Covestro materials brighten Embr Labs’ wearable

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Some people always seem to be freezing. Others often feel too warm. Now there’s an alternative to bundling up or removing layers of clothing to feel comfortable.

The Embr Wave is an intelligent bracelet that allows people to hack the way they feel temperature. According to manufacturer Embr Labs, the bracelet’s scientifically developed waveforms precisely stimulate a person’s thermoreceptors, leveraging the body’s natural systems to make the wearer feel cooler or warmer by 5 degrees in just a few minutes.

Embr Labs developed the product through years of iterative prototyping and customer testing. When it came time for the production design, the company wanted to use a frosted light pipe with LEDs as the primary user interface. “We turned to Covestro to help select the right material and optimize the design for optical performance,” explains Embr Labs cofounder Sam Shames.

Based on the requirements, Embr Labs chose Makrolon 2407 polycarbonate, a UV-stabilized grade that offers proven performance for electronics, IT, and communications applications. For the Embr Wave, diffusers and optical brighteners were compounded into the resin to achieve the desired visual effect.

This application follows Covestro’s foresight into the use of light as information, according to Joel Matsco, senior marketing manager, Polycarbonates – Electronics and Appliance, Covestro LLC. “Instead of using text or symbols, color and light are simple, minimalist – yet effective – means to convey information to the user,” he explains. “Covestro has deep expertise in helping brands and electronics manufacturers design with light.”

Covestro will have an Embr Wave on display in booth #2221 at MD&M West 2019, February 5-7, 2019, Anaheim, California.