WILMINGTON, Del., July 20, 2007 -- In-line skates for aggressive techniques such as grinding have rough-and-tough lives. That is why Rollerblade, the people who invented in-line skating, chose DuPont™ Delrin® acetal and Zytel® nylon for frames providing the ultimate in sliding action combined with abrasion resistance for two new advanced-level models. Grinding is a technique for sliding along the edge of a rail or step that places stringent demands on the skate’s frame.

For the frame of the high-end Point 8 model, Rollerblade designers chose DuPont™ Delrin® acetal resin reinforced with DuPont™ Kevlar® aramid. “It is the first time that this recently developed material has been used for an in-line skate frame,” said Lino Piva of Rollerblade’s R & D group. “Delrin® has an inherently low-friction surface that makes it ideal for grinding and other aggressive techniques. The tougher-than-steel Kevlar® reinforcement adds abrasion-resistance for greater durability.”

The frame of the mid-range DT 4 is injection-molded from DuPont™ Zytel® 70G33GRA. This is a nylon 66 reinforced with 33 percent glass fiber, which boosts tensile strength, stiffness and abrasion-resistance. In addition, it contains a lubricant, which lowers the friction coefficient to give better sliding action.

“The DT 4 represents another important ‘first’ for us,” said Ippolito Sanfratello, a former Olympic skating gold medalist and now Rollerblade product manager. “In both new models, the use of these recently developed DuPont resins allows faster, smoother grinding, yet ensures a longer service life. And the first-ever use of these advanced materials for in-line frames strengthens Rollerblade’s claim to be the industry’s technology leader.”

The switch-frame of Delrin® reinforced with Kevlar® allows four different wheel combinations:

• 4 x 56 mm diameter wheels
  
• 2 x 72 mm diameter wheels with 2 grinder wheels;
  
• 2 x 56 mm diameter wheels with 2 grinder wheels;
• 2 x 56 mm diameter wheels with 2 x 72 mm diameter wheels.

The Downtown (DT 4) will reach stores in the United States for the Christmas 2007 season; the Point 8 will be available for the spring 2008 season.

About DuPont
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.