GLS’ New Family Of Tpes Based On The Dow Chemical Company’S Olefin Block Copolymers Gains Global Traction

(Shanghai, China – April 17, 2008) Following the successful launch of its new DYNALLOY OBC™ thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) line in October 2007. GLS, recently acquired by PolyOne Corporation, is now introducing the new TPE technology platform to the Chinese market here at Chinaplas 2008. This new technology – based on INFUSE™ olefin block copolymers (OBC) from The Dow Chemical Company – offers customers a broad array of standard and customized TPE alloys. DYNALLOY TPEs include both injection and blow molding grades for a wide range of markets and applications.

The DYNALLOY OBC line has expanded the existing property and application range of OBC technology with exceptional softness, unique feels, and a wider range of flow characteristics in injection molding. GLS has also introduced a new blow-moldable grade range. DYNALLOY OBC compounds offer a silky soft-touch feel, excellent colorability, isotropic shrinkage, and flow characteristics enabling use in complex molds with long flow paths.

The unique flow and tactile feel properties that DYNALLOY OBC TPEs provide are opening up a range of opportunities. For example, many handle and grip applications are moving toward a soft touch, dry feel, and excellent surface aesthetics. “GLS’ new DYNALLOY OBC TPEs provide the unique rubber-like, non-tacky feel that designers are looking for, while providing smooth surface aesthetics free of beach-marks,” says Joseph Kutka, technology launch manager for GLS. “For these applications, enhanced aesthetics and ergonomics are where a product such as DYNALLOY OBC 8000-T60 TPE can really make a difference.”

“We are very pleased to have been selected by The Dow Chemical Company as a global TPE compounder to help them expand the application range of their newly introduced INFUSE olefin block copolymers,” said Walter Ripple, senior director, Global Sales & Marketing for GLS. “This new class of TPEs is a significant complement to GLS’ and PolyOne’s growing portfolio of customizable materials, and offers huge potential for both standalone and overmolding applications. They enable us to offer to customers TPE characteristics that were not previously available.”

The five standard injection-molding grades of DYNALLOY OBC include opaque and translucent materials and provide hardness levels ranging from 60 Shore A down to a gel-like 5 Shore A. They offer excellent colorability as well as a non-tacky, soft-touch feel that avoids dust pick-up. Other performance highlights include improved compression set and creep resistance. Most grades are suitable for two-shot and insert overmolding with polypropylene. In addition, GLS utilized the unique rheology characteristics of the OBC technology to formulate a unique soft feel and flexible blow-molding grade with a 50 Shore A hardness that can be customized for higher or lower softness to meet specific market needs.

Six grades are being featured here at Chinaplas in GLS booth W2J11. All are commercially available worldwide.

Injection-molding grades:

•DYNALLOY OBC8000-N30: 30 Shore A, 1.05 Specific Gravity TPE, Color: Natural

•DYNALLOY OBC8000-B30: 30 Shore A, 1.05 Specific Gravity TPE, Color: Black

•DYNALLOY OBC8000-T40: 40 Shore A, 0.88 Specific Gravity, Translucent TPE

•DYNALLOY OBC8000-T60: 60 Shore A, 0.88 Specific Gravity, Translucent TPE

•DYNALLOY OBC8000-T05: 5 Shore A, 0.87 Specific Gravity, Translucent Gel TPE

Blow-molding grade:

•DYNALLOY OBC8200-BT50: 50 Shore A, 0.9 Specific Gravity, Translucent TPE

Target applications for the new DYNALLOY OBC TPEs include consumer and office products, hardware, food packaging, medical devices, comfort grips for writing instruments, cosmetic items, prosthetics, and applications that require overmolding to fabric.

Reader enquiries

GLS Corporation

United States

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Notes for editors

TM DYNALLOY and DYNALLOY OBC are trademarks of GLS.

DOW Diamond Design and INFUSE:®™ of The Dow Chemical Company.

About GLS

GLS is a global leader in the development, manufacture, and supply of high-performance, custom-formulated thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), and is headquartered in McHenry, Ill., USA. The company specializes in the manufacture of application-specific high performance soft TPEs for injection molding and extrusion. GLS has supplied specialty TPEs to the industry since 1979, and is recognized as a worldwide leader in TPE technology solutions. See www.glscorporation.com for additional information on GLS.

About PolyOne

PolyOne Corporation, with annual revenues of more than $2.7 billion, is a leading global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions. Headquartered outside of Cleveland, Ohio, USA, PolyOne has operations across the world. See www.polyone.com for additional information on PolyOne.

Photo Caption: GLS TPEs Used in Various Applications

DYNALLOY OBC™ injection-molding and blow-molding TPE grades from GLS – which are based on INFUSE™ olefin block copolymers and technology licensed from The Dow Chemical Company – offer exceptional softness, a silky feel, and a wide range of flow characteristics. Potential applications for standard and custom grades include consumer and office products, hardware, food packaging, medical devices, comfort grips for writing instruments, cosmetic items, prosthetics, and applications that require overmolding to fabric.

TM DYNALLOY and DYNALLOY OBC are trademarks of GLS.

DOW Diamond Design and INFUSE:®™ of The Dow Chemical Company.