The SantopreneŽ Rubber Story, a Pioneering Success, Part 2

Tuesday, April 24, 2012: 4:55 PM
Texas Ballroom B (Crowne Plaza Riverwalk San Antonio)
Michael A. Fath, Elastomer Technology, Inc.-Retired, Burton, OH
The Santoprene® Rubber Story, a Pioneering Success

Presented by Sabet Abou-Sabet & Mike Fath

Santoprene® rubber is truly the first commercial Thermoplastic Elastomer based on polyolefin blends. Previous materials were primarily flexible plastics. Santoprene® was   introduced to the market in 1981 and it immediately enjoyed significant market acceptance.   First year growth rate was 357%, followed by 340% and 128%, and double digit annual growth rate for TPV’s continues.

Santoprene’s commercial introduction path was a Technical Push, instead of the traditional Market Pull.  Santoprene® offered significant lower total part cost, thermoplastic processability, conservation of energy, recyclability, and elastomeric performance equal to that of conventional thermoset rubber. Our presentation will cover the Science behind the creation of the product platform and the Technology employed to strategically position it as a viable alternative to thermoset rubbers.