Thermoplastic compositions, methods, apparatus, and uses

Abstract

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) compositions, methods for producing TPU compositions, methods of using TPU compositions, and apparatuses produced therefrom are disclosed. Disclosed TPU compositions include a thermoplastic polyurethane polymer, a heat stabilizer, a flow agent, and a filler material. The filler may be a glass fiber. Disclosed TPU compositions have improved thermal stability and improved flow properties suitable for injection molding of articles of manufacture having a large plurality of fine openings or pores. Articles produced from the composition have superior thermal stability, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance. Example articles include screening members for vibratory screening machines. Further embodiments include compositions without heat stabilizers, flow agents, and filler materials, and compositions in which two TPU materials having different harnesses are combined to generate a material with a pre-determined hardness. Injection molded screen elements having openings from 25 to 150 microns and open screening area from 10% to 35% are disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.