High-Performance Plastics

Twenty High-Performance Plastics
King Plastic Corporation is a leading manufacturer of quality polymer sheets, slabs and massive shapes - including several products pioneered by the company. Its polymers are made in the USA and sold worldwide through a network of top plastics distributors to customers who fabricate products in the marine, signage, parks & recreation, retail, food processing, healthcare, industrial and other markets. They partner with distributors to provide innovative solutions for diverse markets, and manufactures to the highest quality you can trust from the leading plastic manufacturer in America since 1968. “King Plastic pioneered King StarBoard®, the original marine-grade polymer sheet. Today, we deliver the highest performance and durable products for the industrial market. In addition, our product mix continues to offer new solutions to our customers worldwide,” said Michael Fabbri, National Sales Manager of King Plastic Corporation.

King’s high-performance plastics include: King StarBoard® ST - polymer building sheet that lasts a lifetime; King StarBoard® WG - all-weather wood grain polymer sheet; King ColorBoard® - colorful environmentally stabilized polymer sheet; King ColorCore® - multi-color engravable polymer sheet; and King Hy-Pact® - super tough industrial polymer sheet.

For more information, contact Michael Fabbri, King Plastic Corporation, 1100 N. Toledo Blade Blvd., North Port, FL 34288, 941-493-5502, Fax: 941-497-3274, E-mail: sales@kingplastic.com, Web: www.kingplastic.com.

PEEK for Bearing & Sliding Applications
TECAPEEK PVX black is a modified PEEK material using Victrex™ PEEK 450 or Solvay KetaSpire® KT-820 and is classified in the same performance category as Victrex PEEK FC30.

TECAPEEK PVX black was developed especially for bearing and sliding applications. It is based on a PEEK polymer that has been modified with 10% each of PTFE, graphite and carbon fibres. It combines the properties of a high-grade matrix material with special, wear-improving additives. Compared to all PEEK modifications, TECAPEEK PVX black has the lowest coefficient of friction, and shows higher wear resistance. In addition, a comparatively higher dimensional stability under thermal load is achieved. The reinforcement by means of carbon fibre and graphite in low friction PEEK plastic also ensures higher mechanical properties than is normally seen with unfilled PEEK.

Furthermore, it is helpful for a PEEK bearing material to have improved thermal conductivity in order to dissipate the frictional heat generated on the component as much as possible, thus avoiding thermal overload or overheating. In particular, the carbon fibre and graphite fillers in TECAPEEK PVX black help ensure improved thermal conductivity of this PEEK bearing grade. It also results in thermal conductivity that is three times higher than what we find in standard PEEK natural.

For bearing and sliding applications, the resistance to high PV loads is particularly remarkable. As with all Ensinger PEEK materials, they can confirm that our bearing grade TECAPEEK PVX black meets the limitations imposed by RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

For more information, contact Dan Cedrone, Ensinger, 365 Meadowlands Blvd., Washington, PA 15301, 800-243- 3221/856-227-0500, Fax: 724-746-9209, E-mail: dcedrone@ensingerusa.com, Web: www.ensingerplastics.com.

High-Performance Hardware
Craftech Industries, Inc. is a privately owned high-performance plastic hardware manufacturing company that has been in business for over 50 years. They pride themselves in manufacturing quality molded and machined parts at competitive prices with exceptional customer service. As a high-technology manufacturer, their company has made critical components for a variety of industries such as aerospace, semiconductor, electronics, chemical processing, construction, medical, and defense. The materials they work in include PEEK, Ultem®, PVDF, Teflon™, PVC, Vespel®, nylon, acetal and 99 others.

Craftech's capabilities include Injection Molding (up to 400 Ton), CNC Swiss Lathe, CNC Turret Lathe, CNC Milling, CNC Turning, mold design and mold making as well as Screw Machining. They also offer 3D Printing. Craftech’s engineering team works closely with their customers, establishing the most cost-effective way to bring your project to completion to ensure that your parts will work right the first time, every time. Their engineering services include design conceptualization, material selection, in-house flow analysis, finite element analysis, rapid prototyping and CAD/CAM Computer Systems. They also offer built-to-print, stocking agreements and kitting/packaging services while providing their customers with reliable and consistent service that eliminates the headaches of supply chain disruptions.

Craftech Industries, Inc. is ISO 9001:2015 Certified.

For more information, contact Tara Sterritt, Craftech Industries, Inc., 8 Dock Street, Hudson, NY 12534, 800-833-5130/518-828-5001, E-mail: tsterritt@craftechind.com, Web: www.craftechind.com.

Very Specialized Applications
Quantum Advanced Engineering Plastics (AEP) manufactures high performance plastics that are made from high-priced, low volume type polymers that are sold for their use in very specialized applications requiring a combination of extraordinary properties. High performance plastics offer outstanding elevated thermal resistance, high strength and stiffness, and broad UV and chemical resistance. They are used in a variety of applications where resistance to high heat, load, certain solvents and chemicals, flame, and degradation due to UV are paramount.

Quantum AEP has refocused its product line on stock shapes made from four high performance polymers – PEEK, PEI, PPS and PVDF along with three acetal homopolymer grades of POMH well known for their resistance to wear – Delrin® 100AF, Delrin 500AF, and Delrin AFDE588.

Together with ease of machining and excellent dimensional stability during secondary fabrication, Quantum AEP’s high performance stock shapes are ideal for use in many critical applications by offering engineers exceptional flexibility and freedom in product development and design.

To ensure the highest quality and customer satisfaction, Quantum AEP extrudes stock shapes using only 100% virgin resins purchased directly from resin suppliers. Furthermore, all products are hot air annealed for dimensional stability, they pass a rigorous ISO inspection program, and have full lot and batch traceability. Quantum AEP currently stocks unfilled, and glass filled high performance stock shapes with low minimums and reasonable lead times from 3/8”to 12” diameter rods, and plates from 3/8” to 6” thick. The Quantum Advanced Engineering Plastics team takes pride in providing detailed information, timely communication, and unequalled customer care.

For more information, contact Nicole DiMenco, Quantum Advanced Engineering Plastics, 211 Executive Drive, Ste. 1, Newark, DE 19702, 877-737-7012/302-737-7012, E-mail: nicole@quantum-aep.com, Web: www.quantum-aep.com.

Semi-Finished Thermoplastic
Westlake Plastics Company, founded in 1951, is a leading global supplier of semi-finished thermoplastic products, operating production sites in both North America and Europe with a unified vision to provide the best material solutions and services to meet the needs of their customers. While boasting 20+ polymer types and over 50 unique product variations, their bread and butter is represented by their ZAK line of products. This lineup includes Zelux® (PC), Absylux® (ABS), and Kynar® (PVDF). Hence the name ZAK.

Zelux (PC) is an amorphous transparent engineering thermoplastic that is widely used for electrical housings and structural components since it has excellent insulating properties, toughness, and dimensional stability. Because it has excellent optical properties it is commonly used in glazing, barriers, and site glasses where transparency and impact resistance is important. Zelux machines easily and may be fabricated into complex shapes with close tolerances. It can also be vapor or flame polished for parts that require optical clarity.

Absylux (ABS) is an ideal material for structural applications when impact resistance, strength, stiffness, and moderate heat resistance are required. Westlake’s unique compression molding and stress relieving processes deliver thick gauge sheets with exceptional dimensional stability allowing them to be machined into complex shapes with tight tolerances.

Kynar (PVDF) is a semi-crystalline, high purity thermoplastic fluoropolymer that offers excellent corrosion and chemical resistance at both ambient and elevated temperatures. PVDF is one of the most rigid and abrasion resistant of the melt-processible fluoropolymers. PVDF’s unique combination of chemical resistance, mechanical properties and wear resistance make it ideally suited for use in chemical handling and processing applications.

For more information, contact Jody Walker, Westlake Plastics, 490 W. Lenni Rd., Lenni, PA 19052, 800-999-1700, E-mail: orders@westlakeplastics.com, Web: www.westlakeplastics.com.

Films & Tapes
CS Hyde Company is a supplier and converter of high-performance polymer films and film tapes. They stock a variety of different engineering and performance grade films including PTFE, Mylar®, Kapton®, PEEK, nylon, TPX®, and more for all types of industry specific applications. There plastic films selection covers performance characteristics ranging from abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, and high heat resistance. They also supply a variety of different film thicknesses, and many of the films are sold by the linear foot which is great for R&D applications.

As a converter, they utilize on site converting capabilities to convert plastic film products into custom roll widths, lengths, or sheet dimensions specific to your application. They are also a 3M® converter which allows them to produce specialty film tapes backed with pressure sensitive adhesive options that bond to oily metals or low surface energy substrates, withstand harsh environments, or integrate properties like thermal conductivity.

CS Hyde works with small to large manufacturers of all types of industries. They pride themselves on being a problem solver to simple to intricate applications, utilizing converting capabilities to make materials fit, and adhesive solutions to make them stick.

For more information, contact CS Hyde Company, 39655 N IL Route 83, Lake Villa, IL 60046, 800-461-4161 E-mail: sales@cshyde.com, Web: www.cshyde.com.

High Temperature HPPs
With nearly 30 years’ experience in working with thermoplastic and thermoset compounds, Polymics has established itself as a leader in fulfilling its “Concept to Solution” mission. Polymics identifies its customers specific application requirements. Then provides the most cost-effective solution which meets or exceeds all critical performance criteria.

PBI (Polybenzimidazole), also known as Celazole from its HC days, offers the highest overall performance of any engineering polymer. With CUT/CST values of 800°F it is unmatched in its thermal, strength, stiffness, wear, and plasma resistance. Only 3 companies worldwide are approved to process it with Polymics being the only one to supply resin, compounds, shapes and even parts. Polymics is licensed to provide the greatest breadth of product offering through compression molding, extrusion and injection molding. The value proposition at Polymics is further substantiated with its extensive offering of grades and sizes to maximize performance and yield. Polymics offers both “U” and “T” series PBI shapes and parts as well as grades in our Arlymax and Statimax product lines. Statimax itself encompasses a complete portfolio of application specific products in sensitive electrical applications.

Polymics is an ISO-9001 company whose attributes include; material development; polymer formulations; patented HT polyketones; custom compounds; part design; tool design; polymer conversion; prototyping; fabrication; assembly; and testing.

For more information, contact Peter Foss, Polymics, Inc., 2215 High Tech Rd., State College, PA 16803, 978-500-6355, Fax: 814-357-5863, E-mail: pfoss@polymics.com, Web: www.polymics.com.