Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) for commercial use was invented by Lubrizol in 1959, while the company was still called BF Goodrich. In 2019, TPU reached a milestone of 60 years of bridging the gap between flexible rubber and rigid plastics.
TPU is a highly functional elastomer with unique properties that offers both superior performance and processing flexibility. The Lubrizol TPU product portfolio consists of polyester, polyether, polycarbonate and specialty adhesive compounds. The key to the versatility of TPU is that its hardness can be highly customized, with the material displaying the following attributes:
Bjørn Thorsen A/S is the Nordic distributor of Lubrizol TPU for both Engineered Polymers and Medical applications.
The Lubrizol Engineered Polymers range includes ESTANE® TPU, Estaloc® RETPU, Pearlthane™ ECO TPU, Pearlcoat™ TPU; Pearlbond™ TPU, Pearlstick™ TPU, Isoplast® ETP brands[1]. These polymers are chosen for many applications in a wide variety of markets:
The Health team of Lubrizol Life Science develops functional polymer solutions suitable for various medical applications, including implantable devices. The key brands are: Pellethane® TPU, Tecoflex™ TPU, Tecothane™ TPU, Isoplast® ETPU and Carbothane™ TPU[2]. Some of the applications for medical TPU are:
Main benefits of TPU are:
- Abrasion, impact and puncture resistance
- Antimicrobial and fungal resistance
- Bio-based[3] and recyclable[4]
- Chemical and hydrolysis resistance
- Easy-to-extrude
- Electrostatic dissipative (ESD)
- Non-halogenated flame retardancy
- High moisture vapor transmission
- Optical clarity
- Skin contact approved
- Soft
- Elastic
- UV resistant
- Wide hardness range (52Ato 85D) and polymer compatibility
To learn how TPU materials can improve your products, contact Mikko Långström at mol@bjorn-thorsen.com.
[1] All these brands are property of the Lubrizol Corporation
[2] All these brands are property of the Lubrizol Corporation
[3] Bio-based content as certified in accordance with ASTMD D-6866
[4] Recyclability is based on access to a readily available standard recycling program that supports such materials. Products may not be available in all areas.
About Lubrizol
The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a market-driven global company that combines complex, specialty chemicals to optimize the quality, performance and value of customers’ products while reducing their environmental impact. It is a leader at combining market insights with chemistry and application capabilities to deliver valuable solutions to customers in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. Lubrizol improves lives by acting as an essential partner in our customers’ success, delivering efficiency, reliability or wellness to their end users. Technologies include lubricant additives for engine oils, driveline and other transportation-related fluids, industrial lubricants, as well as additives for gasoline and diesel fuel. In addition, Lubrizol makes ingredients and additives for home care, personal care and skin care products and specialty materials encompassing polymer and coatings technologies, along with polymer-based pharmaceutical and medical device solutions. With headquarters in Wickliffe, Ohio, Lubrizol owns and operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries, as well as sales and technical offices around the world. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has approximately 8,700 employees worldwide. Revenues for 2018 were $6.8 billion. For more information, visit www.lubrizol.com
About the Bjørn Thorsen A/S group (BTG)
BTG’s core distribution team focuses on sales of special raw materials from leading chemical manufacturers (e.g. BYK, ExxonMobil, Lubrizol, Borealis, Cabot, Sun Chemicals, Venator, DRT and others) to customers in diverse end uses in Automotive, Coating, Construction, Industrial, Medical, etc. In recent years, BTG has increasingly acted as true solution provider, by leveraging its considerable application and processing technology know-how, together with flexible and efficient logistics services from warehouses in several European and other locations around the world. This broader capability is reinforced by the development expertise of its affiliates, Customized Compound Solutions A/S (CCS) and Nordic Grafting Company A/S (NGC) that complement BTG’s offering with their own ranges of customized alloys, compounds and reactive polymers, available globally in response to individual needs. www.bjorn-thorsen.com
