DuPont Cosmetic Solutions at Luxe Pack 2007: science and innovation in packaging materials and technology

An ever-expanding scope of application of its materials, as well as several new processing technologies for fragrance, skin-care and make-up packaging, form the centerpiece of DuPont’s exhibit at Luxe Pack 2007 (23-26 October 2007 in Monaco). Building on the reputation of DuPont™ Surlyn® as an established material of choice for the cosmetic industry, the company will present a wealth of new ideas for packaging innovation, including the impregnation of Surlyn® parts with prestige fragrances, new colours and finishes for male fragrance packaging, and premium packaging solutions for skincare and haircare products. The company’s range of DuPont™ Tynex® monofilaments for premium quality cosmetic brushes will also be presented at the exhibit, which can be found in Ravel Stand D1.

Pushing the boundaries for caps and closures
“Offering a unique combination of design freedom, glass-like clarity, reliable performance and appealing tactile properties, Surlyn® continues to find recognition amongst leading brands from the world of fragrances,” states Danielle Blomert, global cosmetics and personal care market manager at DuPont. “From extremely thick-walled, minimalist designs to intricate, baroque floral creations, designers continue to explore and push the limits of this unique material.”

In response to the increase in the number of male product lines – a world where metal, minimalism, and high-tech materials dominate – DuPont is developing new tones and finishes with Surlyn®. They include stone and metal effects and a range of dark colors that reflect masculine tastes yet deliver the established benefits of this versatile material.

Enhancing the sensorial appeal of closures beyond their visual perception, DuPont is currently developing a technology for the impregnation of Surlyn® parts and accessories with prestige fragrances. It is made possible by the material’s low processing temperature, and is viewed by the company as a potentially significant offering to leading brands seeking enhanced differentiation.

Glass or plastic…..or both?!
Beyond its well-known use in perfume caps, the creative freedom of Surlyn® is now also increasingly appreciated and adopted in the production of cosmetic jars, bottles and bottle casings, thus opening up new design possibilities for packaging of many cosmetic products. Surlyn® offers the transparency of glass, without the weight and fragility, whilst it can also be frosted, faceted or finished to obtain special effects, or colored to create elegant translucency. Its warm and sensual touch is coupled with functional benefits such as toughness, absence of chipping and breaking and good chemical resistance.

While Surlyn® is traditionally injection-molded, advances in technology now enable manufacturers of extrusion and co-extrusion blow-molded containers to employ Surlyn®, or combinations of Surlyn® with other materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene or EVOH, to create multilayer packaging solutions that provide compatibility, barrier and visual differentiation and appeal all in one.

Products and decorative technologies for the make-up sector
The glass-like transparency of Surlyn®, combined with the material’s soft squeezability, toughness and chemical resistance, has resulted in its selection for the new packaging of several lipgloss brands, and has helped contribute to the continued growth of this segment in the make-up category. “As brands seek to enhance the image of their products, greater emphasis is placed on upgrading the quality of the packaging. Therein lies the opportunity for Surlyn®,” explains Michel Decodts, development program manager at DuPont.

In terms of decorative techniques for enhancing the aesthetic appeal of its cosmetic packaging solutions, DuPont will present two recent innovations at Luxe Pack 2007: Selective plating offers the possibility to bi-injection-mold platable and non-platable resins in a single operation to produce items with a differentiated look and feel, yet with significant production and cost efficiencies.

DuPont’s dye-sublimation technology for decorating complex-shaped plastic parts is a further technological advance: Sublimation printing was previously limited to surfaces of simple geometric shape, such as flat or cylindrical parts. DuPont’s new process uses a patented dye-carrier which adheres smoothly onto 3-D curved parts and complex geometries without wrinkling, thus producing high-precision patterns.

An additional offering to the make-up segment is provided by DuPont’s filaments business. It already offers Tynex® monofilaments for premium quality cosmetic brushes, available in a wide range of colours, diameters and stiffnesses. The business is currently working on a new grade of filament aimed at the blush brushes market, with properties close to those of natural hair, which it expects to be ready for launch at Luxe Pack 2007.

DuPont Cosmetic Solutions brings DuPont's "Miracles of Science" to the world of beauty and personal care. Its comprehensive range of materials, technologies and know-how allows cosmetic brands, packaging designers and packaging suppliers to bring their inspirations to life and make a statement.

DuPont Packaging and Industrial Polymers is a world-class manufacturer of high-performance resins and films for a variety of packaging and industrial applications. Its best known ethylene copolymer products include Surlyn® resins for packaging and industrial applications, Bynel® coextrudable adhesives, Selar® PA amorphous polyamide barrier resins, Nucrel® acid copolymers, Elvax® EVA copolymers, Elvaloy®, Elvaloy AC® , Entira™ and Fusabond® modifiers, and Vamac® ethylene acrylic elastomers.

DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.