SILIKE Si-TPV series Thermoplastic Vulcanizate Elastomer is a soft touch, skin-friendly Thermoplastic Silicone Elastomers. Solution for soft touch overmolding on sports equipment sector, fitness, and outdoor recreation accessories.
SILIKE Si-TPV series softness and flexibility of Elastomers offer a high degree of scratch resistance and excellent abrasion resistance for applications in Sporting Goods and Leisure Equipment.
These slip Tacky Texture non-sticky elastomeric materials are suitable for equipment that requires a smooth surface and soft touch feel for a better hand grip in golf clubs, badminton, and tennis rackets as well as switches and push buttons on gym equipment and bicycle odometers.
SILIKE Si-TPV series also have excellent adhesion to PP, PE, PC, ABS, PC/ABS, PA6, and similar polar substrates or metal, and enhances helps in producing durable end athletic goods.
Overmolding recommendations |
||
Substrate Material |
Overmold Grades |
Typical Applications |
Polypropylene (PP) |
Sport Grips, Leisure Handles,Wearable Devices Knobs Personal Care- Toothbrushes, Razors, Pens, Power & Hand Tool Handles, Grips, Caster Wheels,Toys. |
|
Polyethylene (PE) |
Gym Gear, Eyewear, Toothbrush Handles,Cosmetic Packaging. |
|
Polycarbonate (PC) |
Sporting Goods, Wearable Wristbands, Handheld Electronics, Business Equipment Housings, Healthcare Devices, Hand and Power Tools, Telecommunications and Business Machines. |
|
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) |
Sports & Leisure equipment, Wearable Devices, Housewares, Toys, Portable Electronics, Grips, Handles, Knobs. |
|
Polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC/ABS) |
Sports Gear, Outdoor Equipment,Housewares, Toys, Portable Electronics, Grips, Handles, Knobs, Hand and Power Tools, Telecommunications and Business Machines. |
|
Standard and Modified Nylon 6, Nylon 6/6, Nylon 6,6,6 PA |
Fitness Goods, Protective Gear, Outdoor Hiking Trekking Equipments, Eyewear, Toothbrush Handles, Hardware, Lawn and Garden Tools, Power Tools. |
SILIKE Si-TPV (Dynamic Vulcanizate Thermoplastic Silicone-based Elastomer) Series products can adhere to other materials through injection molding. Suitable for insert molding and or multiple material molding. Multiple material molding is otherwise known as Multi-shot injection molding, Two-Shot Molding, or 2K molding.
Si-TPV series have excellent adhesion to a variety of thermoplastics, from polypropylene and polyethylene to all kinds of engineering plastics.
When selecting a Si-TPV for soft touch overmolding application, the substrate type should be considered. Not all Si-TPVs will bond to all types of substrates.
For more information regarding specific Si-TPV overmolding and their corresponding substrate materials, please feel contact us now to learn more or request a sample to see the difference Si-TPVs can make for your brand.
SILIKE Si-TPV (Dynamic Vulcanizate Thermoplastic Silicone-based Elastomer) Series products offer a uniquely silky and skin-friendly touch, with hardness ranging from Shore A 25 to 90.
Si-TPV Series soft over-molded material provides sustainable choices for an abundance of Sports & Leisure equipment parts fitness goods and protective gear.
These skin-friendly materials are possible for application on such devices including, cross-trainers, switches and push buttons on gym equipment, tennis rackets, badminton rackets, handlebar grips on bicycles, bicycle odometers, Jump rope handles, handle grips in golf clubs, handles of fishing rods, sports wearable wristbands for smartwatches and swim watches, swim goggles, swim fins, outdoor hiking trekking poles and other handle grips, etc...
How to solve Common Overmolding Challenges and Elevate Comfort, Aesthetics & Durability in Soft-Touch Design?
Global Trends in Sports Equipment
The global demand for sports equipment is steadily increasing, driven by growing awareness of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the importance of engaging in sports and fitness activities. However, for manufacturers of sports equipment, ensuring that their products are not only durable but also ergonomically designed is crucial to success. Key features such as rigidity, flexibility, physical appearance, and overall functionality are essential, but these attributes alone are not sufficient. To keep pace with evolving consumer preferences, ongoing innovation, and rapid technological advancements are necessary. This is where plastic injection molding and overmolding come into play, which can enhance the performance in the end-use application and marketability of such Sporting Goods and Leisure Equipment.
Enhancing Sporting Goods and Leisure Equipment Design with Overmolding Techniques
Overmolding, also known as two-shot molding or multi-material molding, is a manufacturing process where two or more materials are molded together to create a single, integrated product. This technique involves injecting one material over another to achieve a product with improved properties, such as enhanced grip,It can be used to enhance many features of product design, increased durability, and added aesthetic appeal.
The process typically involves two steps. First, a base material, often a rigid plastic, is molded into a specific shape or structure. In the second step, a second material, which is usually a softer and more flexible material, is injected over the first to create the final product. The two materials chemically bond during the molding process, creating a seamless integration.
Usually, The use of a wide variety of thermoplastic elastomer(TPE) materials as an over-molding material onto engineering plastics as rigid substrates material to make molded products. It can provide a soft feel and non-slip grip surface for improved product features or performance. It can also be used as an insulator of heat, vibration, or electricity. Overmolding eliminates the need for adhesives and primers to bond thermoplastic elastomers to rigid substrates.
However, with the market trends in combination with the innovative molding techniques available have placed a high demand on thermoplastic elastomer suppliers to produce soft-touch compounds capable of bonding to the different engineering plastics or metals available.