MOSCOW (MRC) -- Royal DSM, a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials, says producers of wearable electronics are turning to its Arnitel thermoplastic elastomer for soft straps, said the company in its press release.
A new high performance solution that it created specifically for the application has been adopted by several companies, including Samsung for its latest Galaxy Gear S2 smartwatch. The wearables industry is currently booming. By 2020, annual sales are expected grow to 200 million devices, with smart watches and activity trackers taking the largest share of the market. Alongside functionality and the accessibility of the interface, wearability is obviously a key consumer requirement, as well as overall esthetics. Comfort, color, and how the device feels on the skin all play a very important role in product design. This argument applies just as much to the strap as to the device itself.
Samsung chose DSM’s Arnitel compound for the Galaxy Gear S2 strap for its good balance of physical and chemical properties: the strap has superior soft touch and feel, is very comfortable to wear in direct skin contact and is certified to USP and ISO standards covering biocompatibility of devices. Arnitel is resistant to perspiration and to the various oils and other liquids that the strap of the watch is likely to come into contact with during use.
As MRC informed earlier, South Korean conglomerate Lotte Group will acquire Samsung Group's chemical businesses for more than 3 trillion won (USD2.63 billion). Lotte Group affiliate Lotte Chemical Corp will acquire various assets, including a 31% stake in Samsung Fine Chemicals and 90% of Samsung SDI Co Ltd's chemicals business.
MRC