Overmolding: TPE Selection
GLS Product Line
There are a variety of GLS soft touch TPEs designed to have excellent adhesion to a number of rigid plastic substrates. The table below summarizes the standard grades that are currently available and their corresponding substrates. You can use the Product Search Wizard to obtain a detailed list of all GLS standard TPEs that bond to a selected substrate.
If you do not see your substrate in this table, please contact GLS directly; we can develop a custom TPE that is optimized to bond to your specific substrate.
| Substrate | Typical Applications | Recommended Compounds |
|---|---|---|
| Polypropylene | Personal Care - Toothbrushes, Razors, Pens, Sports-Grips, Handles, Knobs, Flaps, Power & Hand Tool Handles, Grips, Caster Wheels | Dynaflex Kraton Versaflex CL Versalloy XL |
| ABS | Housewares, Toys, Portable Electronics, Grips, Handles, Knobs | Versaflex OM Versollan OM |
| Polycarbonate | Handheld Electronics, Business Equipment Housings, Sporting Goods, Healthcare Devices, Hand and Power Tools, Telecommunications and Business Machines | Versaflex OM Versollan OM |
| PC/ABS | Housewares, Toys, Portable Electronics, Grips, Handles, Knobs, Hand and Power Tools, Sports and Leisure Equipment, Telecommunications and Business Machines | Versaflex OM Versollan OM |
| Nylon 6 and 6/6 | Hardware, Lawn and Garden Tools, Power Tools | Versaflex OM |
| Propionate | Toothbrush Handles, Eyewear, Cosmetic Packaging | Versaflex OM |
| Copolyester | Toothbrush Handles, Cosmetic Packaging | Versaflex OM |
Material Flow Behavior
GLS overmolding compounds are shear responsive, thus their viscosity is reduced when they are processed at high shear rates. This allows for easy flow into thin-walled sections commonly encountered in over-molding applications. The figure below illustrates the effect of shear rate on the viscosity of GLS overmolding compounds. For the viscosity of a specific grade, refer to the individual Product Technical Datasheet.
