extra tough and are extremely ‘grippy,’ even in wet weather.
At the Discraft headquarters just northwest of Detroit where research and development, sales and manufacturing are all accomplished under a single roof, TPU discs come off the injection molding production line in a steady stream. Careful quality control is a must, starting with the propriety designs from the firm’s engineering department, their mold building department, and finally their hot stamping/decorating operation. An especially important facet of the TPU is the even flow of the material to ensure each disc performs exactly the same as another; evenly and accurately with consistent weight distribution.
“Our choice of materials used in the production of our quality discs is absolutely critical in order to meet our high standards, not to mention those of the sport,” says Mike Wagner, VP of Operations at Discraft. “We quickly discovered many years ago that lesser polymers do not have the requisite characteristics to withstand the rigors of the game. That’s when, fortuitously, Roger Huarng, formerly of BASF Corporation and now a principal of Alliance Polymers & Services (APS) approached us with a better materials solution.”
That solution, recalls Wagner, was an extremely durable product sold under the Elastollan name. It the most durable elastomers on the market, known for its toughness along with other production and user benefits:
·Low temperature flexibility
·Tear/cut resistance
·Abrasion resistance
·Customizable with individualized hot stamping designs and logos
·High puncture resistance
·Excellent weatherability, color stable
·Long term flexibility
·Grippy/tacky feel
·Fungus resistance
Supplier/Molder Relationship Strong
As Discraft grew, the help, insight and support given by Huarng and his associates has seen Discraft expand their product line to keep in the forefront of the industry in disc sales and leadership in the Ultimate sport industry and another growing sport, Disc Golf.
For all of their quality discs, Discraft must be assured of the consistency of the TPU materials they use. Included in the “must haves” are even flow of the material during the injection molding process to ensure each and every disc has the right balance - meaning in flight the disc does not wobble. Weight is also a factor, as the weight of the disc is contingent upon the type of use for which it is designed. The complexities of the mold design by Discraft include special undercuts and ridges for various flight distances.
Depending on the time of year, production needs of Discraft vary. Therefore, the disc manufacturer relies on Alliance (APS) to provide large or smaller amounts of TPU elastomers at a moment’s notice, delivering materials on a JIT (just in time) basis. “It is our mission here at APS to provide Discraft as well as our other customers with product when and where they need it,” says Huarng at the firm’s nearby distribution headquarters. “It’s an optimum relationship between a manufacturer/molder and a materials supplier.”
About the Companies
Discraft is one of the disc industry’s leading designers and manufacturers of a wide selection of standard and specialized flying discs. Their products range from those designed for retail sale, to highly specialized custom colored and printed (hot stamped) products for teams, companies or groups wanting their own artwork for competitions or promotions. The company offers numerous grades of discs at various price levels and sells them through retailers and wholesalers worldwide.
Alliance Polymers & Services, LLC (APS) in Romulus, MI, is a full service warehousing, distribution, shipping and technical service organization dedicated to helping TPE, TPU and other elastomer marketers and processors with all their product and technical support needs. The firm currently markets and supports Polymax Maxelast® TPEs and BASF Elastollan® TPUs. APS is unique in that they offer elastomer materials in quantities large and small (from truckloads down to drums and bags).
APS is owned and operated by three of the industry’s leading marketing and technical support executives, Roger J. Huarng, Stephane Morin and Ron Sheu, formerly with BASF Corporation. They work with a series of independent technical agents located in key cities and markets throughout the North American Continent.
For more information on discs or the materials:
For more information on the many Ultimate, Disc Golf or freestyle disc products, contact: Marketing Department, Discraft, 29592 Beck Road, Wixom, MI 48393. Tel: 248-624-2250. Web: www.discraft.com. Email: sales@discraft.com.
For more information on TPUs and TPEs for conventional, unique or highly durable applications, contact: Marketing Department, Alliance Polymers & Services LLC, (APS), 30735 Cypress Road, Suite 400, Romulus, MI 48174. Tel: 734-710-6700. Fax: 734-710-6715. Web: www.apstpe.com. Email: sales@apstpe.com.
