MARKETS
A "profile in nylon." Injection molds for plastics are costly. Preliminary tests may be traced and cut into nylon with the aid of a pantograph
Chief product of new D u Pont sales service laboratory near Wilmington is know-how. Equipment is similar to that used by the plastics industry. Blown polyethylene emerges here in tubular form, later is rolled flat and cut An injection molding machine. Test pieces, machined, are being removed after molding sample parts. They are made of acrylic, nylon, or polyethylene resins.
The Customer Is Not Always Right N e w Du Pont laboratory aids plastic user in overcoming technical and process problems
Entrance and main facade of new D u Pont laboratory showing one of the building wings to the left. The sign over the door is of letters made of the company's acrylic resin. Inside is a large plastics display 904
W I L M I N G T O N , D E L . - W h e n a plastics m o l d e r w a n t s D u Pont t e c h n o l o gists t o assist h i m in any o n e o f a t h o u s a n d different problems arising in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h processing, t h e answer very l i k e l y will c o m e from the vicinity of C h e s t n u t Run, D e l . There, D u P o n t has just c o m p l e t e d a $3-million sales CHEMICAL
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Surprisingly large number of chemicals and solvents are essential in servicing conducted for resin customers as well as in development work on new materials aad processes. Polychemicals department has over 100 products which may get attention in the new laboratory
Multiform press for preforming or cold-forming rings and bearings from tetrafluoroethylene. These small plastic items find use as packings in valves and pumps
service laboratory, operated by its poly- make adjustments for their properties these in the construction of its new chemicals department, to show him and limitations, said Elmer F. Schu- service a n d research building you are terribly mistaken. Acrylic is used in what can and what cannot b e done macher, polychemicals sales director. with plastics. "Plastic materials are new materials, translucent ceiling panels, in blue lamiT h e fact is that the chemical indus- and a great deal of what this sales serv- nated wall panels, and in prismatic try has become concerned over the lack ice laboratory is designed to do, must light cliffusers. Polyethylene enters the of understanding shown by some in the be done to educate users of plastic ma- high voltage primary feeder cable, and molding and merchandising of these teri.ils and develop comparable knowl- is t h e insulation for t h e feeder cables, materials. The different properties of exhaust ducts, ventilating equipment, the resins are not always properly The plastics with which the new unit and laboratory ware. Mechanical parts evaluated or used, and extravagant and will be concerned are Zytel Nylon, Tef- throughout the structure are of nylon, unfulfilled claims have led to dissatis- lon tetrafluoroethylene, Alathon poly- and the same resin enters door hinge faction. ethylene, and Lucite acrylic. If you bearings, door locks, and typewriter T h e Chestnut Run laboratory has think D u Pont has not made use of parts. been set u p to correct this situation as well as to assist the molder in his serv- Antifreeze solutions also come in for attention of researcher and technologist at Chestice problems. It is a building contain- nut Run. Concentration of coolant after an extended run is being checked, with some of the 20 radiators and motor blocks used for testing shown in background ing 62,000 square feet, beautifully designed a n d equipped with the plastic industry's most modern and efficient machinery. An idea of its maintenance cost will be seen in the staff of some 100 persons, headed by D. B. Hanson, to conduct this job. Helping the customer will be the biggest job, but almost half of the laboratory's operations "will b e concerned with development work on new materials and processes. In addition to plastics, assistance will also be given to customers of more than 100 products of t h e polychemicals department, including its antifreezes. For servicing the company's resin users there is equipment for molding, extrusion, coating, compounding, calendering, and forming. There are in addition radiant heaters, chill rolls, quench tanks, takeoff devices, and a film-slitting machine. Industry and the public know almost instinctively how to use wood, stone, iron, glass, and h o w to design and VOLUME
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