Thermoplastic Elastomers | Healthcare , Soft Touch Soft-touch products: Soft TPEs overmolded onto rigid thermoplastic substrates reduce “muscle effort” for a given operation such as turning a dial, pressing a lever or pushing a button. Soft and semi-rigid orthotics can benefit from the use of soft TPEs.

Good electrical performance can be offered at a lower hardness compared to silicone or rubber alternatives. Compared to rubber and silicone alternatives they simplify manufacturing with single-step fabrication, reducing the energy used in production and can be overmolded directly onto non-polar polymer substrates such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE).

Consider combining comfort with color and performance properties using enhanced soft touch GLS™ TPE materials for even better results. Our thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are designed to suit both consumer desires and product needs, including softness, vivid color or extreme clarity, and robust physical properties. Consumers can choose from multiple styles, many featuring soft-grip handles with special textures and bold colors to meet their individual preferences.

To produce a part with the matte appearance of a thermoset rubber, a rougher mold surface is required. To produce a part with the matte appearance of a thermoset rubber, a rougher mold surface is required. Problem: Ejector pin marks Parts are soft during ejection.

THE CHALLENGE A global business equipment manufacturer decided to develop a premium line of computer mouse products that offered improved ergonomics and soft-touch qualities. Key to the product development effort was a soft-touch mouse grip that would give users a smooth feel, easy handling, and greater physical comfort. Its design team determined the need for a soft-touch material with strong chemical resistance and color stability for the mouse grip.

Durometer is the international standard for measuring the hardness of rubber, plastic and other nonmetallic materials. Applying soft-touch materials strategically using overmolding can help reduce required grip strength and contact pressure. A cut-out view shows the hard plastic substrate and the overmolded soft-touch TPE.

HEALTHCARE DEVICE MANUFACTURER W E B K N E E B R A C E • Good bonding to polypropylene (PP) • Flexible and soft-touch feel • Skin contact, general FDA compliance • Good tensile strength and resilience • Excellent colorability • Offered material that passed the required FDA regulations • Provided high elasticity memory and ultra soft tactile finish to meet the comfort and pleasant surface feeling requirements • Delivered TPE with easy and stable processing and colorability DynaflexTM Thermoplastics Elastomer KEY REQUIREMENTS WHY AVIENT? AVIENT SOLUTION COMPLIANCE + SOFT TOUCH LEARN MORE Copyright © 2021, Avient Corporation.

artery tourniquet ARTERY TOURNIQUET MANUFACTURER G A S K E T O F R A D I A L A R T E R Y H E M O S T A T • Super soft feeling • Increased production efficiency by simple injection process • High transparency • Delivered a series of soft-touch TPEs capable of meeting the desired feel • Formulated solutions to comply with FDA regulation for skin contact • Provided easy molding and assembling by onsite technical and customized durometer Customized Versaflex™ TPEs KEY REQUIREMENTS WHY AVIENT? AVIENT SOLUTION REGULATORY + SOFT FEELING LEARN MORE Copyright © 2023, Avient Corporation.

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