LMI develops green EPDM, sponge and dense compounds for extrusion

qiangzi

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Cambridge, OH - With no compromise to quality, LMI Custom Mixing plays its part in reducing carbon footprint and oil dependency through revolutionary developments in EPDM sponge and dense compounds. Utilizing a new type of EPDM polymer developed by Lanxess, LMI has developed a variety of new EPDM formulations that put renewable resources to use. Lanxess has begun the production of EPDM with ethylene derived purely from the renewable resource sugar cane. This bio-based form of ethylene is produced by dehydrating ethanol from Brazilian sugar cane. It is the world’s first form of bio-based EPDM rubber and is sold under the Keltan Eco brand name. LMI is one of the first mixing facilities to formulate and test extruded sponge and dense compounds derived from the Keltan Eco brand, offering an ecological advantage to its customers. To help reduce dependency on oil, these comprehensive and sustainable 100 percent EPDM-based products can be up to 25 percent bio-based and 45 percent non-petroleum based. LMI has already extruded and tested various profiles and is presently working on ASTM and FDA specified green compounds. “Our research will only go further, and the new line of green products and processes will continue to evolve. In the future, we want to include additional non-petroleum based fillers, plasticizers and additives to further improve these compounds,” said Jim Nixon, general manager of LMI Custom Mixing. “Anytime a renewable resource can be tapped to produce a product that is effective and economically competitive, everyone gains,” Nixon added.