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  Home > Articles > Conductive TPEs

 Conductive Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs)


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In addition to the variety of TPE technologies available from RTP, there are a number of conductive additive technologies to choose from when your application requires conductive properties.  Only RTP Company combines its broad TPE technology portfolio with proven conductive technologies to offer an unmatched line of permanently anti-static (static dissipative), conductive (ESD protection), and EMI shielding TPE products.

Through their conductive technologies, RTP Company can tailor a product to hit a precise range of surface and volume resistivity performance. This graph shows the different levels of resistivity performance ranging from unmodified or insulative plastic down to the performance of metal:

Conductive TPE RainbowConductive Performance

The properties used to measure the conductive performance are:

            1. Surface resistivity (ohm/sq) ASTM D257
            2. Volume resistivity (ohm-cm) ASTM D257
            3. Surface resistance (ohm) ESD STM11.11
            4. Static Decay (seconds) FTMS101C 4046.1
            5. EMI shielding (decibels of attenuation) ASTM D4935

Conductive TPE Technologies

The technologies used to produce Conductive TPE products is as diverse as the testing used to measure final compounds:

            • Carbon Black and Carbon Fiber
               - ESD series: Provides strong and effective resolution to static issues
            • Carbon Nanotubes
              - Delivers conductive properties at very low loadings
            • Inherently Dissipating Polymer (IDP) technology
               - Fully colorable with permanent static dissipative properties
            • Inherently Conducting Polymer (ICP) technology
               - Uniquely tunable with shallow percolation curves
            • Electromagnetic Interference Sheilding: EMI Series
               - Stainless Steel Fiber
               - NCG Fibers
               - Silver coated particulates

          Through RTP Company’s diverse TPE and conductive additive technology, we can offer a wide variety of compounds ranging from permanently static dissipative overmolding grades (PermaStat PLUS™ 6000 series) to conductive TPV alloys (ESD C 2800 B Series) to specialty EMI shielding products in several resin families

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Case Study

Conductive TPE caps for circuit breakers offer protection for linesmen. The Elastimold® Division of Thomas & Betts improved the design of the caps with an RTP 2800 Series conductive thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (TEO), which replaced the previous thermoset rubber.

 
 Your Expert

Richard Rabe on Conductive Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) Richard L. Rabe, Ph.D. originally joined RTP Company in 2003 and is now the Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) Technology Manager at RTP Company. He has over 17 years experience working with TPEs in material, process and application development. Dr. Rabe has nine TPE related patents issued with three pending. He is also a board member of the TPE special interest group (TPE-SIG) of SPE.

Learn more about Richard Rabe.

 Related Links

Search 'Conductive Thermoplastics' on The Plastics Web®

RTP Company

TPE Product Information

TPE Data Sheets

Ask the RTP Engineers for material recommendations

Request RTP Company product literature

E-mail RTP Company


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