Focusing on metal replacement applications in Europe, PolyOne Corp. has signed a cooperation agreement with French plastics resource organization Matériautech.
Under the terms of the deal, Matériautech will use materials from PolyOne to create its GEM samples, which "provide an excellent means to showcase not only a material's performance, but also its look, feel and design capabilities", said a PolyOne spokesperson.
According to Avon Lake, Ohio-based PolyOne, the GEM samples provide a number of advantages compared to standard step-down sample chips.
"The oval shape is slightly convex to show how a material responds to curved geometries, and there are also thin and thick sections, smooth and textured areas, and they are available in various colors," the spokeswoman told European Plastics News. "Together, these features enable this sample to give a more comprehensive idea of the way a material will look and function in various designs."
The two firms will focus on using plastics to replace metal in various applications and are hosting a metal replacement-themed event at the Matériautech headquarters in Lyon on the 26 June.
Matériautech has eight facilities in France and Italy and is part of French plastics organization Allize-Plasturgie.