Inside Outdoor Fall 2017

What happens when you combine the luxurious look and feel of leather with the strength of Dyneema fiber? According to DSM Dyneema and ECCO Leather, which col- laborated on the project, the result is a paper-thin leather that maintains the materials aesthetic properties but still can stand up to performance applications. Say hello to Dyneema Bonded Leather. Normally, leather this thin would be weak. It would tear with the least of pressure and would lose its shape, said the companies. But add Dyneema, a fiber that is 15 times stronger than steel yet floats on wa- ter, and you have what is quite possi- bly the thinnest yet strongest leather on the market, says Noud Stef- fens, global business director DSM Dyneema Performance Fabrics. “We effortlessly cooperate with trailblazers and state-of-the-art brands to create fabrics and materi- als for performance-inspired apparel, footwear and accessories that are stronger, lighter and more durable and comfortable than anything cur- rently available,” said Steffens. ECCO Leather’s reputation as tan- ning innovators, added Steffens, made the company the logical choice to co-develop the new leather material bonding Dyneema with the rich and organic properties of premium leather. “We wanted to make use of the extreme tear-resistant strength and superlative lightweight characteristics of Dyneema fabrics without compro- mising our own standards for deliver- ing on the unique inherent qualities of high-quality bovine leather,” said Panos Mytaros, ECCO Leather CEO. “We don’t release a new leather con- cept unless we can achieve a balance between genuine innovation and the best attributes of genuine leather- making tradition. We refer to this as ‘Leatherizing,’ and it constitutes the defining ethos of our entire range.” The secret of Dyneema Bonded Leather is rooted in a multiphase development sequence involving pre- tanning, bonding and a careful series of interim and final tanning stages, explained the companies. The first challenge was to develop a way of ef- fectively bonding Dyneema Composite Fabric along the full surface of thinly skived high-grade bovine hide. The bonding process needed to maintain enough adhesion integrity to with- stand a battalion of secondary and final tanning processes. Achieving this bond, ECCO Leather was then able to refine the material by deploying milling, tumbling, toggling and finish- ing stages designed to bring out the leather’s natural qualities. The result is a unique new leather featuring a fine natural surface char- acter blending aspects of distinctive Dyneema fabric structure with the leather’s original grain pattern. The final material also simultaneously integrates unique haptic and visual chrematistics that give it unexpected expressive po- tential within the fashion sector, while still being relevant for highly functional performance-based applications. The Dyneema-infused leather was described by Promostyl designers as “reminiscent of canvas, or even a piece of crumpled paper,” becoming apparent it was leather only after be- ing touched and held. “Dyneema Bonded Leather by ECCO Leather is a next level material that opens up endless possibilities.” said Steffens. Dyneema, ECCO Tout ‘thinnest, strongest leather ever’ The Chemours Company, owners of the Teflon brand, has entered into an agreement to build a state-of-the- art research and innovation facility on the University of Delaware’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus. Construction on the new 312,000-square-foot facility, rep- resenting an investment of approxi- mately $150 million, is expected to begin this year; plans call for it to be completed by early 2020. When fully operational the project will establish a world-class innovation partnership and talent development pipeline between chemical industry leader Chemours and the University of Delaware. The facility also will keep 330 researcher and technician jobs in the Wilmington metro area. “Chemours wants to be the best in the world at using chemistry to develop products and applications that serve our customers’ needs,” said Chemours president and CEO Mark Vergnano, “and having a state-of-the-art innovation cen- ter and a long-term research partnership with the University of Delaware puts us in a stronger position to do just that.” “Not only will the University’s stu- dents and faculty benefit from this vibrant new research partnership, but, together, we will be making our entire economy stronger and more resilient for years to come,” said UD president Dennis Assanis. “We work together well in Dela- ware, and this partnership between Chemours and our flagship university will help drive innovation in our state, prepare Delaware students to suc- ceed, and pave the way for additional economic growth,” added Delaware Governor John Carney. Chemours, University of Delaware leadership, the Governor, federal elect- ed officials, and other local and state officials will attend a formal ground- breaking event at the STAR Campus on December 18, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. to unveil the project in more detail. Chemours to Build Innovation Center at University of Delaware’s STAR Campus Inside Outdoor | FALL 2017 38