Kevin Kim, Managing Director
At the recently concluded plastics and rubber show in Seoul, South Korea, Koplas 2019, Germany’s Kraiburg Rubber was promoting its Kraibon elastomers for lightweight construction of automobiles, which is a key issue in modern vehicle production processes, while taking into account the comfort requirements of customers.
Kraibon is a thin film made of non-cross-linked rubber that hardens within the component laminate in the same production process; and is a suited supplement for fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP) for application in the automotive industry, wind power, aerospace, railway, medical technology, sports.
By integrating an elastomer in the composition of FRP it is possible to achieve an alternating structure of a hard and soft material that combines the good mechanical properties of the FRP with the good “elastic” properties of the elastomer. The main areas of application are improved acoustics and impact and splintering behaviour, said Kevin Kim, Managing Director of Kraiburg Rubber.
He furthered, “The decisive advantages are direct integration of the elastomers in the normal manufacturing process for FRP components and a direct connection between elastomer and FRP without additional bonding agents. This innovative technology is used selectively in industries such as automotive construction, wind power, aeronautics, rail vehicles and medical technology.”
According to Kim, Koplas was an opportune platform for introducing innovative materials in South Korea, as it is also an important market for Kraiburg.
Apart from Kraibon, the firm also promoted a range of technical rubber compounds for automotive, building & construction and other industrial markets as well as highly customised products for all kinds of industries. The firm said its compounds are produced on highly automated and fully process-controlled mixing lines, based on state-of-the-art technology.