Audia Elastomers unveils AudiaFlex sustainable TPEs

Audia Elastomers has announced the launch of its AudiaFlex family of sustainable thermoplastic elastomers.

The new AudiaFlex family is comprised of customisable grades produced from post-consumer, post-industrial, bio-based, and marine-based sources. 

Frank Axelrod, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said: “The AudiaFlex product line is a reflection of Audia’s commitment to sustainability. We’re directly responding to the market forces that are demanding new sustainable material options.”

AudiaFlex materials mirror the properties of most virgin TPEs and deliver comparable capabilities in terms of haptics, color, adhesion, and durometer. The broad slate of sustainable TPEs are commercially available. They can compete in high-performance applications with conventional TPEs, TPVs, and TPU chemistries in personal care, consumer household, consumer electronics, automotive, and toys. AudiaFlex grades are manufactured at Audia facilities in  the US and China. 

The AudiaFlex family includes the OP line of TPEs based on marine waste plastics. The OP line of elastomer materials includes products with up to 45 per cent marine waste and 70 per cent total recycled material content in a wide hardness range from 20 Shore A to 95 Shore A. Audia is focused on recapturing beach clean-up materials, commercial fishing gear, and ocean-bound plastics as the source for its OP line. 

Rounding out the series of sustainable materials is AudiaFlex Bio, which consists of 5-90% of bio-based content per ASTM D6866. Specific formulations are available for oxo-degradable and compostable applications in hardness from 20 Shore A to 95 Shore A. 

Audia’s broad sustainability effort includes an ongoing effort to develop sustainable materials for customers as well as internally focused activities centered on achieving zero landfill, carbon footprint reduction, and sustainable operations.