Laprene wine stoppers

Laprene ® (SEBS)

Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene Compound
Products
The brand name Laprene® refers to a family of Thermoplastic Elastomers in which the elastic phase is made up of SEBS rubber (Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene) and the plastic phase has usually a polyolefinic nature. The plastic phase allows Laprene® both to be processed in an easy, inexpensive way by means of the traditional technologies used for thermoplastic materials and to be fully recyclable, while the elastomeric phase features typically rubber-like specifications such as elastic recovery and softness.
The chemical nature of the SEBS rubber is saturated, which means it has no double bonds, and this particular structure gives Laprene® a special resistance to weathering agents and UV ageing.

Main specifications

The Laprene® product family includes a wide range of materials featuring very interesting characteristics:
  • Excellent resistance to UV-aging, ozone and weathering
  • Wide hardness range from 2 ShA to 60 ShD
  • Operating temperature ranging from - 50 to +120°C depending on the grades
  • High fatigue resistance
  • Excellent resistance to several chemical agents, i.e. bases, acids, alcohols, detergents, water solutions
  • High elastic recovery within a wide temperature range
  • High thermal and electric insulation values
  • Specific rheology for each type of process
  • Density ranging from 0.90 g/cm3 to 1.20 g/cm3 and more
  • Excellent colorability and aesthetic properties
 

RANGE

  • Standard grades for injection moulding filled and semi-filled grades, from 10 ShA to 50 ShD
  • Traslucent and trasparent grades starting from 2 ShA hardness
  • Extrusion grades hardness range from 25 ShA to 90 ShA
  • Grades for adhesion on polar polymers: ABS, PC, PC/ABS, ASA, PETG, PMMA, SMMA
    Laprene 830.696 is suitable for adhesion on PS.
    Laprene series 84 is suitable for adhesion on PE.
  • Food contact grades: for injection moulding (also to be expanded) and extrusion
  • Grades with very high fluidity
  • Grades with improved temperature resistance up to 120 °C and over

Applications

AUTOMOTIVE

Soft skins, mats for glove compartments, keypads, soft-touch finishes, glass encapsulation

BUILDING

Extruded seals for doors and windows, simple and co-moulded hydraulic seals 

HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES

Magnetic seals for refrigerators, electric appliances handles, remote controls covers, mobile phones covers, push-button panels, shock absorbing protections for vacuum cleaners

SPORT & LEISURE

Items for diving (flippers, snorkels, masks) and skiing (ski pole handles, ski boots)

FOOD

Synthetic corks for wine and liquor bottles, gasket for food containers

COSMETICS

Handles for toothbrushes and healthcare items, perfume bottle coatings

Coupling with other polymeric materials

Laprene® is particularly suitable for co-moulding and co-extrusion with polypropylene (PP).
Some special grades for adhesion on other polymers such as ABS, PC, PC/ABS, ASA, PETG,PMMA, SMMA are also available.

Processing method

Laprene® can be processed through typical thermoplastics technologies, such as injection-moulding, extrusion, blow-moulding, calendering and thermoforming Normally it does not require drying before processing, apart from some special grades.

Injection moulding

PLASTICIZING SCREW: polyolefins screws having L/D ratio ≥ 20 and compression ratio ranging from 2.5 to 3.5:1 are the most suitable
PLASTICIZING SPEED: high
INJECTION SPEED: medium-high
INJECTION PRESSURE: medium
RUNNERS: it is advisable to use runners which are as short as possible, having a circular section and a gradually decreasing flow-through diameter
INJECTION POINTS: usually having circular section and diameter ≥ 0.7 mm. We recommend not to use injection points having a diameter <0.3 mm without prior selection of the appropriate grades to be agreed with SO.F.TER. Technical Support.
AIR VENTS: the mould should be provided with appropriate air vents (diameter 0.03 - 0.05 mm)
SHRINKAGE: ranging from 1,5% to 3,5% according to the material hardness.
DRYING: usually not necessary

INJECTION MOULDING INDICATIVE TEMPERATURES
Hardness < 80 ShA: 1st Zone 170 °C | 2nd Zone 180 °C | 3rd Zone 180 °C | Nozzle 190 °C | Mould 20-40 °C
Hardness > 80 ShA: 1st Zone 180 °C | 2nd Zone 190 °C | 3rd Zone 190 °C | Nozzle 200 °C | Mould 20-40 °C

Extrusion

PLASTICIZING SCREW: polyolefins screws having L/D ratio ≥ 24 and compression ratio from 2:1 to 3:1 are most suitable
DIE: a land of < 10 mm is recommended
BREAKER PLATE: 60 Mesh
DRYING: usually not necessary

EXTRUSION INDICATIVE TEMPERATURES
Hardness < 75 ShA: 1st Zone 160 °C | 2nd Zone 170 °C | 3rd Zone 180 °C | Head 180 °C | Die 170 °C
Hardness > 75 ShA: 1st Zone 170 °C | 2nd Zone 180 °C | 3rd Zone 185 °C | Head 195 °C | Die 185 °C

Recycling

Laprene® is a fully recyclable material and it can be reused after regrinding. The user shall always verify that the compound obtained by mixing virgin and reground material is suitable for the specific application and that its properties meet the requirements.

Storage

This product should be stored in a covered facility and kept away from moisture and heat.
Products

Download brochure

Discover Easyplastic

Browse the applications and find the material that is most suitable for you. Immediately download the technical datasheet!

Enter Easyplastic
Cookies help us to provide our services. By using our services you agree to our use of cookies. For further information on cookies visit the Cookies Privacy Policy page.