Wacker to Present Silicone- and Polymer-Based Products at K 2022

Tests reportedly show that Wacker’s new self-adhesive silicone rubber ELASTOSIL^® LR 3078 adheres well to polycarbonate without pretreatment. (Photo courtesy of Wacker.)

Wacker recently announced that its K 2022 tradeshow offerings will center on silicones and silicone-based applications that make sustainable solutions in the fields of electromobility, energy generation, medical technology, and plastics processing possible. K 2022, the 22nd International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber, will be held October 19-26 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The products, which will be presented to a wide audience of professionals for the first time, include silicone rubber compounds produced in a resource-efficient manner from bio-methanol, self-adhesive silicone products for polycarbonate hybrid parts, and a new silicone resin for the manufacture of heat-stable molded parts. Silicone-based additives and polymer binders that improve the processing and end properties of bioplastics round out the topics to be showcased at the Wacker booth (A10 in hall 6).

Due to a rising demand for silicones, Wacker recently announced that it will invest over €100 million (approximately $105.2 million) in the expansion of production capacities for both solid and liquid silicone rubber over the coming years. “These investments will particularly focus on high-value specialty silicone grades, which industry urgently requires for the development of innovative products and technologies,” said Robert Gnann, president of the Wacker Silicones business division.

“Silicones are extremely versatile and can be tailored to certain requirements very well, facilitating the development of new solutions and, in many cases, of significantly more sustainable products and technologies,” Gnann explained. “With the global expansion of our production capacities for solid and liquid silicone rubber, we want to offer the best-possible support to key sectors such as the energy, automotive and medical technology fields, which depend on high-value materials like silicones.”

Making its debut at K 2022 will be ELASTOSIL^® LR 3078, a self-adhesive liquid silicone rubber that reportedly cures extremely rapidly and establishes a firm bond with thermoplastic polycarbonate. Wacker reports that the product uses a newly developed and already patented self-adhesive technology that does not contain any bisphenol A structures. By eliminating this substance class, the company increases occupational safety and contributes to consumer protection.

For more information, visit www.wacker.com and www.k-online.com.