Periodic Audio has announced that Eastman Tritan™ copolyester will be the material used for the bodies of its next-generation in-ear monitors (IEMs).
Company co-founder Dan Wiggins said the decision came after Periodic Audio and Eastman tested Tritan’s acoustic qualities and found they were superior to other polymers or materials used in audio product applications.
The collaboration between the specialty materials company and Periodic Audio began three years ago when their teams began studying Tritan for audio applications. The results inspired a ground-up redesign of Periodic Audio’s award-winning IEMs.
“In our materials science-based opinion, Tritan is the ideal material for acoustic products,” Wiggins said. “We are thrilled that Periodic Audio customers will be the first to experience the benefits of this advanced material.”
Eastman Principal Applications Development Scientist John Quigley worked closely with the Periodic Audio team throughout the process.
“The studies demonstrated that not only can you hear a difference in enclosures made with Tritan, but you can measure the difference,” Quigley said. “We’re excited to continue working on this and help other companies find the right material for their audio applications.”
In addition to its audio qualities, Wiggins said Tritan provides superior damage protection, a key element for IEMs.
“In addition to its measured audible enhancements, we identified several other key reasons why Tritan was the best choice, including superior manufacturability and durability,” Wiggins said. “Tritan is incredibly easy to work with. It’s easy to mold by injection, and its naturally clear formulation allowed us to mix the exact shade of black we desired. Its high-flow nature also eliminates such visible defects as knit lines and flow marks. The raw-material price is also very competitive with our previous composite material, meaning the cost of manufacturing was not affected by the move.”
“The material is far more forgiving of impact, making it much less likely to crack,” Wiggins added. “But most importantly, Tritan makes measurable and audible improvements to the sound. Its higher internal loss results in decreases in both transient and harmonic distortion.”
