We live in a materials world. Everywhere you look, our lives are shaped by the metals, plastics, ceramics, and semiconductors that build the foundation of the products we use. From the smallest bottle cap to the largest airplane, we depend on materials science to not only keep us safe but advancing innovation moving forward.
Because it’s such an all-encompassing field, it can be tough to conceptualize just how much materials science impacts our day-to-day lives. Here’s just a small overview of what materials science is, and how it’s redefining what’s possible across the board.
What is Materials Science?
Materials science is the study of how the structure and composition of materials impact their properties and behavior. Engineering is the practical application of those material properties and behaviors into useful products. In other words, the materials science discipline is about discovery, and the engineering discipline is about turning that discovery into useful products. The combination of those disciplines leverages the principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and statistics to solve real-world problems. A deep understanding of plastic and glass materials at their atomic level, materials scientists find smarter, safer, and more sustainable ways to use those materials in new and changing products. Learning how to shape the relationship between materials’ structures and properties also allows engineers to push the boundaries of what’s possible, and even create new materials like antimicrobial-infused plastics for the medical field.
In the plastics for the medical industry, even small innovations can have a big impact. Take precision-molded contact lens cases, designed to maintain sterility and prevent solution evaporation. The secret? Their sealing mechanism takes cues from carnivorous pitcher plants, whose slick, micro-textured surfaces trap moisture and prevent leakage. By mimicking these natural structures in polymer design, manufacturers can produce lens cases that protect against contamination while ensuring ease of use, proving that nature’s solutions often translate to high-performance medical devices.
How Materials Science Shapes Product Development Everywhere
Without an understanding of how materials work, no one would be able to make the products that we use every day. That’s why every industry relies on materials science and engineering. Here are a few examples of how materials science shapes the product development process across multiple industries.
Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
From contact lens cases to auto-injectors and so much more, materials science plays a key role in developing safe medical products. Because every detail counts in medicine, plastic manufacturers working in this space typically use injection molded plastic techniques to ensure every product consistently meets high-quality standards. Injection molding also allows companies to manufacture a high volume of products while maintaining a high standard of quality control.
To ensure regulatory required cleanliness and safety, higher-risk health products are manufactured in “clean rooms”. These rooms filter pollutants like dust, ink flakes, aerosol particles, and more out of the area, allowing companies to manufacture products to the highest hygiene standards. Lastly, rigid packaging like HDPE bottles and child-resistant closures keeps everything secure and tamper-proof until ready for use in hospitals, pharmacies, and in your home.
Consumer Packaged Goods
Look around any grocery store and you’ll see all sorts of materials science innovations in action. Glass jars, plastic bottles, and metal cans keep foods and beverages fresh. For example, HDPE polymer bottles that resist oxygen, moisture, and light keep your favorite vitamins and supplements from losing their efficacy.
Because branding is such an important competitive differentiator with consumer packaged goods, many rigid packaging solutions can be personalized to fit unique branding requirements – numerous food and beverage brands use custom-molded bottles and boxes to create a unique packaging experience and improve their brand recognition.
Many brands also choose to incorporate lightweighting techniques into their product development process to reduce the materials needed to make the product while maintaining the integrity and quality of the packaging.
Industrial Manufacturing
Materials science and engineering is a huge part of industrial manufacturing as well, not only helping plants design equipment to make products, but helping create packaging to protect those products. One example of this is custom rigid boxes that protect electronics from damage, contamination, or help to prevent battery leakage during transit.
The Endless Possibilities of Materials Science Engineering
The real beauty of materials science is that if you can imagine it, you can probably make it. And at Alltrista, we have the design capabilities and engineering experience to bring almost any product from concept to commercialization.
Whether it’s refining an existing product or completely reimagining what’s possible, our tailored custom solutions are made to meet the unique needs of our customers without sacrificing quality, performance, or sustainability. We don’t just stop at production though; we precision manufacture and scale up each solution to reach your target market, acting as your partner every step of the way.
Get in touch today and learn how our rigid packaging and custom molding solutions can help your company make a material difference.
