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Sticky mats

Sticky mats

Sticky mats

(OP)
Not a molding resin question, per se, but I figured you guys would know, if anyone...

I'm looking for an inexpensive source for a thin rubber mat that has a sticky feel to one or both sides (these are usually used to hold down thin/light objects during light machining operations, such as rotary engraving). I have not held one in my hand, but my belief is they are of the same type of material used to make those 80's toys that crawled down walls (usually an octopus or ball... throw it at the wall, it stuck, then slowly rolled down it). The toy could be cleaned and fully restored to operation with a simple rinse of water/soap after it had picked up too much grime to stick properly. A similar item from today's market might be those cellphone sticky pads you're supposed to put on your car's dashboard, though I don't know if it's the same material and/or if it's the same level of stickiness.

If it's the case of the toy, I know it's a gel composed of an intimate melt blend admixture of poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) triblock copolymer with high levels of plasticizing oil. Can anyone point me to a company that sells either large mats (2'x2') or rolls of the stuff I can cut to size? If not, how about a more generic (and Google-able) term that could help me find such a manufacturer? I'm not above purchasing from companies that sell it for a specific purpose, as long as they're not marking it up exorbitantly, something I'm trying to avoid at the moment (like water pipe insulation that costs $2 from Home Depot, but the same thing costs $10 when a toy store calls it a Pool Noodle).

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Sticky mats

(OP)
"Polyurethane gel" seems to pop up quite a bit, but it's so generic it also applies to a boatload of mats without the sticky stuff.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Sticky mats

clean room mat comes to mind. Not sure what the material is. Some silicone sheeting is inherently tacky.

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

RE: Sticky mats

(OP)
The clean room mats usually have tear-off sheets of sticky stuff... I need the stuff that's naturally sticky/washable.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Sticky mats

You could get ahold of one of those toy octopi and have it chemically analyzed. OR . . . find the factory that produced the toy in the first place. Just a thought. You are correct about the sticky mats, it's basically just glue.

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

RE: Sticky mats

(OP)
The "sponginess" of sorbothane is one feature I'm after, but I don't believe it's naturally sticky like the octopi. I may have to track down a toy company and see if i can't weasel the info out of them.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Sticky mats

(OP)
EDIT: It looks like with a high level of plasticizer, sorbothane may be what I'm after... in my searches on sorbothane, I keep seeing mention of the mats used for dashes and such. I'll keep looking. Hoping I can find a company that will sell it in roll form and in small quantities (say, <50' @ 2-3' wide).

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Sticky mats

It is naturally sticky. I've used it as feet for hi-fi equipment. Your local high end hi-fi store may have some you can feel.

Chris DeArmitt - PhD FRSC

Plastics & Materials Consulting
www.phantomplastics.com

Plastic Training Seminars
www.plastictraining.com

RE: Sticky mats

Chris, I've seen variants of sorbothane that aren't very sticky (perhaps treated with mold release or talc dust?).

Mac, you want the tackiness of the surface to be high, not necessarily the flexibility of the stuff? You may want to search on the term "tackifier" instead of, or in addition to, the term plasticizer. FWIW, why not just buy some VHB foam tape from 3M - or do you need the wash-and-reuse ability of the sticky cell phone pad material?

RE: Sticky mats

Plasticized materials as you described are available as Kraton (kraton.com) or Styroflex (styrolution.com). They would probably know where to get sheets.

Also, table tennis bat rubber is very sticky when you get the good ones. I had a bat and you could place a coin on it then turn the bat upside-down and the coin would hang there.

Chris DeArmitt - PhD FRSC

Plastics & Materials Consulting
www.phantomplastics.com

Plastic Training Seminars
www.plastictraining.com

RE: Sticky mats

(OP)
bt, the mat should be flexible enough to move in/out of a machining area (at least as flexible as those clear carpet protectors put under desks, but preferably more flexible). I'm looking for a replacement to the current sellers as their pricing is, IMO, harsh. Currently retail pricing is over $100/square foot... while I have never had to purchase sorbothane, this seems like insane pricing. It seems like a similar case to my earlier Pool Noodle pricing example. These mats are reusable... somewhat self-healing if they're not cut into too deeply, and you wash them when they loose tackiness. A typical use might be to hold down a brass plate... tacky enough to hold the plate in place during machining, but peels right off with a light upward force.


Chris, thanks, I'll check them out.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Sticky mats

Aaah, for machining, that's a different story. Positioning wax. I have also used cheap double-faced tape.

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

RE: Sticky mats

(OP)
ornery,

Let me be a little more clear. A prime example machine would be the rotary engraving systems used in gift shops for personalizing metal flasks, ornaments, etc. Sticky mats are placed onto the cutting table to prevent items from slipping during machining (this is particularly useful for large items, such as brass plague faces). This also allows for quick removal and replacement with a new item. Seklema is one such mat manufacturer, and the cost can be over $100/square foot.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Sticky mats

Got it. I would still offer that positioning wax is a very user friendly material, so I would still recommend that. It's possible that a wax based system may not work with all of your materials, though. btrueblood's earlier suggestion of the 3M foam tapes have validity, as well. I've used the stuff before, and it has incredible holding power. Available in a number of thicknesses, and relatively inexpensive. If you find that the Seklema system is more versatile, Amazon has a 16x24 system for only $60 US, doesn't seem that bad if it does the job. http://www.amazon.com/Seklema-Multi-Mat-Hold-Down-...

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

RE: Sticky mats

Bath mat? Probably plasticized PVC. Could work, has suction cups underneath and some tackiness. Try the feel of them at a local store?

Chris DeArmitt - PhD FRSC

Plastics & Materials Consulting
www.phantomplastics.com

Plastic Training Seminars
www.plastictraining.com

RE: Sticky mats

(OP)
Bath mats won't work... suction cups make for a very uneven surface. The mats I mentioned earlier (Seklema) offer a very consistent thickness. Tape won't work as it involves a lot of manual labor and attracts dirt that cannot be wiped off (you'd have to replace the tape a lot). Same with the wax (and it doesn't play well with a laser).

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: Sticky mats

Not all bath mats have suction cups. Also try searching "tacky mat" in Google. Lots of interesting hits.

Chris DeArmitt - PhD FRSC

Plastics & Materials Consulting
www.phantomplastics.com

Plastic Training Seminars
www.plastictraining.com

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