EXTRUDED POLYMERS & TIE LAYERS

Bixby’s raw materials include the diverse polymers and tie-layers we extrude, plus the many substrates that come as roll stock which we then extrude onto, and include in our composite constructions. The chart below provides you with a more in-depth view of just how many substrates we can work with to deliver a custom plastic extrusion solution to you.

Substrate Trade Names and Types  

Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)

Texin®, Estane®, Elastollan®, Desmopan®, Pellethane®, Pearlthane®, Isoplast®, KURAMIRON™

TPU is a thermoplastic elastomer having excellent abrasion resistance, clarity, toughness, and elasticity with good chemical resistance. Versatile TPU chemistries vary in hardness from very soft to rigid polymers and have excellent low temperature performance and a broad range of elevated operating temperatures (resistance to 225°F).

Ionomer

Surlyn®, Formion®, Amplify IO™, Iotek™

Ionomers are thermoplastic elastomers with excellent toughness, clarity, good low temperature properties, and good chemical resistance. Upper level temperature resistance to about 175°F.

EVA

Elvax®, Escorene™, Amplify®, Evatane®, Ateva®, Levamelt®, ALCUDIA®

A flexible, general purpose thermoplastic ethylene copolymer that has some elasticity and good low temperature properties. High VA level, lower melting EVAs are commonly used as soft flexible adhesives; while lower VA level polymers can be used as harder, flexible films. EVA is typically utilized at use temperatures below 150°F.

TPO

Santoprene®, Vyram® Engage®, Versify™, Duragrip™, Marlex®, Sarlink®, Vistamaxx™, Multi-flex®, Exact™, Adflex™, Hifax™

A broad family of olefin-based thermoplastic elastomers whose properties are characterized by moderate elongation and recovery, and good chemical resistance. They vary in light transmittance from clear to opaque depending on chemistry. Most grades are lower in price but sacrifice abrasion properties vs. TPUs. While there is a range of use temperatures for TPOs, most are designed for use below or in the low 200°F range.

TPE

Kraton™, Monprene®, Alcryn®, DuraGrip™, Engage®, Tyrin®, Affinity™, Dynalloy™, Versaflex™, SEPTON®

Thermoplastic elastomers, some are termed melt-processable rubbers, are a broad class of elastomeric polymers characterized by high elasticity, very low durometers (soft) with a rubber-like feel. TPEs are typically compounds or copolymers which creates great versatility in the performance properties of these resins. Some grades have maximum service temperatures that approach 300°F.

Functional Olefin

Nucrel®, Bynel®, Appeel®, Orevac®, Lotader®, Infuse™, Primacor™, Amplify™, EMA, EAA, EBA, EMAAA, Polybutene, TPX® Polymethylpentene (PMP)Specialty

Bixby can work with any film available to be unwound from a roll. Typical films used in our extruded laminations are olefins, polyesters, vinyls, polyamides, urethanes, polyetherimides, polyaryletherketones, fluoropolymers, acrylics, or any specialty or customer specified substrate.
Fluoropolymer

PVDF – Kynar® Solef®, Hylar®; Dyneon™ THV (a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride)

Specialty fluorocarbon-based polymers having high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases. The strong carbon–fluorine bonds contributes to their non-stick and friction reducing properties. They are chemically and weather stable making them good protective coatings on other substrates.

Thermoplastic Vulcanizates (TPV)

Santoprene®, Sarlink®, DuPont™ ETPV, Forprene®, TPSiV™, Nexprene®, Uniprene®, Zeotherm®y

Describes a broad class of thermoplastic elastomer compounds with rubber-like performance qualities, most notably resiliency and chemical resistance. These polymers also have excellent heat resistance in the low 300°F range.

Polyethylene

LDPE, LLDPE, MDPE, HDPE, DOWLEX™, Bapolene®, MarFlex®, Marlex®, Novapol®, Hypel™, Microthene®, Petrothene®, Escorene™, Lupolen®, Unival™, Dowlex™, Alathon®, Paxon™

General purpose materials that have good flexibility and excellent chemical and moisture resistance. Upper level use temperature to 225°F.

Polypropylene

Bapolene®, Marlex®, Epolene®, Mitsui Polypro®, Acclear®, Fortilene®, COPYLENE™, Hypro™, Hifax™, Profax™, Microthene®, Petrothene®, Transparent PP

A general purpose polyolefin that is harder and stiffer than polyethylene with a use temperature range up to 265°F.

Polyester PET, PBT, PCT, PEN, PTT

Rigid, crystalline thermoplastic polymer family characterized by excellent chemical resistance, electrical properties, dimensional stability and operating temperatures, some of which approach 400°F. Copolymers have good clarity, elongation and impact strength.

Copolyester

Hytrel®, Riteflex®, Arnitel™,Eastar™, PETG, PCTG, PCTA

Very tough, abrasion resistant family of elastomers ranging from soft grades with very good elastic and fatigue properties, to relatively hard polymers with low elasticity. Similar to polyurethanes but more expensive based on their higher operating temperatures, up to 300°F.

Acrylic & Acrylic Copolymer

Oroglas®, Plexiglas®,Optix®, Acryrex®, Altuglas®, Acrylite®, Lucite®, Sumipex®, Zylar®, Lucalen®, KURARITY™

A transparent polymer with excellent optical, outdoor weathering, and thermal properties (some grades are used at temperatures up to 350°F). Most acrylic grades are rigid polymers, however there are some copolymer grades that are softer and highly elastic.

Polycarbonate (PC)

Makrolon®, Lexan™, Luran®, Calibre™, HYLEX®, Panlite®, WONDERLITE®

Polycarbonate is a tough, high impact, optically clear, and relatively stiff polymer. It is commonly used in window glazing applications where it acts as "unbreakable" glass. Despite its tough and clear properties, polycarbonate does have poor chemical/ESCR resistance in general, and is not resistant to scratching and abrasion. It is thermally stable in applications approaching 275°F.

Nylon, Polyamide, & Copolyamide

Pebax®, Grilamid®, Grilflex®, Grilon®, Grivory®, Ultramid®, Vydyne®, Nycoa, HYLON®, Nylon 6, Nylon 10, Nylon 12, Nylon 4/6, Nylon 6/6, Transparent Nylons

Polyamide materials are based on a versatile chemistry which can produce diverse homo- and co-polymers, as well as crystalline and amorphous polymers. Accordingly, polyamides and nylon materials can be both clear and opaque, as well as rigid or flexible, depending on grade. They all tend to have excellent strength, toughness, low temperature impact, and chemical resistance for severe environments. High temperature nylons are used up to temperatures of 375°F.

Styrenic & Rigid Styrenic Copolymers

Cycolac®, Lustran®, Magnum ™, Tyril™, Terblend®, Terlux®, Luran®, Terluran®, Styron™, A-TECH™, HYLAC®, HYRIL®, HYSUN®, POLYLAC®, KIBISAN®, PS, HIPS, ABS, SAN, ASA, MABS

Excellent surface quality, high modulus, and formability make these materials the perfect choice for decorative applications. Many grades are modified or blended to impart good impact resistance for tough environments. Rigid styrenic polymers are typically used at temperatures below 150°F.

Styrenic Block Copolymers/Elastomers

HYBRAR®, Calprene®, Kraton®, STYROLUX®, SEBS, SIBS, SBS, SEPS

These versatile elastomeric polymers have many unique attributes. Grades are produced from very soft elastic polymers to harder and stiffer materials. These block copolymers generally have a very soft feel and excellent hysteresis, or elastic retention, properties when made as films. Some grades can perform up to 270°F.

Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC)

Topas®, APEL™, Zeonex®, Zeonor®, Arton™

Olefin copolymers made both with rigid or elastomeric properties that exhibit excellent optical clarity, barrier properties and chemical resistance. COCs can also be used in various blended custom compounds in applications requiring thermal stability up to 300°F.

Polymer Blends & Alloys Platforms based on Olefins, Styrenics, Urethanes, Polyesters, Polycarbonates, Acrylics, Polyamides, Fluoropolymers, etc. Bixby has developed many custom material blends for our customers over the years. These polymer blends and alloys have been formulated to create unique and specific functionality to our extruded and laminated customer products; including, abrasion resistance, impact resistance, weatherability, anti static properties, flame resistance, chemical resistance, adhesive characteristics, biodegradability and thermoformability, among others.
Low Temperature Moldables

BixForm™, BixForm™ HiMod and BX, Bixby Vapor™, MegaBix™, Bixby XL

We've developed a line of materials that can be shaped and reshaped with minimal heat required. Polymers that activate at temperatures as low as 120°F allow for quick and easy forming.

Adhesives Functionalized Adhesives, Olefins, Urethanes, EVAs, EMAs,Iionomers, Polyesters, Polycaprolactones, Hot Melts, Formulated Hot Melts Our secondary extrusion capabilities allow us to apply hot melt adhesives to one or both sides of a variety of materials. With in-line extrusion lamination, we can eliminate additional coating operations or adhesive substrates to save time and money and engineer better solutions.
Special Additives Colors, Anti-Microbial, Anti-Stat, Conductive, Tints, Glass, Flame Retardant, UV, Foaming Agents, Surface Modifiers, Fillers, Nano-Fillers, Nucleating Agents, Electrical & Thermal Conductives, Adhesion Promoters, Cross Linking Promoters Bixby offers a variety of polymer additives to enhance our extruded plastics for specific applications. This listing outlines just some of the functionality that can be modified using additives in our polymer formulations.