HEXPOL has expanded its automotive materials portfolio with thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers that contain post-consumer recyclate (PCR), including grades carrying more than 80% recycled content. The company presented the new materials at Fakuma 2026 in Germany.
The lineup covers PC/ABS, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), reinforced polypropylene (PP) and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). Depending on the polymer type, application requirements and material availability, recycled content ranges from 10% to more than 80%. Selected grades also incorporate more than 25% end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recyclate.
Targeted automotive applications
The compounds were developed by HEXPOL's almaak, RheTech and TPE businesses and are aimed at automotive interior and exterior components. Intended parts include center consoles, trim, bumper brackets, inlay mats, sidesteps, mudflaps, grommets, electronic housings and noise- and vibration-dampening parts.
The materials are designed to address automakers' requirements for recycled plastics while maintaining material consistency and performance, according to the company.
"We're supporting the automotive industry to meet growing requirements for plastic materials containing post-consumer recyclate," said Dr. Thomas Köppl, global head of product management for HEXPOL Thermoplastics. Köppl said the company manages mechanical performance, color stability, odor, volatile organic compound emissions and long-term durability in its recycled-content compounds.
Named grades and applications
- Anjacom PC/ABS R050/75S PCR contains 30% post-consumer recyclate and is intended for center consoles, cupholders and interior trim. HEXPOL said the material is already in serial production with Volkswagen Group for the Cupra brand.
- Anjacom ABS R050/7020 PCR also carries 30% recycled content and targets interiors, bumper brackets and glovebox covers.
- Rhecomp RCT230-00 is a polypropylene compound reinforced with 20% talc that contains 80% post-consumer recyclate, while Rhecomp RCG230-00 is a glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene grade containing 40% recycled content. Both are intended for brackets, wire channels and shields.
- In the TPE range, Dryflex PCR 753468-3 is a thermoplastic styrene elastomer containing 75% post-consumer recyclate for inlay mats, and Dryflex PCW 90A331B is a thermoplastic polyolefin containing 33% end-of-life vehicle recyclate for exterior applications and mudflaps.
Molding and adhesion testing
HEXPOL also tested several PC/ABS and TPE combinations for multicomponent molding. Adhesion testing conducted according to ASTM D903 showed peel strength greater than 5 newtons per millimeter, the company said.
The new post-consumer recyclate compounds supplement the company's existing portfolio of materials containing post-industrial recyclate. At Fakuma, HEXPOL TPE exhibited in Hall B1, stand 1117, while almaak was located in Hall B2, stand 2214.