ENGINEERING POLYMERS GIVE DESIGNERS MAXIMUM CREATIVE FREEDOM, SAYS DUPONT
01 May 2001 - DuPont Engineering Polymers

Engineering Polymers have a vital role to play, today and in the future, in giving the design community maximum freedom to creatively match the aesthetic and functional requirements of today's consumers, according to Stewart Daykin, Technology and Development Service Manager for New DuPont Engineering Polymers Europe, speaking today at a pre-Kunstoffe press conference.

Daykin said: "Scientists at DuPont Engineering Polymers are applying creativity across many market segments. For example, Zytel 'Super Tough', Kevlar para-aramid and specialty grades of Delrin acetal resin have been optimised for 'best survival', critical safety, seating applications, from Formula One racing to infant seating."

Meanwhile, gas assisted moulding and the use of multiple materials have transformed utility items used for infant and disabled mobility into potential design icons, bringing improved user acceptance and a better fit to today's fashion-conscious user.

Design creativity with DuPont Engineering Polymers has been influential in delivering comfort and form to the footwear market, particularly for sports shoes. "New fabrics, two-component moulding, blow moulding and foaming technology are all being used to effect a industry rejuvenation," according to Daykin.

The telecommunications industry is another example of where external aesthetics or packaging and the increasing miniaturization of electronics have become as important as the actual content of the device, if not more so. The use of Engineering Polymers is growing in this segment, as designers raise material requirements to match performance demands.

Likewise, Engineering Polymers are being increasingly used as a key material in
energy management because of their ability to absorb noise, insulate heat and electricity and resist impact.

In the context of ongoing miniaturization in the electronics and electrical industry, a wide range of surface mount devices such as connectors, micro relays and coil forms have been commercialised in DuPont Engineering Polymers, particularly in Zenite liquid crystal polymer. In line with a new electronics industry trend, materials such as Zytel HTN and Zenite LCP meet the requirements for vapour wave soldering and infrared soldering techniques and today are standard for lead-free soldering systems that demand increased temperature performance.

http://plastics.dupont.com

More News:
  • For May 2001
  • From DuPont Engineering Polymers
  • For Engineering Plastics