5 Jul 2007
SKYMARK USES NEW ARNITEL® VT THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS
IN SKYAIR® AND SKYAIR® XT BREATHABLE MEMBRANES
WATERPROOF • BREATHABLE • WINDPROOF
Skymark Performance Films Limited (Scunthorpe, U.K.), employs Arnitel® VT thermoplastic ether ester block copolymer elastomer (TEE-E) film technology materials from DSM Engineering Plastics, in Skymark’s breathable SKYAIR® and SKYAIR® XT membranes. SKYAIR® and SKYAIR® XT membranes offer different levels of moisture vapour transmission rate and when laminated to fabric can be used in recreational, sports, medical and construction applications which are waterproof and windproof, yet remain “breathable”.
Arnitel® has successfully implemented new technologies for the Arnitel® Vapour Transmission (VT) products. These unique Arnitel® VT products combine intelligent breathability with excellent film processing behavior and are specially designed for applications in breathable membranes. Arnitel® VT products also exhibit excellent draping and soft touch, making it especially useful in layered fabric and non-woven constructions. Unlike many earlier waterproof yet breathable film types, films made from Arnitel® elastomer contain no micropores. Water vapour transmission is accomplished by diffusion through the film itself. SKYAIR® and SKYAIR® XT membranes are the first commercial applications of the new Arnitel® VT technologies.
“We chose Arnitel® VT for its excellent processability and level of breathability,” said Paul Glover, Group Technical Director at Skymark. “DSM’s engineering staff went out of their way to aid us in the many development and production elements involved in the commercialisation of SKYAIR® and SKYAIR® XT using the new Arnitel® technology material, the most recent being the launch, of the higher MVTR, SKYAIR® XT membranes. The result has allowed Skymark to offer alternative breathable membranes at a competitive level into the price driven textile market and we look forward to continued developments with DSM in the future.”
Because there are no pores in membranes made from the Arnitel® material, SKYAIR® and SKYAIR® XT membranes retain their waterproof qualities even when water drops hit at high speeds, as on a motorcycle jacket worn while riding in the rain.
In medical applications, pore-free SKYAIR® and SKYAIR® XT membranes block bacteria and viruses in addition to body fluids. Breathability is not affected by repeated washing, where pore-based materials tend to clog with detergents or particulate lifted during washing.
“We are proud to have helped Skymark meet the challenges of breathable, waterproof membrane applications with their SKYAIR® and SKYAIR® XT products,” said Francis Aussems, Application Development and Technical Manager, DSM Engineering Plastics. “It is particularly satisfying to work with Skymark because of their ability to seek out and use new developments.”
In textile-based uses, the breathability of SKYAIR® and SKYAIR® XT membranes affords comfort to wearers engaged in performance recreation and sports activities, even in extreme weather. In a completely different vein, the same attribute makes non-porous fabric made from Arnitel® VT elastomer good for use as a roofing membrane in building construction, where it allows water vapour from the inhabited side to disperse into the outside air.
Other attributes especially fitting for the SKYAIR® and SKYAIR® XT usage of Arnitel® include the material’s elasticity over a wide temperature range, excellent chemical resistance, high melting point, and good adhesion to substrates.
In addition to film applications, Arnitel® is extensively used in automotive components designed for human touch, such as armrests and steering wheel covers; for components requiring exceptional fatigue resistance and resistance to oil and greases, including rack and pinion bellows, constant velocity joint (CVJ) boots, and air brake tubing. In the electronic and consumer goods industries, Arnitel® is widely used for mobile phone antennas, cable insulation, flexible tubing, handles, and pads. The range of Arnitel® is exemplified by its use both in tiny, low-noise gears, and in large, energy- and sound-absorbing railway pads.
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Notes for editors
About Skymark Performance Films Limited
Skymark Performance Films Limited, part of the Skymark Group, www.skymark.co.uk, was opened in 1994. In addition to making SKYAIR® and SKYAIR® XT membranes, Skymark specialise in the production of co-extruded cast micro embossed films for the hygiene, personal care and speciality packaging market sectors. Skymark also has significant blown film, conversion, lamination and flexographic printing capacity. Skymark is a BS EN ISO 9001:2000 accredited company.
DSM Engineering Plastics
DSM Engineering Plastics is a Business Group in the performance materials cluster of DSM, with sales in 2006 of EUR 1005 million (which number includes the sales of DSM Dyneema) and approximately 1300 employees worldwide. It is one of the world's leading suppliers of engineering thermoplastics offering a broad portfolio of high performance products including Stanyl® PA 46 and Akulon® 6 and 66 polyamides, Arnitel® TPE-E, Arnite® PBT and PET polyesters, Xantar® polycarbonate, Yparex® extrudable adhesive resins. These materials are used in technical components for electrical appliances, electronic equipment and cars, in barrier packaging films as well as in many mechanical and extrusion applications. With Stanyl®, it is the global market leader in high heat polyamides.
About DSM
DSM is active worldwide in nutritional and pharma ingredients, performance materials and industrial chemicals. The company develops, produces and sells innovative products and services that help improve the quality of life. DSM’s products are used in a wide range of end-markets and applications, such as human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive and transport, coatings and paint, housing and electrics & electronics (E&E). DSM’s strategy, named Vision 2010 – Building on Strengths, focuses on accelerating profitable and innovative growth of the company’s specialties portfolio. The key drivers of this strategy are market-driven growth and innovation plus an increased presence in emerging economies. The group has annual sales of over €8 billion and employs some 22,000 people worldwide. DSM ranks among the global leaders in many of its fields. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas.
More information about DSM can be found at www.dsm.com.
Akulon®, Arnite®, Arnitel®, Stanyl®, Xantar® and Yparex® are registered trademarks of Royal DSM
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