Syensqo provides PARA resin for Artiphon musical instrument

Syensqo (Brussels, Belgium and Alpharetta, Ga., U.S.) announces that Artiphon (Nashville, Tenn., U.S.) has chosen Ixef polyarylamide (PARA) resin for molding the housing and keypad of Chorda, an electronic musical instrument. The capacitive sensor board of the device requires a material capable of matching the tactile nature of the keypad, while also aiming to provide the long-term durability and aesthetics expected from a handheld instrument.

Chorda features a synth and sample engine, plus an interface with a 12-key bridge that can use capacitive sensing technology for diverse finger interactions.

“Handheld devices operated by touch and under frequent wear and tear conditions need high strength, rigidity and dimensional stability if they are meant to last for a long life without losing their functionality and appeal,” says Federico Baruffi, global marketing manager – specialty polymers at Syensqo. “Our Ixef PARA resin gave Artiphon the perfect combination of high surface quality, scratch and warpage resistance along with the right haptic feel to support the intuitive approach of the smart electronic instrument.”

The natural Ixef grade selected for Chorda is said to exhibit an optimal flexural modulus compared to other non-glass filled plastics, which can prevent the long housing parts from bending when the instrument is played and enable the capacitive keypad to respond with immediate sensitivity to the taps, swipes and strums of users. When molded thinly, Ixef can also offer partial translucency, enabling LED indicators to be visible and can be colored in dark or bright shades. Its flowability can ensure proper mold fill over long flow paths and aims to deliver optimal surfaces as molded.

Adam McHeffey, chief marketing officer at Artiphon, says, “We created Chorda with three core values in mind: approachability, multiplicity and immediacy. At the same time, the long-lasting design of this sensory music instrument prompted us to look for a cost-efficient plastic material with the right balance of ruggedness and high quality to maximize the pleasure of play for many years. Syensqo’s Ixef material proved to offer the best property profile for all this to work.”

With housings molded in black, white or blue colored Ixef PARA, the first Chorda musical instruments were commercialized worldwide in November 2023.