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Dupont Develops Hybrid Technology for Electronics

4/23/2008

A nanocrystalline metal/polymer hybrid technology is being developed by DuPont in conjunction with Canadian-based Morph Technologies Inc, Integran Technologies Inc, and US-based PowerMetal Technologies. The joint venture between the three companies was established in October 2007. The nanometal/polymer hybrid process will be used for manufacturing electronic components with the strength and stiffness of metal and the design flexibility and light weight of high-performance thermoplastics.

MetaFuse™ employs a proprietary deposition process that precisely applies ultra high-strength nanometal to components made of DuPont engineering polymers to create lightweight components with the stiffness of magnesium or aluminium and higher strength.  Nano-crystalline nickel or nickel-iron are high-performance metals that are two to three times stronger than normal steel and are also significantly harder, with better wear and friction performance. The MetaFuse™ technology directly creates an integral metal cladding with a nanocrystalline grain structure. Nanoparticles are not created at any stage in the manufacturing process.

“MetaFuse™ nanometal/polymer hybrids excite product and component designers because they truly allow freedom to design with fewer limits,” explains Myriam Vansteenkiste, northern Europe sales manager at DuPont Engineering Polymers. “Whereas metal offers strength and high stiffness, it is limited in its ability to enable integration and cost-effectively design.  Conversely, thermoplastic offers tremendous freedom to create shapes and to integrate functions, but it has suffered from some limitation in combining strength and stiffness.  With this technology, designers can have the best of both worlds.”

Additional new technologies for metal replacement include DuPont’s SuperStructural Monolithic Solutions, consisting of an array of glass-, carbon- and long-fibre reinforced thermoplastics for very high stiffness and strength combined with excellent creep and fatigue resistance.  Following its successful debut at K-2007, DuPont is bringing its MetaFuse™ nanometal/polymer hybrid technology to PDM 2008, 15-17 April 2008 in Telford, UK.