New Acetal Allows Metal Detection in Food Processing

Delrin acetal has been used in conveying applications for something like 50 years. However, the food processing market has been a barrier because of the possibility of non detectable material flakes that could contaminate products. DuPont is now commercializing a grade called 400MTD, which contains a proprietary filler that is detectable by industry-standard metal-detection equipment. The food-processing industry wants to use plastic conveyors because they need less lubrication, consume less energy, make less noise and last longer. The first applications are in Italy, Spain and the UK. The new materials may also find applications in drug and nutrition handling, toys and clothing fasteners. The new Delrin is particularly interesting because it’s a copolymer material. In the past 18 months DuPont has focused on the homopolymer market because of fierce price competition in the more competitive copolymer segment. “We will continue to offer copolymers in specialty formulations where we can clearly differentiate ourselves,” commented George Hesser, Dupont’s business marketing manager - Americas, Mechanical Solutions, in a briefing with Design News in Wilmington, DE.