HEXPOL has expanded its automotive materials portfolio with thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) that incorporate post-consumer recyclate (PCR), including grades whose recycled content exceeds 80%. The company presented the materials at Fakuma 2026 in Germany, according to a press release dated 12 October.
The portfolio covers PC/ABS, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), reinforced polypropylene (PP) and thermoplastic elastomers. Depending on the polymer type, application requirements and material availability, the compounds contain between 10% and more than 80% recycled content, and selected grades also include more than 25% end-of-life vehicle recyclate.
Developed by HEXPOL's almaak, RheTech and TPE businesses, the materials target automotive interior and exterior components. Named applications include centre consoles, trim, bumper brackets, inlay mats, sidesteps, mudflaps, grommets, electronic housings and noise- and vibration-damping parts. HEXPOL said the compounds are intended to meet car makers' requirements for recycled plastics while maintaining material consistency and performance.
"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, colour stability, odour, volatile organic compound emissions and long-term durability in its recycled-content compounds.
The company also tested several PC/ABS and TPE combinations for multicomponent moulding. Adhesion testing carried out to ASTM D903 showed peel strength above 5 newtons per millimetre, HEXPOL reported.
Specific grades
Several compounds are tailored to particular applications:
- Anjacom PC/ABS R050/75S PCR — 30% post-consumer recyclate, aimed at centre consoles, cupholders and interior trim; HEXPOL said the material is already in serial production with the Volkswagen Group for its Cupra brand.
- Anjacom ABS R050/7020 PCR — 30% recycled content, for interiors, bumper brackets and glovebox covers.
- Rhecomp RCT230-00 — a polypropylene compound reinforced with 20% talc and containing 80% post-consumer recyclate.
- Rhecomp RCG230-00 — a glass-fibre-reinforced polypropylene grade with 40% recycled content.
The two Rhecomp grades are intended for brackets, wire channels and shields.
TPE range
The TPE portfolio includes Dryflex PCR 753468-3, a thermoplastic styrene elastomer containing 75% post-consumer recyclate for inlay mats, and Dryflex PCW 90A331B, a thermoplastic polyolefin with 33% end-of-life vehicle recyclate for exterior applications and mudflaps.
The new PCR compounds supplement HEXPOL's existing range of materials containing post-industrial recyclate. At Fakuma, HEXPOL TPE exhibited in Hall B1, stand 1117, while almaak was in Hall B2, stand 2214.