Industrial & Manufacturing Blog
Santoprene is a form of thermoplastic elastomer. The material is as flexible as rubber, but its processing ease is that of thermoplastics. Santoprene is a combination of the best elements of rubber and plastic. Since the plastic is not hard to process, remanufacturing it is simple. Thus, manufacturers prefer using Santoprene over rubber. Recycling the material is also possible as it has a polyolefin base. If you choose to work with TPV Santoprene extrusions, you should understand more than the process involved. You need to know how you can keep yourself and the people around you safe. Below are the ways to stay safe when dealing with TPV Santoprene extrusions.
Put On Gloves
The danger Santoprene poses when in the original state is one thing to have in mind. That is something you are likely to ignore as the granules of the material do not look harmful. If you are not careful, however, you could get cuts from the TPV Santoprene. The pellets of the material are sharp. In severe cases, these particles can get stuck in your skin. That may mean that you need to get help from medical experts.
The best way to avoid cuts and particles sticking in your skin is by putting on gloves during the process. The best gloves to have are the ones going far up your hand. That way, these particles will not come into contact with your skin when pouring Santoprene into the machine.
Put On Fire Proof Clothes
The heated TPV Santoprene can also be dangerous. Keep in mind that the material gets to extremely high temperatures. When the molten material gets into contact with the skin, it could burn you. The burning plastic can shoot up even during the most minimal leaks. That is because of the high pressure formed.
Protect yourself by standing away from the machine during the heating process. For extra protection from the molten Santoprene, put on a fireproof coverall during the process.
Clean Off Using a Wet Rag
Lastly, there are safety risks involved once you are done with the extrusion process. It is dangerous for you to breathe in the Santoprene dust formed when cutting it. Thus, you should take care that the dust does not affect you when cleaning.
The ideal way to clean up after you are done is by using a moist cloth. The wet cloth will pick up all the pieces. They will bind to the rag, and you can collect them. Carefully dispose of any leftover Santoprene material you collect. Avoid using compressed air to clean off Santoprene remains.
Share23 March 2020
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