Flocking of Elastomeric Alloy Thermoplastic Rubber Profiles

Flocking embraces the coating of an extruded rubber profile with short (0.3 - 3 mm) monofilament textile fibers, to enable sealing against automotive surfaces (e.g., glass, metal, finish) moving against and over the rubber surface. Flocking of thermoset rubbers -- EPDM, SBR, CR -- is well established with automotive profiles. New technology has been developed for flocking extruded profiles of elastomeric alloy thermoplastic elastomers (EA-TPEs), to give belt line seals, automotive glass run channels and other sealing profiles. These flocked EA-TPE profiles have a number of practical advantages over ones from thermoset EPDM rubber, including: 1) the efficiency and economy of thermoplastic over thermoset rubber processing; 2) closer dimensional tolerances, to enable the fabrication of more intricate profiles; and 3) superior long-term aging in air.