As wearing smart devices continues to become more widespread, wearable wristband manufacturers must innovate further and progress beyond the conventional realm of performance and durability. Fluoroelastomers, fluorocarbon-based synthetic rubber, provide wristband manufacturers with a wide range of advantageous properties and contribute to cutting-edge materials for smart devices and wearables.
Syensqo’s portfolio of specialty polymers for smart devices, such as smartphones and wearables, offers an abundance of select materials to simplify manufacturing and improve application performance. Specifically, Syensqo’s Tecnoflon® FKM is a family of partially fluorinated fluoroelastomers renowned for its operational temperature range, exceptional chemical resistance and reliability in difficult-to-process applications where longevity is critical. Its versatile and dependable compatibility enable significant enhancements in wristband processing and manufacturing efficiency.
Advantages of Fluorochemistry
Innovative fluorochemistry enables elastomers and specialty polymers to reach new limits and exceed the expectations of the smart device industry. Fluoroelastomers are equipped with extreme temperature tolerance when compared to general elastomers and other traditional materials. The Tecnoflon® family, for instance, displays the broadest service temperature range of the most widely utilized elastomers.
Syensqo’s Tecnoflon® FKM grades are REACH-compliant and have been submitted for ISO 10993 biocompatibility testing. These specialty materials qualify to the current high standards for cytotoxicity, systemic toxicity, intracutaneous studies, maximization sensitization studies and physicochemical studies.
Exceptional Chemical Resistance and Colorability
The broad chemical resistance of high-performance fluoroelastomers enables rubber wristband manufacturers to utilize a range of processes for cleaning and disinfecting, which is compatible with ISO 10993 regulations for body contact. Tecnoflon® FKM also exhibits resistance to most cosmetic and cleaning chemicals. These properties enable easier sanitization and better resistance to disinfectants than standard elastomers and contribute to improved cleanability and appearance following repeated steam sterilization.
Along with its dense, high-quality feel and haptics, Tecnoflon® FKM provides the benefit of easy colorability. The intrinsic nature of FKM enables designers of wristbands for wearables to easily match popularly demanded colors to provide significant design flexibility.
Excellent Tensile Strength and Stain Resistance
Fluoroelastomers, such as Tecnoflon® FKM, exhibit outstanding tensile strength, notable longevity and high durability for modern smart device wearable bands. FKM is equipped with a supple, gummy texture to enable extreme strength and flexibility during both processing and application usage. Its inherent tensile properties facilitate more rugged and tear-resistant wearable materials to help designers push the limits of processing innovations. Additionally, Tecnoflon® FKM is both sweat- and stain-resistant, which enables vast improvements in utility for the consumer to deliver a robust, premium and practical user experience. The unparalleled combination of properties contributes to some of the most advanced smart devices on the market today.
Peroxide Curable Grades
Tecnoflon® FKM Peroxide Curable grades facilitate excellent processability by injection molding and compression molding. These grades contribute to simplified and efficient processing due to their low post cure, superior mold flow, lack of mold fouling, excellent mold release and good metal bonding. The peroxide curable grades of Tecnoflon® have a 67-70% fluorine content and deliver especially long-term sealing performance capabilities, which gives them an edge over conventional elastomers in longevity and service life. High-quality wristband manufacturers continuously choose peroxide-curable FKM for these reasons along with its ability to provide applications with a unique list of benefits, including exceptional chemical resistance and colorability, excellent tensile strength and stain resistance, unrivaled haptics and premium performance.
