New Castle, Delaware, August 18, 2004—DSM Somos has announced that it will continue to avoid the use of crystalline silica materials in the formulation of its ProtoComposite® reinforced stereolithography (SL) resins due to the potential health hazards these (crystalline) materials present as airborne particulates.
"Crystalline materials are commonly used as fillers and reinforcements but some are known carcinogens, or silicosis agents, when airborne," states DSM Somos Research and Development Manager Dr. Gordon Smith. "Because stereolithography parts often require secondary operations that may include sanding or grinding (resulting in airborne particulate), this presents a potential health hazard to users."
For this reason, DSM Somos has avoided the use of crystalline materials in the formulation of its both its ProtoTool 20L™ and NanoForm™ reinforced SL resins. Says Smith, "While formulating with alternative filler materials adds to our product development costs, this approach is consistent with DSM's global concern for safety, health and the environment and, we believe, is in the best interest of SL users. We're confident that as the stereolithography industry becomes more familiar with the potential dangers of certain filler and reinforcement options, more emphasis will be placed on user-friendly and environmentally-responsible alternatives."
About DSM Somos
DSM Somos is currently the world’s second largest materials supplier to the rapid prototyping industry, providing stereolithography liquids and selective laser sintering powders used for the creation of three-dimensional models and prototypes directly from digital data. Somos’ patented ProtoFunctional® materials are used by a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, medical and telecommunications. Somos' corporate office is located at: 2 Penn’s Way, New Castle, DE 19720, USA, Tel. +1-302-326-8100, Americas@dsmsomos.info . For more information on DSM Somos in Europe: Fax. +39 06 9871694, Europe@dsmsomos.info
DSM Somos is an unincorporated division of DSM Desotech—a world leader in the development of UV-curable materials—and a member of the global DSM family. More information about the companies can be found at www.dsmsomos.com and www.dsmdesotech.com.
DSM
DSM is active worldwide in life science and nutritional products, performance materials and industrial chemicals. The company specializes in innovative products and services that help improve the quality of life and DSM products are currently used in a wide range of end markets and applications such as human and animal nutrition and health, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, automotive and transport, coatings, housing and electrics & electronics (E&E). The group has annual sales (pro forma including the recent acquisition - renamed DSM Nutritional Products) of approximately EUR 8 billion and employs about 26,000 people around the world. Ranking among the global leaders in many of its fields, DSM is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations in Europe, Asia and the Americas. More information about DSM can be found at www.dsm.com <http://www.dsm.com/>
