Materials Selection: Product Development

PEP is a specialist technical centre for thermoplastic injection, and works with businesses on a daily basis on their projects to develop innovative plastic products.

Far from competing with existing research departments, PEP's experts work on projects involving complex plastics-engineering issues (high-performance materials, multi-processes, complex and innovative components, etc.), when the component is not yet used in plastic format, or when the quest for innovation is the driving force behind the project, etc.

The primary goal of many development projects is to choose a plastic and/ or substitute a material, whatever it may be, with plastic. This is in order to achieve:

• economic gains
• mass reduction
• functional integration
• an environmental benefit

To this end, PEP manages more than 30 plastics research projects every year, 30% of which now involve eco-polymers (biosourced, biodegradable or recycled polymers, etc.)

In 2003, the Swiss company VESTERGAARD-FRANDSEN, which specializes in developing water-purification systems for Africa and Asia, entrusted  PEP with a materials research project for the main section of a personal purification system. The original material used for this system did not meet the specification requirements.

A second phase of accelerated ageing tests was also started in PEP's laboratory. These tests simulate material degradation phenomena by combining the 3 parameters involved: UV rays, humidity level and temperature.

The results of PEP's research identified grades of material that meet the specifications. Plastics have therefore enabled technical solutions for treating water in geographically difficult areas to be carried through to completion.

Find out about our materials expertise services and Product Development services