Computer Mouse Goes Premium with Soft Touch

The Challenge

A global business equipment manufacturer decided to develop a premium line of computer mouse products that offered improved ergonomics and soft-touch qualities. The OEM aimed to boost penetration in this market category by creating a new higher-performing mouse that offered added comfort and features aimed at an enhanced user experience.

Key to the product development effort was a soft-touch grip that would give users a smooth feel, easy handling, and more physical comfort. In addition, the design included more traditional features, such as four small support feet on the underside of the mouse for low-friction, easy-glide operation.

The manufacturer sought high-performance material solutions to create these features and significantly improve the computer user’s experience. Its design team determined the need for a soft-touch material with strong chemical resistance and color stability for the mouse grip. 

Furthermore, the mouse’s feet required a low-wear, low friction material.

The Solution

Based on earlier successful projects, the OEM design team turned to Avient for a selection of suitable thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). The Avient team worked with the manufacturer to meet specific property needs and developed a customized solution that added soft-touch, ergonomic, and friction-free features.

To meet the manufacturer’s goals for the mouse grip, a clear TPE overmolding material, GLS Versaflex™, was formulated for improved ergonomics and comfort, strong chemical resistance, and excellent bonding to the ABS substrate. A technical support team at Avient GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers conducted extensive compatibility testing to confirm proper bonding and overmolding onto the rigid substrate.

This custom Versaflex grade provides 60 Shore A hardness and superior tear strength. It also boasts excellent chemical resistance to common substances like cosmetics and cleaners, as well as foods such as olive oil and mustard. The material facilitates two-shot molding, a highly efficient manufacturing process that eliminates time-consuming, high-cost assembly.

For the mouse feet, Avient formulated a special grade of LubriOne™ filled acetal as an improvement over the neat acetal found in traditional designs. It offers excellent surface engineering properties such as low wear, reduced friction, high lubricity, and no squeak. Together, the manufacturer and Avient settled on a final formulation that could utilize existing tooling, thereby avoiding additional costs.

The LubriOne grade offers a kinetic coefficient of friction value (0.108), which is roughly 50% better than that of the traditional material. As a result, the mouse’s gliding capability is greatly improved versus existing models, contributing to an enhanced user experience.

Avient and the manufacturer conducted a series of molding trials to establish proper part performance, and the teams also coordinated sales, engineering and technical support in tandem.

The Impact

The new premium mouse hit store shelves amid positive reviews, generating brisk sales and enabling the manufacturer to improve its share of market. In addition, the profit margin on this product was about 30% higher than that of other models. The OEM’s new product, featuring Avient’s contribution, increased market share and generated more than $400,000 in sales during the first year of production.