KRAIBURG TPE's Innovative TPE Material Supports Safe Water Storage System Solutions

Against the backdrop of increasing global emphasis on public health, the supply of safe drinking water has become a focal point for nations worldwide. With continuously rising public health standards and ongoing advancements in water supply system technology, water purifiers and dispensers must not only ensure water quality at the source but also guarantee the cleanliness and potability of water at every stage of storage and delivery. Consequently, all components in contact with water must possess excellent resistance to chemical degradation, effectively inhibit microbial growth, and avoid leaching substances that could compromise water safety or taste. Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), known for their outstanding chemical stability, have become an ideal material choice for ensuring long-term water safety.

KRAIBURG TPE®, a globally renowned manufacturer of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), has introduced a high-performance TPE material—TF8ONG-NTRL—specifically designed to meet the demanding requirements for faucet seals and gaskets in cold and hot water contact scenarios, thereby safeguarding drinking water safety. Simultaneously, the application of this TPE material in water filtration components is gaining widespread market recognition.

Maintains Low Odor and Taste Transfer in Both Cold and Hot Water
KRAIBURG TPE®'s TF8ONG-NTRL is a low-odor and low-taste-transfer TPE material that performs excellently even in warm water environments up to 60°C. This soft plastic is suitable for cold and hot water applications and is free of plasticizers, phthalates, PVC, and heavy metals. The material complies with the requirements of NSF/ANSI 61, Chapter 4, for drinking water system components, suitable for both cold water (23°C) and domestic hot water (60°C) environments. It also meets the stringent KTW regulations concerning odor, taste, and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content when used with hot water.

Excellent Processability and Design Flexibility
KRAIBURG TPE®'s TF8ONG-NTRL has a hardness of 80 Shore A and a density of 0.95 g/cm³, offering a balance of good flexibility and resistance to deformation, making it suitable for hoses, dynamic seals, and fluid transfer components. Its optimized flow properties, clean processing characteristics, and adhesion to polyolefins like PP make it particularly suitable for cost-effective two-component (2K) injection molding processes. The material is supplied in a natural color and can be processed via injection molding or extrusion.

Complies with Global Safety and Hygiene Standards
KRAIBURG TPE®'s TF8ONG-NTRL complies with international drinking water safety standards such as EU Regulation 10/2011 and US FDA CFR 21. It features low migration characteristics and material safety, making it suitable for global drinking water and food contact applications. This plastic material is widely used in components for NSF/ANSI 61 certified residential and commercial systems, including flexible tubing, water dispenser and filter housing gaskets, as well as O-rings for warm water environments. Furthermore, the material contains no curing or cross-linking agents and fully complies with the stringent raw material quality requirements of EU food contact plastic regulation 10/2011 and US FDA CFR 21.