Material supplier PolyOne Corporation is partnering with German multinational chemical, pharmaceutical and life sciences company Merck KGaA to develop smooth, molded plastics that appear to have three-dimensional surfaces.
The Merck technology, called in-mold 3-D (IM3D), creates the effect with the help of pearlescent pigments. It can be implemented in a single step during the injection molding process, Merck said.
IM3D technology creates the look of depth and texture on flat surfaces.
“With the IM3D technology from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, brand owners and manufacturers have an outstanding enhancement option that can set their premium products apart from the competition,” said Christoph Palm, vice president and general manager, Color & Additives EMEA & India at PolyOne. “We’re already seeing interest globally from market leaders in packaging and consumer electronics.”
“IM3D is just the beginning of our strategic collaboration with PolyOne. Our objective in the coming years is to jointly launch additional innovative plastics technologies with pearlescent pigments,” added Michael Heckmeier, head of the Pigments & Functional Materials business unit at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
