Some Knowledge of Materials of Sex Toys & Novelties
I. What Makes a Good Sex Toy in Terms of Material?
To understand what makes a good sex toy in terms of material, it’s essential to know the characteristics of various materials commonly used for sex toys. Here are the most common sex toy materials:
- Liquid Silicone
Liquid silicone is an improvement over traditional silicone, with a refined texture that offers greater elasticity and flexibility. It’s used in baby products and breast implants, making it an excellent choice for adult toys. High-quality realistic dildos often use this material. If you come across a dildo with a significantly low price, it’s likely not made from liquid silicone.
- PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
PVC requires the addition of plasticizers, which can be challenging to meet quality standards. PVC sex toys tend to have a less desirable texture compared to silicone. Generally, PVC is used for producing low-cost or larger-sized adult toy products. However, PVC has become less common in the market over time.
- ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
ABS is a copolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene, offering better safety compared to PVC. It is often used for non-body-contact parts of adult toys, such as handles and remote controls, making it a suitable alternative.
- TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer)
TPE is a thermoplastic elastomer that falls between rubber and resin in terms of properties, closely mimicking the sensation of human skin. It has become the primary material for realistic adult toys, including male masturbators and pocket pussies.
- TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)
TPU is a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer known for its wear resistance, impact resistance, shock absorption, and self-lubrication properties.
II. Methods for Discerning the Quality of Adult Masturbation Toys
- Oil Seepage Test
Indicators: Natural oil seepage and a strong, foul odor after storage.
Causes: Poor-quality raw materials or improper material ratios.
It’s normal for TPE to exhibit some oil seepage over time, such as after a month of storage. However, low-quality TPE materials may experience oil seepage within a short time, even as quickly as an hour, emitting a strong and unpleasant odor. In such cases, caution is warranted. After a month of storage, adult toys made from subpar TPE materials may even show signs of decay.
- Burn Test
Indicators: Easily catches fire and produces black smoke.
Causes: Addition of toxic substances like plasticizers.
High-quality materials are less flammable and leave no burn marks on the surface when ignited. In contrast, low-quality TPE materials, containing a significant amount of plasticizers, are prone to catching fire easily, emitting noxious black smoke. After extinguishing, burned areas may turn color and emit a strong odor. Note that not all products with burnt marks are necessarily substandard; this is just one aspect to consider.
- Weak Acid Test
Indicators: pH test paper turns red.
Causes: Addition of toxic plasticizers like phthalates.
High-quality toys typically have a weakly acidic pH of 4 to 5. In contrast, poor-quality toys with added toxic plasticizers like phthalates may exhibit strongly acidic pH levels. Testing involves crushing samples of low-quality and high-quality materials, placing them in containers, immersing them in pure water with weak acidity for three days, and observing the pH paper results. High-quality materials should maintain a weakly acidic pH, similar to the body’s pH, while poor-quality materials will show a strong acidic pH, posing a significant health risk.”
Please note that this information is provided for reference purposes and is not an endorsement of any specific product or brand.