A thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) bonds well with the insulation of the contact element. TPEs are synthetic materials that behave similarly to classic elastomers at room temperature, but can be plastically deformed when heat is applied, thereby demonstrating a thermoplastic behavior that renders it suitable for injection molding. Polyethylene (PE) is a TPE. TPE also bonds well with an appropriate material selected for the adapter, so that inexpensive PVC cables, i.e. a cable with PVC insulation, can be used for the conductor. Terpolymer elastomers such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), also referred to as rubber, have similarly favorable properties in terms of bonding and behavior in injection molding.

A thermoplastic or terpolymer elastomer also bonds well to a semi-crystalline thermoplastic material, particularly polypropylene (PP), or to metal, so that a media-tight seal is created at both ends by the overmolding. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the problems associated with overmolding in silicone cables may also be overcome and a tight seal may be achieved with this system. Media that may intrude at the adapter end that is not overmolded are captured by the seal inside the adapter, resulting in a particularly robust solution for automotive engineering applications.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the gasket also seals the electrical connection on the side of the insulation adjacent the electrical conductor.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the adapter is a two-component injection-molded part with a gasket, i.e. the gasket is produced from a second material during the injection molding process of the adapter. In this embodiment, injection molding as a two-component part may be more complex but requires no assembly effort to manufacture the adapter.