Jan 09, 2025 | Case Study | 7 minute read
Learn how we make the world a better place as Team Dow. Through respect and integrity, we lead with our core values and innovative spirit to create more sustainable materials science solutions for everyone.
Discover how we’re accelerating positive change around the world. From climate protection and creating safer materials to our focus on global citizenship and inclusion, diversity and equity, Team Dow is making a difference in the communities where we live and work.
Find the latest press releases, news updates, awards and achievements from Dow and stay connected on the impact we’re making in the world.
Explore key collaborations and why we make partnership our passion. Through initiatives and sponsorships, we can work together to create a more positive impact for all.
Team Dow makes us one of the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science companies in the world. Find opportunities to join Dow in a capacity that works best for you.
Top New Year’s resolutions that are powered by science
New year—new you! Take a look at the science behind the everyday materials that help you achieve your goals.
Each year, many of us find ourselves setting resolutions to improve our lives, whether it's saving money, getting fit, or enhancing our overall well-being.
What we often overlook is the incredible role that materials science plays in helping us achieve these goals. From the lightweight materials in our vehicles that improve fuel efficiency, to the advanced fabrics in our workout gear that enhance performance, the science behind everyday materials is a powerful ally in our journey towards a better version of ourselves.
What is materials science?
Materials science is an interdisciplinary field that studies how to create materials that have a specific property or combination of properties.
Check out these popular New Year’s resolutions ideas and how science helps make them possible.
IS YOUR RESOLUTION TO SAVE MONEY?
Those who drive a car on a regular basis likely appreciate that the cost of owning and maintaining a vehicle goes far beyond the sticker price at the dealership. Materials science helps make vehicles operate more efficiently, including improving durability to extend the life of vehicle components.
Enhancing performance and efficiency through innovative materials
Lightweighting, building vehicles that are less heavy than previous generations, generates consumer benefits beyond the cost at the pump. It also helps improve acceleration, braking, handling and can increase the battery range on electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids.
It is not just about replacing traditional metal components with alternative lower-density materials. The Dow MobilityScience™ team works alongside vehicle manufacturers to research, design, and optimize new materials to meet the mobility demands of the future. Materials science helps improve vehicle safety without compromising comfort or design, increases motor efficiency, lowers cabin noise and vibrations for a smoother, more enjoyable ride, and more.
DO YOU AIM TO BE MORE ACTIVE?
If you are looking to exercise more or reach a particular fitness goal this year, chances are you have looked into devices and apparel to help you on your way.
Materials science goes into all of it—from wearables to clothing to training shoes. Check out these examples of how science plays a role in your workout routine.
Exploring the technology behind active gadgets and gear
From the watch to the band, we develop material innovations and smart solutions for wearable devices.
- Thermal gels around the chips that power smartwatches and fitness trackers help them to dissipate heat. With heat transferred properly, you stay comfortable, and the device keeps working efficiently.
- Silicone elastomers are a rubber-like material that when used in the O-ring around the face of a wearable, help to seal and waterproof the device. Bonus fact—our silicone sealants have helped Samsung create waterproof phones, including the first waterproof foldable phone.
- Liquid silicone rubber, another type of silicone elastomer, can be modeled into the band for smartwatches and fitness trackers. This material is highly customizable, allowing for the broad range of fashionable options on the market today as well as providing durability and comfortability for wearers.
At Dow, we do more than engineer materials. We work with brand owners to design custom solutions that expand the possibilities of what performance apparel can do.
Have you ever stretched a printed garment and noticed a wrinkling or cracking effect? Silicone-based inks help solve that problem by providing screen printers and apparel manufacturers with smooth, durable, wash-resistant silicone printing inks for use on shirts, jerseys, shorts, leggings and so much more.
Water repellent fabrics that maintain their performance over time help to extend the life of apparel and gear, contributing to a sustainable future by reducing waste. Our silicone-based water repellent technology does exactly that—maintains water repellency and durability over time, even after multiple washes, so you can still go for that run even if it's raining.
We have teamed up with Under Armour (UA) to create cutting-edge tech for basketball shoes, including the Curry Flow 8. Together, we developed UA Flow, a “unicorn foam” that eliminates the need for rubber outsoles, providing stability, flexibility, and reduced weight. It also lowers the overall carbon footprint of the shoe by reducing the materials, energy, waste, and labor historically needed to make similar sneakers.
Crocs also aims to reduce the carbon footprint of their shoes, by 50%. We are helping them to do just that by developing a more sustainable version of their signature Croslite™ material using bio-based source materials. These new polymers, part of our Ecolibrium™ bio-based portfolio of solutions, are helping Crocs to achieve their trademark comfort, durability and material flexibility while successfully reducing the shoe’s carbon footprint.
When you head out for a run on a track, there is materials science technology beneath your feet. Modern tracks are often made by applying a rubber surface layer to an asphalt base layer. The small pieces of rubber need to be bound together to stay in place. Polyurethane is a common binding material for setting the rubber top layer.
Depending on where you are in the world, you may even be running on our DIAMONDLOCK™ Track, a high-performance sandwich system for athletic surfaces. It is designed to stand up to a variety of climates while incorporating circular materials to support year-round athletic performance and sustainable sporting.
ARE YOU COMMITTED TO GETTING BETTER SLEEP?
Getting enough sleep is crucial for maintaining good health and overall wellbeing. Several factors influence this, with the mattress you sleep on playing a significant role in the quality of your sleep.
Advancing restful solutions through innovative research
At ComfortScience™ Studios, we delve into how people experience comfort, recognizing that comfort varies among individuals and contexts. Our research involves collaboration with brand owners, formulators, manufacturers, and retailers to address challenges and identify emerging trends in mattresses, pillows, and other comfort solutions. Our facility features sleep testing rooms that simulate different seasons, geographies, and sleeping habits.
Through the Dow ComfortScience™ platform, we develop technologies aimed at helping you enjoy more restful nights and productive days.
TRYING TO EAT HEALTHIER?
For those who aim to be more mindful of what they eat, keeping a ready supply of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables at hand is a great start.
Whether you are shopping for groceries or meal prepping at home, the materials that comprise food packaging and storage are developed through an extensive process of research and design to extend shelf life.
Understanding the science behind food packaging and storage
Produce section
Produce needs packaging that can keep it fresh and safe during transport from harvest to market. Modern packaging solutions like breathable films and humidity controlling materials help extend shelf life and maintain the quality of fruits and veggies—meaning less frequent trips to the store to have healthy food readily available at home.
Dairy aisle
Dairy items and their substitutes need careful packaging to avoid leaks and control strong smells. Technology for these items includes better films and sealants for cheese and milk, and foil lids that stick well to plastic containers, keeping yogurt fresh and easy to grab for lunches or snacks.
Meat department
Meat packaging has come a long way from dense foam trays to thin, efficient plastics. We make the resins that go into the peelable film on food containers. It is called modified atmosphere packaging. Better oxygen barriers and multi-layer structures keep meat fresh for longer and maintain its color, helping grocers and consumers reduce food waste.
Frozen foods
Frozen food packaging focuses on durability and flexibility, with features like resealable pouches and steam-in microwaveable bags making it easier to make healthy choices when you are strapped for time to cook dinner.
Dry goods
Packaging for dry and bulk foods is continually improving. Flexible, resealable plastic pouches reduce the overall weight of the product compared with other packaging options. This helps keep food fresh on store shelves and at home and makes transportation more efficient.
- slide 1
- slide 2
- slide 3
- slide 4
- slide 5
About the article
This case study was developed by a cross-discipline team representing materials expertise across Dow, Inc. To learn more about how Dow is innovating the solutions and materials of tomorrow to help power sustainable New Year’s resolutions, visit the Company’s Purpose in Action pages.