New Castle, DE --- DSM Somos, world leaders in innovative materials technology
for the rapid prototyping industry, announces the availability of Somos
WaterShed™, a general purpose resin that exhibits phenomenal water and
humidity resistance that is now available for most solid state and helium
cadmium laser systems for stereolithography.
Somos WaterShed™ is a strong, rigid resin that retains properties over a
variety of environmental conditions and also offers a similar aesthetic appeal
of the Somos WaterClear™ family of transparent resins. Many of the physical
properties of WaterShed™ match those of extrusion grade Polybutylene
Terephthalate (PBT) and transparent grade Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
(ABS), two common plastics used in manufacturing, making the new material very
suitable for numerous automotive, electronic, medical, consumer and industrial
applications.
According to Dan Mickish, Ph.D, R&D Manager, DSM Somos: "Somos WaterShed™
provides extremely low water absorption so that part dimensions and mechanical
properties are unaffected by high humidity. That benefit was driven by
marketplace demands for a stereolithography resin that keeps its strength in
all weather conditions. Current commercial materials often lose strength and
"wilt" in hot humid conditions. Somos WaterShed™ retains its strength and
mechanical properties in a broad variety of environments. We regard WaterShed™
as a defining development in photopolymer progress.”
Charlie Kaufmann, New Market Development Manager, also notes that Somos
WaterShed™ provides value attributes in terms of tensile strength. “WaterShed™
creates a stronger, stiffer material exhibiting excellent green strength while
retaining impressive elongation properties. This is key to WaterShed™
performance because tensile and flexural properties usually decrease after
being exposed to high humidity.”
Among the many applications seen as ideal for Somos WaterShed™ are brake
system parts, distributor caps, fuel injection modules, grille opening panels,
electronic connectors, switches, relays, TV tuners, motor housings, fuse
cases, medical and specialty syringes, irrigation and wound drainage systems,
check valves, catheter housings, industrial zippers, power tool housings, hair
dryers, calculators and food processor blades.
Somos WaterShed™ resins are part of the ProtoFunctional Materials family
pioneered by DSM Somos. ProtoFunctional rapid prototyping resins replicate
the performance parameters of production materials --- from thermoplastic
elastomers to polyethylene and polypropylene --- saving both time and money in
new product development.
What is stereolithography?
Stereolithography is a layer additive rapid-prototyping process based on the
use of photopolymer liquid resins which solidify when exposed to UV light. A
software program transfers the designer’s 3-D CAD model into an electronic
file for stereolithography machines (‘STL’ format), composing the information
into thin cross sections or layers. A laser beam then traces each layer onto
the surface of a vat of photopolymer resin, building the part in repeated
layers until a solid replica of the original CAD model is completed.
DSM Somos ProtoFunctional Resins for Stereolithography
DSM Somos ProtoFunctional resins range from the industry’s first transparent,
tough and durable resins (Somos 10120 WaterClear™) to flexible resins for
material properties similar to polyethylene (Somos 8100 series) or
polypropylene (Somos 9100 series) to the latest generation of heat-resistant,
humidity-tolerant, high-accuracy epoxy resins suitable for investment casting
and direct tooling applications (Somos 7100 series). Each family of Somos
photopolymer epoxy resins is comprised of materials singularly formulated and
optimised for the variety of stereolithography platforms commercially
available: Somos XX’00’ resins are for use in Argon ion laser systems; Somos
XX’10’ for Helium Cadmium laser systems; Somos XX’20’ resins for platforms
utilising Solid State laser systems.
DSM Somos also offers materials for selective laser sintering and is the first
manufacturer of powder elastomeric polymer (Somos 201) that can be sintered to
produce highly flexible parts with “rubber like” characteristics.
Product data sheets for DSM Somos resins are available on the company web site
<www.dsmsomos.com>, under “Downloads, Product Data Sheets”.
DSM Somos (Delaware, USA), focused on innovative rapid prototyping materials,
is a business unit of DSM Desotech, world leaders in the creation of UV
curable materials. DSM is a highly integrated group of companies with
worldwide interests in life-science products, performance materials and
chemicals. DSM recorded sales of EUR 8.1 billion in 2000 and employs a total
workforce of some 22,000, distributed in more than 200 operations throughout
the world.
For further information on DSM Somos in the United States:
Michelle
Wyatt <Americas@dsmsomos.info>
2 Penn's Way, Suite 401
New Castle DE 19720
Tel. +1 302.326.8100
www.dsmsomos.com
For further information on DSM Somos in Europe:
Melisa Lasell <
Europe@dsmsomos.info>
DSM Somos External Affairs Europe
Via
della Stazione 7F
00042 Anzio (Roma), Italy
Tel. +39 06.986.5179
Cell. +39 339.526.3828
www.dsmsomos.com
