Aug 18 2010
Luxe Pack 2010 (Monaco, 20-22 October 2010) sees DuPont introducing new grades for the cosmetic packaging industry and exhibiting an array of forms, textures, colors and special effects - made possible by the innovative use of DuPont Surlyn - for the packaging of perfumes and cosmetics.
Highlights of the DuPont exhibit, to be found at D1 in Ravel Hall, include the Surlyn Design Center, which aims to provide brand owners and designers with the inspiration and practical advice required to achieve new and innovative designs in Surlyn for their packaging. New technologies portrayed at the stand will include Surlyn 3D overmolding and new techniques for the cost-effective production of effects such as marble and natural textures.
Eye-catching visual effects in Surlyn®: The cap of the new ‘Oriens’ fragrance from Van Cleef & Arpels mimics the appearance of a tourmaline gem thanks to the clarity and magnifying effect of the DuPont material.
A spectrum of colors
The colorful effects and luxurious appearance achievable with caps molded from Surlyn is perhaps best illustrated by the cap of the new 'Oriens' fragrance from Van Cleef & Arpels, a brand of Inter Parfum, Inc. The bottle's designer, Joël Desgrippes, modeled its appearance on the design of a ring from the company's own jewelry collection, with the faceted, Surlyn cap mimicking the pink-orange-green spectrum of the tourmaline gem set within the ring. Key to achieving this effect is the clarity and magnifying effect of the DuPont material. The three different colors lacquered on the surface of the Surlyn are reflected by the metallic insert set deep within the thick-molded cap, producing a shimmering sense of depth and luxury. Further criteria for the selection of Surlyn include the material's high compatibility with the ingredients contained within the fragrance, as well as the possibility to integrate a very small injection gate which could be easily hidden behind the one of the leaves in the cap's design. "The cap is a genuinely beautiful creation and we are proud to have worked with the molder Lisi Cosmetics on its development. Thanks to their material knowledge and command of the injection molding process, we have created a cap of extreme quality," confirms Marion Trossat, packaging developer at Inter Parfum.
New effects in Surlyn
Among the many eye-catching special effects achievable in Surlyn, to be presented at Luxe Pack 2010, is the creation of caps and jars with a marble-like appearance. The patented technology behind this effect is the inclusion of a different-colored nylon 6 in the Surlyn resin, as Prosper Zufferey processing expert at DuPont, explains. "The difference in melt temperatures between Surlyn and nylon 6 allows us to use different colors to create colored veins within the injection molded part." Further depth can be added by creating a glass marble effect, achieved by co-injection molding a transparent Surlyn outer shell with the Surlyn/nylon compound.
The production of molded packaging elements in Surlyn with new, highly-creative textures such as leather or wood provides a further example of the design freedom achievable with Surlyn. The desired texture for the finished part is finely laser-engraved within the tool cavity and can be precisely replicated by Surlyn from the tool, without any need for secondary operations, thanks to the material's easy flow characteristics and low rate of shrinkage.
DuPont Selar PA - a high barrier resin for cosmetic containers
Luxe Pack 2010 will also mark the commercial introduction of two new grades of Selar PA amorphous nylon, Selar PA 3426R and Selar PA 7003, targeted for use as a high barrier resin in cosmetic containers such as those for nail polish and waterproof mascara. Cosmetics such as these can require their containers to provide high barrier performance in terms of water vapor, oxygen and carbon dioxide, as well as high chemical resistance, scratch resistance and gloss effect. New impact-modified Selar PA 7003, for instance, combines all of these attributes with an increase in impact resistant versus incumbent materials. Accordingly, the potential benefits for container manufacturers adopting the new resins are a reduction in wall thickness and production costs.