TAGS: Green and Bioplastics
Dow announces the general availability of its first low density liquid silicone rubber (LSR) for injection molding to brand owners and formulators in Europe and NA. The material’s properties make it a favorable option particularly for food dosing valves, closures, dispensers, seals, gaskets and other food contact applications.
Improved Processing and High Resilience
In addition to its notable sustainability contribution, SILASTIC™ 9250-40 LSR extends Dow’s LSR portfolio on key processing and performance characteristics. The white, low viscosity liquid silicone rubber helps fabricators improve the processing compared to standard LSR while utilizing established injection-molding machines.
SILASTIC™ 9250-40 LSR helps brands create better performing closures and dispensers for food contact and other consumer applications. The new material has been designed specifically for the molding of closures and dispensers in a wide range of consumer packaging applications. Its low compression set allows reliable sealing. Thanks to its high resilience, valves made with this lightweight LSR are capable of superior dispensing performance compared to existing solutions, especially for inverted packages and in food applications. SILASTIC™ 9250-40 LSR is formulated to meet the requirements of the BfR XV recommendation and of FDA 21 CFR 177.2600.
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This innovative material expands Dow’s SILASTIC™ injection molding LSR portfolio in several key areas. It allows us to help our partners along the value chain fulfill ambitious recycling targets. The innovation at the same time enables attractive gains versus standard LSR and TPE in processing and in-use performance,” said Nathalie Gerard, european market manager consumer rubber, Dow Consumer Solutions.
Low-density LSR Stands Out in Gravity-separation Process
One aspect that sets SILASTIC™ 9250-40 LSR apart from standard LSR is its low density. Floatability is a key factor when separating materials to produce high-quality recycled feedstocks. With a specific gravity of only 0.97, SILASTIC™ 9250-40 LSR can be split from higher density plastics in a gravity-separation process. This helps reduce some of the decisive impediments in plastics recycling and allows fabricators, brands, and consumers to stay aligned with regulatory mandates and their own sustainability objectives.
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The launch of this lightweight LSR is strongly aligned with Dow’s strategy to design products for circularity together with its partners in the packaging industry,” said Loriane Parisot, Global TS&D sustainability leader. “
Dow has expressed its commitment to create products that are inherently good for the planet as well as good for the people they are made for.”
Source: Dow