MCHENRY, US: PolyOne Corporation announced an expansion of its industry-leading Versaflex CE thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) portfolio for consumer electronics with two new grades tailored specifically for portable audio speakers.
These new materials are formulated to improve design, performance and processing capabilities versus traditional silicone, thermoplastic urethane (TPU), or thermoplastic vulcanizates.
The first new grade can be over moulded onto a range of rigid polymer substrates to form internal seals or gaskets. With its 40 Shore A hardness, it also offers a low compression set to protect sensitive audio components from water and dust. The second grade, with 80 Shore A hardness, enhances speaker skin design with a silky feel, excellent colorability and outstanding resistance to abrasion and environmental effects.
“Our new Versaflex CE TPE grades combine durable aesthetics with extreme protection from outdoor environments. These materials also expand design possibilities while streamlining the manufacturing process for lower production cost. Our continued investment in designing innovative materials specifically for the audio device industry demonstrates our commitment to the success of our customers in this space,” said Michelle Hearn, global marketing director, GLS thermoplastic elastomers at PolyOne.
Protection against the elements
For speaker gaskets and seals, Versaflex CE (40 Shore A) replaces separate O-rings with an over moulded, internal part that firmly bonds to polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), copolyester, or PC/ABS without adhesives. This integrated approach, together with a low compression set, delivers robust long-term ingress protection against dust and water to the highest International Protection Marking (IEC standard 60529) ratings.
Overmolding gaskets and seals also pave the way for complex designs that are impossible to achieve with separate O-rings. In addition, Versaflex CE TPE is ideal for high-volume production and offers faster cycle times than TPU or silicone.
Durability with a silky feel
For speaker skins, Versaflex CE (80 Shore A) supplies a softer, silkier feel than TPUs while also delivering durability via resistance to abrasion, UV light and sunscreen chemicals. This material is designed for over moulding directly onto the speaker housing to simplify and accelerate manufacturing. It avoids a need for the cumbersome mechanical interlocks and primers that silicone requires for good adhesion to rigid polymer substrates.
© Chemical Today News
Read More: PolyOne introduces new TPE grades for audio speakers
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