Oct 28 2010
DuPont Performance Polymers is committed to providing sustainable and innovative solutions based on its high performance polymers and elastomers. One route to innovation taken by DuPont is close collaboration with its customers in addressing their needs for product differentiation and compliance.
This is reflected by the recent commercialization of products for the health care and food industries, to be presented at K 2010, which meet respective industry regulations and are compliant with regional standards. Alternatively, in the wire and cable industry, DuPont is working closely with its customers in meeting sustainable options for now and the future, including elastomer solutions based on DuPont™ Vamac® ethylene acrylic elastomer (AEM), which provides the high fire resistance and flexibility required for hybrid cables.
The Bardo™ airway manufactured from a Special Control Grade of DuPont™ Hytrel® TPC-ET — a combined biteblock and airway.
Advanced solutions for health care components
The DuPont Performance Polymers health care product offering provides food agency compliance (FDA and EFSA) as well as USP Class VI and ISO 10993-5 and -11 compliance. They are available in two versions, each reflecting different levels of manufacturing control and material testing. Fifteen of the products are available as ‘Special Control’ grades that meet very high standards of manufacturing consistency important for a wide range of non-implantable medical products. Thirteen of the grades are available in ‘Premium Control’ versions meeting requirements for even more demanding manufacturing controls, broader regulatory support, additional testing, DMF access and the highest level of inspection. Both ‘Premium Control’ and ‘Special Control’ grades are produced according to good manufacturing practice (GMP) guidelines.
New polymer food grade products
Similarly, DuPont Performance Polymers has just launched a new family of products, designated “FG” (Food Grade), that meet demanding requirements for use in food contact applications. The materials being introduced make the DuPont offering one of the broadest portfolios of engineering plastics and thermoplastic elastomers for food contact applications. The new products provide compliance with several regional food contact regulations including FDA (Food and Drug Administration), European Food Contact n° 2002/72/EC and GMP (EC) n° 2023/2006. All FG products are available globally to allow customers to have the flexibility to design and manufacture in multiple regions.
New solutions for the wire & cable industry
In line with DuPont commitment to industry trends and the need for sustainable options for 21st century, DuPont Performance Polymers has recently expanded its solutions for the wire & cable industry with Zytel® Renewably Sourced (RS) polyamide resins, Hytrel® RS thermoplastic polyester elastomer resins, and a high performance, halogen-free, flame retardant grade of DuPont™ ETPV thermoplastic vulcanizate resin. Other materials available from DuPont Performance Polymers for the wire and cable industry include DuPont™ Vamac® ethylene acrylic elastomers (AEM), recognized as superior material for Halogen Free Flame Retardant (HFFR) and low smoke generating cable jacketing & insulations.
The Swiss company Huber + Suhner AG uses Vamac® for the insulation of screened and unscreened battery cables used in electrical and hybrid vehicles, including the fully electric Tesla Roadster – the first production battery electric vehicle to travel more than 200 miles per charge and with zero tailpipe emissions. Huber + Suhner will soon supply cables for the entire Tesla S Model family as well. Vamac® was primarily specified for this application because of its excellent high temperature and fluids resistance in tough automotive operating environments from -40°C to +150°C, involving hot motor and gearbox oils, battery acid, salt water and cleaning solvents, for its flexibility and abrasion resistance in confined spaces and finally for its excellent insulation performance in very demanding hybrid or fully electric car application.