TPSiV®
TPSiV® (Thermoplastic Silicone Vulcanizate) is a patented high-performance material that combines the durability of silicone with the versatility of plastics. It is the go-to choice for getting a premium, "soft-touch" finish without the common flaws of rubber or plastic.
Key Features
● Silky-Smooth Texture: A unique, non-sticky finish that feels premium and soft to the touch.
● Plasticizer-Free: Contains no oils or additives that bleed out, ensuring it never becomes "tacky" or "greasy" over time.
● High Stain Resistance: Repels everyday stains like coffee, red wine, mustard, and sweat.
● Advanced Durability: Highly resistant to scratches, scuffs, and surface marring.
● Superior Bonding: Bonds instantly to PC, ABS, and PC/ABS plastics during molding—no primers or glues required.
● Weather-Ready: Maintains color and integrity even after long-term exposure to high heat (up to 120°C) and UV sunlight.
Core Benefits
● Premium User Experience: Elevates products with a luxury "hand-feel" that standard TPU or TPE cannot match.
● Longer Product Lifespan: Products look "new" for longer due to high resistance to yellowing, cracking, and abrasion.
● Safe for Skin: Ideal for wearable devices (watch straps, earbuds) as it is comfortable and resists skin oils.
● Lower Production Costs: Simplifies manufacturing by allowing direct overmolding onto plastic parts, reducing assembly steps.
● Easy Maintenance: Easy-to-clean surface makes it perfect for high-use consumer electronics and automotive interiors.
● Design Freedom: Available in a wide range of hardness (soft to firm) and vibrant colors that do not fade.
Why Choose TPSiV over TPU or TPE?
Feature
Feel
Aging
Stains
Durability
Safety
DuPont™ TPSiV®
Silky & Dry
Stays Clear/Bright
Wipes clean
Extreme Scratch Resistance
Skin-friendly
Standard Silicone (LSR)
Sticky or "Rubber-like"
Yellows or turns brown
Absorbs stains easily
Scratches and scuffs easily
May cause irritation/oil build-up
Feature
Manufacturing Process
Cycle Time
Recyclability
Surface Haptics
Dust/Lint Collection
Overmolding (2K)
Colorability
Chemical Resistance
Skin Safety
DuPont™ TPSiV®
High-speed Injection Molding (Like plastic)
Fast (Seconds)
100% Recyclable (Regrind can be reused)
Unique "Silky" & Non-tacky feel
Resistant (Stays clean)
Superior bonding to PC, ABS, and Nylon
Easy; uses standard masterbatches
Excellent (Skin oils, sunscreen, lotions)
ISO 10993-10 Compliant(Skin-safe)
Standard Silicone (LSR)
Heat Curing/Vulcanization (Slow process)
Slow (Minutes)
Not Recyclable (Thermoset waste)
Can feel "grippy" or "sticky"
Attracts dust and lint easily
Requires primers or special expensive grades
Requires specialized liquid colorants
Good, but prone to swelling with some oils
Generally skin-safe
Why Make the Switch to TPSiV®?
For engineers and production managers, the choice usually comes down to three main "wins" that you can emphasize:
● Manufacturing Efficiency: Because TPSiV® processes like a thermoplastic, you don't need specialized silicone injection machines. You can use standard equipment, and your cycle times are significantly shorter, meaning you produce more parts per hour.
● Superior Aesthetics: In the premium wearable market (smartwatches/earbuds), the "hand-feel" is everything. TPSiV® offers a dry, satin finish that doesn't get sticky over time, unlike many standard silicone products.
● Sustainability & Cost: Since TPSiV® is a thermoplastic, any "scrap" from the molding process (like runners or gates) can be reground and put back into the production line. With LSR, any waste is permanent, which increases your material costs.
TPSiV® in Headphones
TPSiV® earbuds provide soft-touch comfort with chemical resistance and durability.
It bonds easily to ABS and provides color that lasts.
TPSiV® also provides impact resistance and noise damping along with excellent haptics.
TPSiV® in Smart Phones
TPSiV® provides soft touch over-molding solutions for cell phone housings, buttons, battery covers, and accessory cases.
The unique non- tacky feel of TPSiV® provides a soft-touch feel with minimal dirt and lint pick-up. TPSiV® 4100 series products provide excellent compression set resistance for dirt and moisture- resistant battery compartment seals
TPSiV® in Laptops and Tablets
TPSiV® provides durable, soft-touch solutions for palm rests, laptop cases, and tablet housings.
The low gloss and durability of TPSiV® make it ideal for screen bezels.
TPSiV® can provide soft touch grips for mice and pointing devices.