Elastomer 101

Rubber Compound Manufacturing A rubber compound is a mixture made from one or more base polymers, fillers, and other chemicals. The result is a finished rubber material. Rubber compounds can be formulated to address a number of concerns and necessary strengths for the...

Rubber Manufacturing Humans have been creating and using rubber since as early as 1600 BC. Early indigenous Mesoamerican communities used rubber balls made from stabilized rubber for sports. This strong, stable rubber was also used for waterproofing, containers, and...

What is Polyisoprene? As a synthetic polymer, polyisoprene is an artificial latex that is compounded to mirror the same properties as natural rubber latex. Synthetic polyisoprene compounds are commonly used as an alternative to natural rubber latex for tubing and...

Thermoplastic Elastomers Offer: 1. A Safe Alternative for Individuals with Latex Allergies For applications where latex-allergens are a concern, like the medical and surgical industry, many product manufacturers have made the switch to non-latex alternatives like...

Merangely Figueroa Garcia, a tender at our Kent facility for the last year and counting, works hard to help us carry out our commitment to continuous improvement and high-quality products. Merangely is an asset to our team who always brings a positive attitude, focus,...

Both thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) are excellent alternatives to natural rubber latex, silicone, and other compounds for extrusion and injection molding applications. Many key industry sectors rely on TPE and TPU for critical...

Rubber, Set, Go: The Material Behind Our Sports & Fitness Goals   Busy working on your New Year’s Resolutions? At KEP we always have a few in the works...like continuously improving our customer experience, implementing new lean initiatives and organizing more...

Santoprene Offers the Performance Industries Demand Santoprene is part of the thermoplastic elastomer grouping of polymers but shares more characteristics with vulcanized rubber, or thermoplastic vulcanizates. Santoprene, sometimes called Santoprene TPV (short for...

Evolving Needs for Plastic Tubing Require Plastics that Meet Industry-Demands The uses and materials for tubing have evolved throughout the years, being constructed and manufactured from materials including iron and steel, clay, rubber and plastics. Plastic tubing,...

TPU Meets the Challenge To meet the manufacturing challenges of a fast-changing world, thermoplastic polyurethane offers outstanding versatility that makes it an excellent material and extremely popular across a range of industries and applications. TPU is a versatile...

What is Neoprene? Neoprene, or polychloroprene, refers to a family of synthetic rubbers. These synthetic rubbers are the product of the polymerization of chloroprene and are among the very first synthetic rubbers ever to be developed.   When Was Neoprene Developed?...

The Rise in Popularity of Thermoplastic Elastomers Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are replacing legacy materials in many industries due to their desirable physical properties and excellent processability. But what is the origin story of TPE, and where can we find it...

Nearly everyone is familiar with natural rubber latex. From car tires to pencil erasers, natural rubber latex can be found all throughout our daily lives. It’s a popular material choice due to its elongation properties, strength, and resistance to wear and tear....

Made of non-latex material that is safe for latex sensitivities, our Free-Band® Tourniquets are the perfect replacement for latex tourniquets. Our proprietary blend of soft thermoplastics is a reliable and highly durable material – great for use in doctor offices,...

What is Dip Molding? Dip molding is a manufacturing technique used to create durable, precise products with hollow interiors. Dip molding dates back thousands of years, when ancient Egyptians and ancient Romans used it to make candles. Both civilizations would dip...

What Is the Difference Between Natural Rubber Latex and Latex? Every day, we are surrounded by products made of rubber, natural rubber, and natural rubber latex. These compounds are so common that many do not realize how prevalent they are—or the subtle differences...