2008-01-31 Manufacturing News

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Thermoplastic polyurethane for hand tools ensures a tight grip

Desmopan thermoplastic polyurethane is an increasingly popular material when it comes to giving hand tools a hard wearing, high quality, easy to grip surface.

Recently, the Dutch firm BEARGRIP**, a manufacturer of hand tools based in Ruinen, announced the successful market launch of a so called "ClipPac bit set" with a bit-holder made of the thermoplastic polyurethane Desmopan*. The part was developed in close cooperation with the Dutch firm, MMID full service design team B.V., and immediately catches the eye with its successful combination of design and functionality.

The complete subassembly is injection molded using soft/hard technology in a two-component mold. The ClipPac is made of a hard polycarbonate+ABS blend, while the bit-holder itself is molded from "soft" Desmopan 487 thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Steven Daelemans, a TPU expert at Bayer MaterialScience AG, says: "In this application, several advantages of our TPU material come together. For example, the high coefficient of friction, which ensures that the bits are held securely in the holes without slipping. And it stays that way over the long term, because the holes do not increase in size even when the tool is in constant use. This is due to the low compression set and good abrasion resistance, tear strength and tear propagation resistance of our TPU."

ClipPac bit set is a practical bit-holder that ensures a tight grip. Click Here for High resolution image. photo: Bayer AG

Another reason for choosing Desmopan 487 (which has a hardness of 86 Shore A), is its excellent haptic properties. Its surface feels warm, soft and dry, and offers good resistance to oils, grease, detergents and the many other media encountered by craftsmen, mechanics and do-it-yourselfers on a daily basis. In addition, TPU retains its properties over a broad temperature range and is highly resistant to weathering.

The high coefficiency of friction from Desmopan 487 TPU ensures that the bits are held securely in the holes without slipping. Click Here for High resolution image. photo: Bayer AG

BEARGRIP attaches major importance to low production costs because price competition on the tool market is extremely keen. Desmopan 487 also scores in this department because it is very easy indeed to process. Its melt solidifies quickly, allowing short cycle times and economical production. Apart from that, it adheres well to the "hard" polycarbonate+ABS substrate.

BEARGRIP has made a name for itself worldwide as a manufacturer of high-quality, ergonomically styled hand tools. The company is specialized among other things in hexagonal keys, bits, riveting pliers and screwdrivers.

Information on the firms BEARGRIP and MMID full service design team B.V. can be found at their respective company websites.

* Thermoplastic polyurethane Desmopan is a trademark of Bayer MaterialScience, a Bayer Group company.
** Trademark of Dutch firm BEARGRIP.

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