Durable, Colorable, Silky TPSiV® Elastomers from Dow Corning Show Favorable Results when Tested for Prolonged Skin Contact.

Dow Corning, a global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, announced today that its TPSiV® 4000 and TPSiV® 4200 Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) have been tested according to United States Pharmacopeia’s (USP) General Chapter -88- and ISO 10993-10 guidelines and have shown to be non irritating and non sensitizing in skin contact applications. The results offer strong independent validation that these industry-leading materials are an excellent option for use in wearable electronics applications, such as wrist bands for smart watches and fitness trackers, as well as for device accessories such as earbuds.

In vivo testing, performed in accordance with the USP General Chapter -88-, Biological Reactivity protocol, demonstrated that TPSiV 4000 and TPSiV 4200 Elastomers were not cytotoxic, showed no indication of systemic toxicity, and did not produce skin irritation. Additional testing performed under ISO 10993-10 provided further evidence that TPSiV 4000 and TPSiV 4200 Elastomers were not skin sensitizers. These test results offer manufacturers an additional level of confidence in using TPSiV products in prolonged skin contact applications such as the fast-growing market for wearable electronics.

“As a collaborative innovator who works with leading wearable device manufacturers worldwide, Dow Corning recognized early how critically important it would be to ensure our TPSiV materials were evaluated for prolonged skin contact,” said Gifford Shearer, market development leader, Consumer Electronics at Dow Corning. “The encouraging results of these tests validate our customers’ confidence in their selection of TPSiV materials for skin contact applications, and enable them to leverage the many other high-value performance properties they offer.”

A unique hybrid of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) and crosslinked silicone rubber, TPSiV materials combine the durability, abrasion resistance and overmolding options of TPUs, with the softness and resistance to ultraviolet light and chemicals offered by silicone technology. TPSiV elastomers can be precisely color-matched to customer specifications and maintain their excellent, long-lasting aesthetics even for the most demanding wearable device applications. Wearable device manufactures can take advantage of TPSiV Elastomers’ flexibility and silky soft feeling to increase comfort for consumers.

“For decades, Dow Corning has been a source of innovative, proven silicone-based solutions for both the advanced electronics and healthcare industries,” said Geoff Gardner, global industry director for Electronics at Dow Corning. “We are using this hard won expertise to accelerate our customer’s development cycle with a truly innovative material that they can trust for their customers”

About Dow Corning
Dow Corning (dowcorning.com) provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, Dow Corning offers more than 7,000 products and services via the company’s Dow Corning® and XIAMETER® brands. Dow Corning is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s annual sales are outside the United States. Dow Corning’s global operations adhere to the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care® initiative, a stringent set of standards designed to advance the safe and secure management of chemical products and processes.

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