DuPont Engineering Polymers extends alliance partnership to help broaden availability of innovative nanotechnology
To combines the best of polymers with the best of metals
DuPont Engineering polymers has announced a long-term alliance with California-based PowerMetal Technologies, Inc. to further develop and commercialize MetaFuse™ nanocrystalline metal/polymer hybrid technology, with initial development programs targeted at electronic hand-held devices, sporting goods, furniture, power tools and appliances. One year ago, DuPont Engineering Polymers signed a similar alliance with Morph Technologies to bring this technology to the automotive market.
“MetaFuse™ builds on the foundational strength of DuPont Engineering Polymers, which lies in application development using high-performance materials and technology aimed at helping customers deliver high-quality, cost-effective systems and components,” said Keith J. Smith, vice president and general manager – DuPont Engineering Polymers. “The technology’s combination of strength and stiffness from metals plus the design flexibility of plastics has proven to excite innovative designers and engineers who want to create with fewer limits.”
MetaFuse™ nanometal/polymer hybrids can be used to manufacture extremely lightweight components with the strength and stiffness of metal combined with the design flexibility and lightweight benefits of high-performance thermoplastics. The technology employs a proprietary process that precisely applies ultra high-strength nanometal to components made of DuPont Engineering Polymers to create lightweight components in myriad, complex shapes with the stiffness of magnesium or aluminum and higher strength. Nanoparticles are not created at any stage in this manufacturing process.
Under the agreement, DuPont Engineering Polymers, with global development, R&D and customer-support centers, will provide proprietary resin formulation and application development leadership to global customers to bring this innovative technology to market. PowerMetal will apply its nanotechnology expertise to the manufacture of extremely lightweight components with the strength and stiffness of metal combined with the design flexibility and lightweight benefits of DuPont Engineering Polymers high-performance thermoplastics. Other terms and conditions were not disclosed.
“DuPont Engineering Polymers has built a long-standing and well-deserved reputation as a leading provider of innovative engineering polymer solutions that have impacted nearly every aspect of our society. We think this will be a very successful partnership,” said Edward Hughes, president and CEO of PowerMetal.
In October 2007 DuPont Engineering Polymers announced an alliance with Canadian-based Morph Technologies Inc., Integran Technologies Inc. and PowerMetal to develop and commercialize the nanocrystalline metal/polymer hybrid technology for the automotive, consumer electronics and sporting goods markets. “The market is embracing the possibilities that can result from this new technology and we are well on our way to commercial success,” said Clive Robertson, business development manager at DuPont Engineering Polymers, adding that there are many development programs under way.
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