DuPont and Aptar Address Industry Challenges with Cosmetic Pump Design

Aptar, a company specializing in dispensing systems, and DuPont Performance Materials have announced that as part of the companies’ continued collaboration Aptar will transition to new DuPont Crastin polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), specifically developed for Aptar’s manufactured cosmetic pumps.

Crastin, a high-performance and chemical resistant polymer used in the technical process of developing cosmetic pumps used for creams, foundations and liquid makeup.

According to Aptar, the following advantages of Crastin PBT have been found:

1. It has the capacity to provide enhanced stability during the cycles of the injection molding process due to its dimensional and mechanical properties
2. It allows for good surface finishes and resolves the problem of sink marks––small dimples or grooves on plastic surfaces that occur when the hold pressure time is insufficient, the temperature is too high or the cooling time too low
3. It makes it easier to inject and fill a component and the part release from the tool
4. It meets all existing cosmetic and food regulation requirements

Thomas Clemence, engineer in materials at Aptar said, “DuPont took the time to sit down with us and really get to the bottom of the processing challenges we had been experiencing. This helped us to address the challenge at its core and to find an effective and sustainable solution. DuPont understands our challenges and has a hands-on philosophy. By pooling our strengths and resources we managed to find a formulation of Crastin that is tailored to our needs 100%. This would not have been possible otherwise.”

Alexandra Fabbro, EMEA marketing development leader, Performance Materials, DuPont, added, “We have an excellent on-going collaboration with Aptar, which is based on a shared philosophy of open-mindedness and combining competences. This has driven us in the right direction to solve a complex problem around the processi­bility and formation of their pumps.”