Swedish compounder Hexpol (Malmö; www.hexpol.com) will launch a range of new thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) with enhanced haptics and touch properties at the “K 2016” (www.k-online.de) trade fair to be held in Düsseldorf / Germany on 19-26 October. The company has expanded its "Dryflex" family of TPE compounds with the creation of "Dryflex Touch", designed to give a superior silky and soft feel that is also non-sticky and easy to clean.

Several series have been developed with properties designed for applications such as wearable technology, consumer electronics, protective cases for smartphones and tablets, wrist straps, grips, cosmetics and packaging. Hexpol said the interaction between touch, functionality and wearability has an important role to play in product design and brand aesthetics, particularly in the growing wearables market.

The range includes grades that are compliant with food contact regulations, are UV-resistant, and latex and PVC-free. Representative grades have been tested for irritation and skin sensitisation under ISO 10993-10:2010 and classified as a non-sensitiser. They have also passed in vitro cytotoxicity tests according to ISO 10993-5:2009.

Dryflex Touch TPE compounds can be injection moulded and grades are available that can be overmoulded onto substrates such as PP, PE, ABS, PC and TPU for multi-component applications.