The Syensqo company, comprising the solutions, activities and markets represented in the article below, was spun off from Solvay group in December 2023.
Comfortable and tough, Solvay has a specialty polymer that is just right for wearables
Driven by the ever-increasing digitization of our modern lives and the rise of wearable fitness technology, the market trend for devices such as connected watches, fitness trackers and even electrocardiogram monitors is growing rapidly - +300% over the last few years and a projected 10% annual growth in the years to come - and continues to show huge potential.
More and more consumers want to enjoy the benefits of wearable fitness technology, and insurance companies are seeing the interest of supplying their clients with health monitoring technology, as their use can incentivize behaviors leading to a healthier lifestyle. But as these devices are pressed up against our skin all day, they need to be made of highly comfortable materials that won’t deteriorate due to prolonged contact with sweat or extensive exposure to sunlight, and will instead still keep looking slick and smooth. Oh, and they need to offer haptics, too – the capacity to transmit information through touching.
Tecnoflon® FKM answers the needs of wearable manufacturers and is more durable than straps using other materials. It’s the best choice for wearable makers.
Up for all the challenges of wearable technology
Contrary to many applications of polymers, when it comes to wearable devices, appearance counts as much as performance, as these are plastics and elastomers that are destined to be exhibited on users’ wrists all day long.
Solvay has a vast portfolio of specialty polymers that are used for highly technical applications, often deep inside complex machinery, or for applications where performance alone is the number one priority, but one of these will also do the trick when looking good is a criterion for success.
The polymer in question is Tecnoflon® FKM, a high-performance material that combines resistance to elements and substances of all sorts (sweat, stains, UV rays, chemicals…) with haptics, comfort and durability – and yes, good looks. What’s more, its lavish heftiness even makes it an ideal material for applications outside the sports and healthcare world, in the realm of luxury watches for example.
It’s basically up for all the challenges of wearable technology. “Tecnoflon® FKM not only answers the needs of wearable manufacturers, it’s also more durable than straps using silicone or TPU, making it the best choice for wearable makers,” sums up Harold Ho, Marketing Manager, Industrial & Electronics at Solvay’s Specialty Polymers.
Next time you’re shopping for your new fitness tracker, take a minute to consider the material it’s made of!
