Materials Spotlight

Plastics & Composites

* Protects under-hood autowiring
* Easy installation

Heat-resistant tubing. Automotive OEMs are coping with rising under-the-hood temperatures with helically convoluted Teflon PFA tubing to shield wiring from heat. With high-efficiency engines running hotter and crowded underhood space reducing air flow for cooling, it is often impractical to route the additional control sensor wiring away from heat sources. This tubing meets OEM requirements for heat aging for 168 hours at 290°C and 3,000 hours at 260°C, with no loss of properties, and is unaffected by automotive fluids. Split lengthwise for easy installation, the tubing flexes without kinking, while the slit remains closed owing to the convoluted design and Teflon's flexibility and elasticity. Dupont Co, Wilmington, DE. Go direct to specs at:

http://www.OneRS.net/101df-620

Free Info - Circle 620

Low-warp alternative to amorphous resins. Kelon B FR H CET/30-VO is a 30% mineral-filled nylon with a rare combination of low warp, good rigidity, chemical resistance and flame retardance, making it ideal for E/E applications. It shrinks uniformly in both directions. and processes at high injection speeds and moderate cylinder and mold temperatures. LATI USA, Mt Pleasant, SC. Free Info--Circle 621.

http://www.OneRS.net/101df-621

Thermally conductive polymer. CoolPoly evenly distributes and efficiently dissipates heat, leaving lower temperature differentials and preventing overheating and component failure. Injection moldable, it can be produced using most standard base polymers. Cool Polymers Inc, Warwick, RI. Free Info--Circle 622. http://www.OneRS.net/101df-622

Acrylic & multipolymer guide. "Acrylic Advisor" aids selection of appropriate molding and extrusion, highlighting five compounds including grade descriptions, physical properties and processing conditions for injection molding, extrusion and thermoforming when applicable. It also features chapters dedicated to material considerations, finishing and post treatment options, regulatory requirements and packaging. CYRO Industries, Rockaway, NJ. Free Info--Circle 623.

http://www.OneRS.net/101df-623

Liquid crystal polymer family. Vectran enables packagers to use conventional resins and processing, including thermoforming, for medical, food and aggressive chemical applications. Unaffected by humidity, sterilizing chemicals, microwaves or cryogenic temperatures, these polymers can be processed on extrusion and lamination equipment at 220-350°C and 2-5 microns thin. Ticona, Summit, NJ. Free Info--Circle 624. http://www.OneRS.net/101df-624

Pipe resin. Fortiflex HDPE CP52-35 resin was specifically developed for large-diameter corrugated pipes and is similar in melt index and density to other pipe resins. Fortiflex is engineered to exceed new NCTL requirements while still providing an excellent balance between ESCR performance and density requirements for ring stiffness. Additionally, HDPE profile wall piping systems offer improved crack growth resistance. Solvay Polymers Inc, Houston, TX. Free Info--Circle 626.

http://www.OneRS.net/101df-626

Conductive reaction-injection-molded poly-urethane. Combining the physical properties of RIM with electrical conductivity eliminates the need for expensive and problematic surface coating processes of other plastics. Low volume resistivity makes this technology useful for EMI shielding or electrostatic dissipation, and for eliminating the need for conductive primers. Mearthane Products, Cranston, RI. Free Info--Circle 625.

http://www.OneRS.net/101df-625

Materials Application

* lightweight
* durable
* recyclable

Thermoplastic materials used in byicycle frames. Cannondale and K2 turned to TowFlex continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic materials for production of lightweight frames, with significant improvements in part manufacturing costs and impact resistance, compared to thermoset prepreg alternatives.

While thermoset resins require an irreversible chemical reaction, thermoplastic TowFlex produces no toxic chemicals and can be fabricated at machine speeds, recycling any scrap. The material's fibers are designed to run continuously in structurally optimum directions, increasing impact resistance.

TowFlex can replace metal in structural applications including orthopedic shoe inserts and braces, vacuum pump vanes and kayak paddles,

Applied Fiber Systems, Clearwater, FL. Go direct to specs at :

http://www.OneRS.net/101df-627

Free Info - Circle 440