New polymers developed by DuPont are helping to make sure that skiing is safer, speedier and more stylish this winter. The polymers' properties make them ideal for use in the harsh conditions of the winter slopes. They are tough, water resistant, flexible at a range of temperatures down to -20 degrees Celsius, and able to withstand the stresses involved in hurtling down a mountain at 80 mph.
Delrin is a new high impact and non-stick plastic that is being used by ski company Salomon in their new 'Snowblade' - a kind of snowblade - to make it more lively and reactive to the skier's movements. Zytrel, a reinforced plastic, is being used in the boot clips of the snowboards to support and protect the locking system. Another DuPont polymer is Hytrel, a rubbery material that remains flexible at the lowest temperatures, making it ideal for use in ski boots and cross-country ski shoes. When Hytrel is combined with Kevlar, it gives a super-stiff composite that holds skiers' ankles more firmly and allows them better control on downhill runs.
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