SHANGHAI – February 25, 2021– Avient Corporation, a premier provider of specialized and sustainable material solutions and services, today launched its Versaflex™ CE 3130 series – engineered thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) to overcome the challenge of surface blooms on overmolded consumer electronics and boost productivity.
“Our new Versaflex CE 3130 series materials integrate lasting aesthetics and functionality,” said Matthew Mitchell, director, global marketing, Specialty Engineered Materials at Avient. “These new TPEs can help electronics brands and OEMs successfully and sustainably deliver on color, material, and finish trends without the fear of surface blooms.”
Blooming or efflorescence can prematurely spoil a premium, overmolded TPE surface on consumer electronics devices. This can occur due to improper injection molding conditions or the incompatibility of a TPE or vulcanized silicone material with certain additives. In the past, excellent aesthetics often meant compromising processing speed and performance attributes, such as abrasion resistance, stain resistance, and cycle times.
Using Versaflex non-blooming materials, brands and OEMs can achieve a premium, silky-soft overmolded surface without surface blooms. These TPEs also offer critical UV and stain resistance to endure everyday wear and tear. Because they overmold onto PC and PC/ABS with a smooth surface, they eliminate the need for secondary coatings. In addition, the materials’ outstanding mold release improves cycle times, reducing overall energy use to support manufacturers in reaching their sustainability goals.
Versaflex CE 3130 formulations are currently manufactured in Asia and available globally.