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Chief product of new D u Pont sales service laboratory near Wilmington is know-how. Equipment is similar to that used by the plastics industry. Blown polyethylene emerges here in tubular form, later is rolled flat and cut

A "profile in nylon." Injection molds for plastics are costly. Preliminary tests may be traced and cut into nylon with the aid of a pantograph

An injection molding machine. Test pieces, machined, are being removed after molding sam­ple parts. They are made of acrylic, nylon, or polyethylene resins.

Entrance and main facade of new Du Pont laboratory showing one of the building wings to the left. The sign over the door is of letters made of the company's acrylic resin. Inside is a large plastics display

The Customer Is Not Always Right

N e w Du Pont laboratory aids plastic user in overcoming technical and process problems

W I L M I N G T O N , D E L . - W h e n a plas­tics molder wants D u Pont technolo­gists to assist h im in any o n e of a thousand different problems arising in connect ion with processing, the answer very l ikely will c o m e from the vicinity of Chestnut Run, Del . There, D u Pont has just completed a $3-mill ion sales

904 C H E M I C A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G N E W S

Surprisingly large number of chemicals and solvents are essential in servicing conducted for resin customers as well as in development work on new materials aad processes. Polychemicals department has over 100 products which may get attention in the new laboratory

Multiform press for preforming or cold-forming rings and bearings from tetrafluoroethylene. These small plastic items find use as packings in valves and pumps

service laboratory, operated by its poly­chemicals department, to show him what can and what cannot be done with plastics.

The fact is that the chemical indus­try has become concerned over the lack of understanding shown by some in the molding and merchandising of these materials. The different properties of the resins are not always properly evaluated or used, and extravagant and unfulfilled claims have led to dissatis­faction.

The Chestnut Run laboratory has been set u p to correct this situation as well as to assist the molder in his serv­ice problems. It is a building contain­ing 62,000 square feet, beautifully de­signed and equipped with the plastic industry's most modern and efficient machinery. An idea of its maintenance cost will be seen in the staff of some 100 persons, headed by D. B. Hanson, to conduct this job.

Helping the customer will be the biggest job, but almost half of the laboratory's operations "will be con­cerned with development work on new materials and processes. In addition to plastics, assistance will also be given to customers of more than 100 products of the polychemicals department, in­cluding its antifreezes. For servicing the company's resin users there is equipment for molding, extrusion, coat­ing, compounding, calendering, and forming. There are in addition radiant heaters, chill rolls, quench tanks, take­off devices, and a film-slitting machine.

Industry and the public know almost instinctively how to use wood, stone, iron, glass, and how to design and

make adjustments for their properties and limitations, said Elmer F. Schu­macher, polychemicals sales director.

"Plastic materials are new materials, and a great deal of what this sales serv­ice laboratory is designed to do, must be done to educate users of plastic ma-teri.ils and develop comparable knowl-

The plastics with which the new unit will be concerned are Zytel Nylon, Tef­lon tetrafluoroethylene, Alathon poly­ethylene, and Lucite acrylic. If you think D u Pont has not made use of

these in the construction of its new service a n d research building you are terribly mistaken. Acrylic is used in translucent ceiling panels, in blue lami­nated wall panels, and in prismatic light cliff users. Polyethylene enters the high voltage primary feeder cable, and is t he insulation for the feeder cables, exhaust ducts, ventilating equipment, and laboratory ware. Mechanical parts throughout the structure are of nylon, and the same resin enters door hinge bearings, door locks, and typewriter parts.

Antifreeze solutions also come in for attention of researcher and technologist at Chest­nut Run. Concentration of coolant after an extended run is being checked, with some of the 20 radiators and motor blocks used for testing shown in background

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