Car Care and Aftermarket

The characteristic soft touch of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) bestows both a sense of upscale elegance and comfort to products in automotive aftermarket segments. OEMs and aftermarket suppliers use soft touch TPEs to update designs and enhance consumer appeal.

GLS soft TPEs offer a variety of soft touch textures, from high-grip tacky to silky, to leather-like and more. They provide a cost-effective means to improve and differentiate designs.

Features	Benefits
Broad range of touch and functionality	Enhanced design flexibility
Non-slip grip – from soft touch to high-tack	Enhanced sense of user control in all conditions, wet or dry
Resistance to chemicals, detergents, hot water	Long service life
Capable of overmold bonding to wide range of materials, including engineering plastics	Product differentiation Reduced assembly, cycle time
Available from opaque to translucent to clear Easily colored, from white to tomorrow's hues Range of effects from pearlescent to metameric and beyond Range of surface appearances from rough to silky to smooth	Enhanced aesthetics Product differentiation
Cost-effective relative to thermoset rubber	Lower costs
Easy processing and recycling	Lower production costs Compliance with regulatory mandates Enhanced consumer appeal

Example TPE applications include:

Grips for tire and wash brushes
Squeegee and ice scraper handle grips
Coin trays, bin liners and console mats
Cup holders
Shifter boots and knobs
Grommets, bumpers and body plugs

Product Families

Dynaflex and Versaflex compounds are well suited for general-purpose grips that require smooth, consistent surface appearance and a soft touch feel.
Versalloy compounds are high performance TPV alloys with enhanced flow and processability characteristics, and are optimized for bonding to thermoplastic substrates in overmolded designs.
Versollan compounds, based on TPU, offer excellent toughness and oil resistance for the most demanding applications.