The Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT in Oberhausen, Germany has developed a new kind of plastic compound from rubber residues, which it claims can yield-high quality materials.
The environmentally-friendly material mix called Elastomer Powder Modified Thermoplastics (EPMT) can be utilised to manufacture high-quality materials such as wheel, knobs, handles, and steerable castors, Fraunhofer researchers said.
EPMT is composed of rubber residues made into elastomer powder and blended with polyprolylene. The mixture can be processed through injection moulding and extrusion machines.
According to the researchers, they can produce 100 to 350 kg of this new plastic compound every hour.
Dr. Holger Wack, scientist at UMSICHT and other members of the research team have formed a venture with the Ruhr Compounds, which will manage, produce and market the EPMT.
The groups is also collaborating with Nike for the use of EPMT in the latter’s sports products.
(RJA)