Seminar:
Understanding Soft Materials
– Properties, Processing and Design

Understanding soft materials is essential when selecting polymers for demanding applications. This presentation introduces the fundamentals of soft polymer materials, covering their origins from fossil-based, bio-based, and inorganic sources. The presentation then examines thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers, with a focus on TPS and TPV, highlighting their properties, processing methods, and compression set performance compared with conventional rubber and standard plastics. Participants will gain practical insights into material selection and application possibilities.

At Coloplast we use TPE mainly for 3 things. Sealings, Cosmetics and Welding surfaces. We strive to use simulation as early in the development process as possible and there by drive the design in a more robust and processable direction. I will show how we approaches the use of TPE in development of our parts. What considerations we make to get the best performance of our parts and how that effect design process in the future.

The presentation will show examples of TPE simulation with Moldex3D, including 2K injection moulding and the special conditions and challenges associated with simulating soft materials.

With demanding requirements for dimensional tolerances, soft materials bring new challenges to the table. How long is a rubber-band?

Even the slightest touch from a measuring probe will deform the surface of the part while measuring it. This will offset the position of the measuring points and thus change the information you get from the measurement.

How can you counter such challenges?

Thermoplastic styrene block copolymers (TPS) represent a subgroup of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). This presentation explains what defines TPS materials and why they are an attractive choice for various applications. By understanding their fundamental morphology, raw materials, and compounding technologies, helps explain their key properties, such as chemical and temperature resistance, as well as their limits and processing advantages. The success story of TPS compounds over the past four decades is closely linked to their suitability for multi-component injection molding.

A practical introduction to engineering with Liquid Silicone Rubber. Learn how product design, tooling, and manufacturing work together to create reliable, high-performance LSR components.

Coloplast A/S uses soft materials as design features as well as functional features. A lot of the components are manufactured as 2 component injection moulded parts which provide challenges for mould design, choice of materials and processing. The mould design must take into consideration that the mould must shut off on the first shot and at the same time also provide venting for the second shot. The material choice must take into consideration if it is a mechanical bonding or a chemical bonding between the two components. Setting the process for the injection moulding also creates some issues that must be addressed to ensure at good quality of the finished parts. Coloplast will share practical examples of some of these issues that must be considered when using soft materials for injection moulded components.

This presentation explores the most common degradation mechanisms in polymers, with a focus on thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). Key factors influencing material aging, durability, and performance during processing and end-use will be discussed.