what is a "soft touch" material? 1

[HDS]

What properties gives a coating a "soft touch " feel? There has to be more to it then just a low coefficient of friction.

How do you define and "soft touch" so that you can evaluate different materials?

 

[Pud]

Usually the Shore hardness of the elastomer.

www.tynevalleyplastics.co.uk

It's ok to soar like an eagle, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

 

[HDS]

What about a soft touch paint? Is it still a low durometer that creates the feeling?

 

[Pud]

I would guess (and it IS a guess..) that paints may use soft elastomers as a filler (maybe EPDM as it's use as an impact modifier in some plastics).

Just wait a bit and someone who knows what they're talking about will arrive...

H

www.tynevalleyplastics.co.uk

It's ok to soar like an eagle, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

 

[HDS]

This was a question that could have gone into a dozen different forums. Like you said hopefully the right guy will come along that can explain what characteristics give these materials and coatings their unique tactile properties.

 

[Demon3]

You can use a very soft material, e.g. for a soft touch handle inside a car back seat but then it's too soft to bear load. So what they do is to use a hard, load bearing material and put a soft touch coating on it. For example a paint containing soft touch silicone particles like these:

http://www.dowcorning.com/content/plastics/plassilox/plas_siloxanes4.asp?DCWS=Plastics&DCWSS=

It's probably a combination of the soft elastomer and the textured surface that makes the effect.

Chris DeArmitt PhD
President - Phantom Plastics LLC

Trusted adviser to leading companies around the world

http://www.phantomplastics.com