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Calling all Materials Experts

MetalGear

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Hi Materials Experts,

I am looking for a textured plastic or cloth that has has some "give" with an adhesive backing. I have looked on Ali-Baba but am not sure what to call this and haven't found anything with its properties.

This is not the exact product, but let's say for arguments sake, that I am making a stick-on cell phone case enhancer that has the following properties:
  1. Could be plastic or cloth - preferably eco friendly
  2. Adhesive backing - sticks onto your existing cell phone case
  3. The plastic/cloth needs to have some "give" like the rubber part of an Otterbox phone case
  4. Allows you to grip it more - textured
  5. Can have designs printed on it
The hardest part is figuring out what to call it when searching and who to source it from right now...

PVC stickers won't work because they are not textured, unless I am missing something?

Thanks,
MG
 
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zhack

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interesting. how about vinyl?
Anyway, here are some terms I found:
  • Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE)
  • Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)
  • Polypropylene (PP)
  • polyethylene (PE)
  • Polyolefins (PO)
Hope you found what you're looking for, and if you do, please let us know.

Edit: (you may use acronyms and attach terms like sheet to search on alibaba i.e. EVA sheet)
 

Walter Hay

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Sorry I didn't respond earlier but I have been having problems with an erratic modem and finally it has died. Now with a new one I'm able to answer.

Flexible vinyl might be the answer, It can be molded with a textured finish. The OP's biggest concern should be the adhesive. I would specify 3M's Very High Bond (VHB) double sided adhesive. Good Chinese manufacturers will source that for you. Chinese adhesives might be OK but you would need to do serious testing.

Alternately, flexible vinyl can be bought with a pressure sensitive adhesive backing and embossed to produce a textured finish. This would be the lower cost option rather than molding.

Walter
 
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MetalGear

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Thank you everyone, I will continue my search!
 

MetalGear

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The OP's biggest concern should be the adhesive. I would specify 3M's Very High Bond (VHB) double sided adhesive. Good Chinese manufacturers will source that for you. Chinese adhesives might be OK but you would need to do serious testing.

Alternately, flexible vinyl can be bought with a pressure sensitive adhesive backing and embossed to produce a textured finish. This would be the lower cost option rather than molding.

Walter

Hi Walter, I have been looking at manufacturers based on the recommendations on this thread.

Do the people that produce the plastics also apply the adhesive backing?

Are these folks typically one stop shops or in your experience, does your product need to be routed from one factory to another for processing and production?

Thanks,
MG
 

Walter Hay

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Hi Walter, I have been looking at manufacturers based on the recommendations on this thread.

Do the people that produce the plastics also apply the adhesive backing?

Are these folks typically one stop shops or in your experience, does your product need to be routed from one factory to another for processing and production?

Thanks,
MG
If the suppliers doesn't apply the adhesive they are not the ones to buy from.

I should have mentioned in my previous post that debossing is simpler to do and should cost less than embossing. The difference between the two is:
Debossing = recessed
Embossing = raised.

An embossed texture will usually give more grip than a debossed texture, but I have seen plenty of debossed items that have good grip.

Walter
 
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David Young

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If I understand the spec correctly then either side of the material will have different properties. Try adding "Laminate" with some of the word phrases offered above- as it is often used if multiple layers of sheet material are combined.

also have a look at fabric laminated neoprene
 
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caezlar

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the material is carbon fibre, can make it with different texture, translucent and self adhesion,. it be used for protect the back of phone.
 
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