Prism Unveils CIRX™ Car Mats Produced From Ancora TPEs

Founded on the principle that there should be a better use for end-of-life tires, Prism Worldwide has outdone itself with CIRX™, a new line of rubber car mats made from Ancora™ C-1082 Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE), a high-performance material that incorporates 50 percent recycled content derived from end-of-life tires, utilizing Prism’s advanced process technology.

The CIRX™ car mats stand as a testament to Prism’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, Mark Kinkelaar, Chief Commercial Officer at Prism, said.

Integrating recycled tire material into the Ancora TPE formulation, not only enhances the durability and functionality of the CIRX™ car mats but also demonstrates what is possible with the Ancora family of thermoplastic elastomers, he said.

“With the introduction of CIRX™ car mats, we have demonstrated that Ancora TPEs are setting a new benchmark for sustainability”, Kinkelaar said.  “Our Ancora C-1082 technology represents a significant advancement in using recycled materials without compromising on quality or performance. This product exemplifies our dedication to both innovation and environmental responsibility.”

CIRX™ green, fully trimmable heavy-duty auto/suv mats have the quality, feel, texture, and performance of mats made with virgin materials but have 50 percent of their content derived from ELTs. They are fully recyclable, and can withstand harsh weather, dirt, and moisture, safeguarding both vehicles and the environment, Prism CEO Bob Abromowitz said in a Linked In post.

“The launch of CIRX™ 5 car mats underscores Prism’s unwavering commitment to driving change within the TPE industry. By leveraging recycled end-of-life tires in our Ancora TPE technology, we are not only reducing waste but also delivering a product that aligns with our vision for a greener future,” he said.

Five years in development, Prism brought the Ancora Thermoplastic Elastomer™ series to the market last year.   Ancora TPEs are a new class of TPE compounds that use tire rubber as the primary feedstock in the production of polymer intermediates that offer performance solutions in multiple markets and applications. These intermediate polymers are compounded into injection moldable pellets at Prism’s Sodus, NY manufacturing facility. TPE pellets can be used in a broad range of applications, such as automotive all-weather mats, weather stripping, and footwear. the company said.

Ancora compounds are ninety-nine percent domestically sourced meeting IIJA Buy America requirements.  According to Prism, its base polymer has approximately 86 percent lower carbon footprint compared to virgin synthetic rubber compounds.

The Prism R & D team has made significant progress in creating several materials that contain PTR polymers and can now combine its material with HDPE, PP, and other plastic materials that can be used in injection, compression, and rotational molding processes. Prism’s Ancora materials for TPE and TPV applications have a minimum of 50 percent content derived from end-of-life tires but perform as well as virgin materials.

In addition to the CIRX car mats, Prism can now provide various finished materials for industrial production applications for the telecommunication boxes, storage totes for consumers, materials for parts in outdoor power sports equipment, and auto and truck parts.

Prism’s development in the use of Ancora-V polymer for tires continues to progress as the company achieves higher levels of recycled content without the loss of key metrics for use in passenger and truck new tires. “Our material will assist tire manufacturers in achieving their considerable goals for having more sustainable content in new tire offerings,” Prism said on its website. The research is ongoing, and Prism is in testing with three of the leading tire manufacturers.  This ongoing project is delivering promising results, Kinkelaar said.

The Prism process can in part reverse sulfidic bridges in crumb rubber. This creates a thermoplastic rubber intermediate that can be used to produce thermoplastic elastomers: as an additive to modify asphalt; as an ingredient in compounds to make thermoset rubber products and as an additive to modify thermoplastics.

Prism works directly with customers to develop custom compounded solutions, such as press-ready compounds or masterbatches depending upon application and production requirements, Kinkelaar said. This capability is enhanced by Prism’s on-site material development labs and pilot production line which support the development of both thermoplastic and thermoset rubber applications.

In addition to cost effective TPEs with 50 percent post-consumer recycled content for floor mats, Prism’s past successes include high post-consumer recycled content polypropylene injection molding compounds for consumer goods, wood plastic composites for the pet market, and improved impact resistance masterbatch for clarified copolymer polypropylene parts.

“With the launch of the CIRX™ car mat line, we’re poised for growth, leveraging our technology, products and materials to fill the growing demand for recycled content TPEs,” Mark Kinkelaar said. “We look forward to working with the industry to grow this into a family of TPE compound products.”