Electrical & Electronics
GLS TPEs are particularly well suited for electronics and business machine applications due to their high performance, soft feel, aesthetic appeal, and easy colorability. In addition, GLS TPEs can be ovemolded onto a wide variety of engineered thermoplastics without the need for adhesives or primers.
Designers are increasingly specifying TPE materials for a wide range of applications, including grips, connectors, seals, and strain reliefs. As performance and aesthetics requirements increase, the demand for specialty TPE materials continues to grow. TPEs are becoming a integral part of each products brand experience.
At PolyOne GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers, in addition to our standard grades, we offer the option to optimize a custom TPE to meet the requirements of your application.
Advantages
Specialized thermoplastic elastomers offer unique solutions for electrical and electronics applications.
- Soft, ergonomic feel
- High quality surface appearance
- Excellent clarity
- Easy and consistent colorability
- Adhesion to a variety of plastics
- Good UV and color stability
- Mar and abrasion resistance
- Good chemical and oil resistance
- Recyclable
Applications include
Computer and Business Equipment
GLS TPEs provide an ever-widening array of solutions for computer and business equipment market segments. TPEs offer enhanced aesthetics, functionality and product differentiation to manufacturers seeking to provide soft touch surfaces, high-friction feet and non-slip grips to their products.
Connectors and Strain Reliefs
TPEs give press-fit connectors tailorable resilience to maintain extraction force requirements. The ability to mold TPEs to tight tolerances allows highly complex wire bundles to fit properly into socket housings. For strain relief applications, TPEs offer flexibility, excellent appearance and, when needed, good overmold adhesion to various plastic materials. GLS also offers specialty OnFlex™ HFFR products for wire and cable applications.
Handheld Electronics
The demand for soft touch TPEs in the handheld electronics market is growing at a fast pace thanks to the dual need for product differentiation and improved functionality. Soft touch TPEs have become the primary means in handheld product design to impart a unique "feel", create an unusual color effect, or to protect the product from shock or impact.
Telecommunications
GLS TPEs bring enhanced value and functionality to a variety of telecommunications devices. Cell phones, whether large, small or extra-small, benefit from the design freedoms of TPEs. The growing array of personal telecom devices benefits from the ease of processing, enhanced aesthetics and product differentiation available with TPEs.
