Polyolefin elastomers - formulations, processing, and applications in fabric coating

摘要

Polyolefin elastomers and their formulations are proven coating materials for fabric reinforced membranes, coated fabrics, and laminates. Typical application areas are in building and construction, advertising, consumer goods or in the automotive industry [1]. Advantages include ease of processing, good physical performance, and an intrinsic excellent chemical resistance. A high filler acceptance enables reaching the desired fire performance, while an adequate stabilization generates excellent weathering resistance and longevity. The possibility for halogen- and plasticizer-free materials opens advantages in terms of the environmental footprint of the final product [2,3]. This paper describes the state-of-the-art in polyolefin elastomers, as well as their application in fabric coating. The emphasis is on olefin block copolymers which allow new combinations of temperature resistance, flexibility and filler levels. This property balance opens new markets and applications. The London 2012 Olympic Games Stadium Wrap, which demonstrated today's possibilities of polyolefins in infrastructure applications, is a good example [4].