High Performance Plastics Spotlight

PEI Shapes Help Electronics Designers Increase Productivity

The electronics industry faces the constant challenge to produce smaller, faster, and more precise devices. Quadrant helps overcome that challenge by developing innovative materials so chip manufacturers can satisfy that demand. Long recognized for creating quality products to better serve customer’s needs, there is simply no substitute for Quadrant. Their R&D team modifies base polymers to wear longer and manage static electricity or electrical energy, enabling the creation of new processes and products in an evolving electronics marketplace.

Quadrant’s range of PEI (polyetherimide) materials based on SABIC Innovative Plastics includes: Duratron® U1000 PEI (often used in connectors and fittings) – it withstands extreme electronics manufacturing demands and is easily machined; offers excellent dielectric properties, strength at temperature and dimensional control.

Semitron® ESd 410 PEI and Semitron® ESd 420 PEI are more than just an additive or surface coating, Semitron® ESd materials are designed to withstand repeated ESd events without breakdown which degrades the plastic’s ability to slowly remove the electric charge which can turn the inferior machined polymer parts into a conductor.

For more information, contact Kim Imes, Quadrant EPP, 2120 Fairmont Avenue, Reading, PA 19612, 800-366-0310/610-320-6709, Fax: 800-366-0301, E-mail: kim.imes@qplas.com, Web: www.quadrantplastics.com.

King StarBoard®ST is an environmentally friendly, high-density polyethylene sheet that provides a more scratch-resistant surface for many original King StarBoard applications. High scratch resistant makes it an excellent construction material. In addition, its high strength and stiffness makes it desirable for applications where less structural support is available.

The sheet has been a big hit in the casual outdoor furniture industry, outdoor kitchen market and the cabinetry industry. Because it is environmentally stabilized, the material has been developed to withstand the harshest of conditions. It can be used in wet areas that need to be washed often for cleaning or are regularly exposed to moisture. King StarBoard ST along with King MicroShield™ makes an outstanding antimicrobial sheet, it is a non-toxic antimicrobial upgrade that makes these products stay cleaner between cleanings and is 99.9% effective inhibiting the growth of product-damaging microorganisms, such as, bacteria, algae and fungi on the sheet. Unlike other antimicrobials, it retains its effectiveness for the lifetime of the sheet without leaching into the environment. The product is EPA registered and listed with the FDA as a modifier to medical devices.

For more information, contact Lou Stegner, King Plastic Corporation, 1100 N. Toledo Blade Blvd., North Port, Florida 34288, 941-493-5502, Fax: 941-497-3274, Email: sales@kingplastic.com, Web: www.kingplastic.com.

Ensinger Inc. has developed a revolutionary new high performance engineering plastic for the food industry. Designed to increase productivity and safety, TECAFORM® UD Blue is the first material available that addresses all three methods of quality control (optical, metal, and x-ray detection) typically used in the industry to keep food products free from foreign particulates. TECAFORM UD Blue is a porosity-free acetal co-polymer in an FDA compliant blue color. Specially formulated to be both metal and x-ray detectable, the blue colorant is also easily visible to production line optical scanning equipment. This versatile food industry material is FDA, USDA, 3A Dairy, and European agency compliant.

TECAFORM UD Blue is the latest addition to Ensinger’s extensive line of high performance plastics. In addition to plastics for the food industry, Ensinger offers high performance plastics suitable for industries like aerospace, electronics, and transit.

For more information, contact Bruce Dickinson, Ensinger, Inc., 365 Meadowlands Blvd., Washington, PA 15301, 800-243-3221/856-227-0500, Fax: 724-746-9209, E-mail: sales@ensinger-ind.com, Web: www.ensinger-inc.com.

GEHR Plastics offers PEEK rod that can be used at very high temperatures (+ 480° F) and shows an extraordinary mechanical strength, toughness, hardness, flexural strength and torsional strength. GEHR PEEK exhibits excellent chemical resistance, very good dielectric properties and a very good resistance to general radiation. Additionally it is self-extinguishing.

In terms of dimensional stability the material has a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a low moisture absorption rate. In addition to its chemical resistance, it is food grade and wear resistant in bearing applications. GEHR PEEK is only available in rod sizes from 3” diameter up to 8” diameter.

For more information, contact GEHR Plastics USA, 24 Creek Circle, Boothwyn, PA 19061, 800-PVC-GEHR/610-497-8941, Fax: 610-497-8901, E-mail: info@gehrplastics.com, Web: www.gehrplastics.com.

Polymics concentrates in the Sulfone, Ketone, and Imide families of materials with capabilities to provide resin, compound, stock shapes and injection molded parts. Their material concentration is in PPS, PEEK, PEKK, PEI, PBI Celazole, Celazole T-Series and Polyimide with the ability to provide compounds of all materials above.

Polmics’ Centrifu gally Assisted Molding (CAM) process isn’t new, but their IP twist allows them to produce a high quality tube with mechanical properties that rival injection molding. It also allows them to economically manufacture unfilled PEEK tubes in a wide range of diameters and wall thicknesses. The process provides high quality tubes that are near net to their required dimensions, low stress, and defect free. CAM tubing can be made in OD’s from 2” to 10.75” with wall thickness from 0.100” to 0.625” with max lengths up to 18”.

Earlier this year Polymics rolled out a program to provide injection molded 40% glass filled PPS tubes. The ability to produce injection molded tubes will allow them to provide tubes with higher mechanical properties and thinner wall thicknesses than they typical compression molded product currently on the market. They have also begun putting certain sizes in stock for quicker delivery.

Their injection molded tube program with all available PEEK grades and PPS is rapidly growing. Polymics’ size capability ranges from 1″ OD to 15.00″ OD, with wall thicknesses available up to .750” as a standard. All tubes with an OD up to 7.00” are produced 6″ long, all tubes between 7.00” OD and 10” OD are 4” long, and all tubes with an OD over 10” are 2” long. The minimum production order quantity begins at 10 tubes, several sizes are available from stock with no minimum.

Polymics is one of two authorized stock shape manufacturers of Celazole PBI in the country. They now stock Celazole PBI in both plate and rod. Plate is stocked in thicknesses up to 1.50”, rod is stocked from .250” dia - 1.50” dia. Stock rods are 12” long and sold as full lengths, however they also offer production rods in lengths of 10” and 18”.

For more information, contact Mike Keebaugh, Polymics, Ltd., 2215 High Tech Road, State College, PA 16803, 713-568-3171, Fax: 814-357-5863, E-mail: sales@polymics.com, Web: www.polymics.com.

Hi-Tech Profiles is a leading manufacturer of extruded stock shapes. HTP is enjoying their 24th year in the plastics distribution and manufacturing industry with an extensive thermoplastic material product line, which includes nylon and acetal stock shapes. HTP is proud to be an ISO9001:2008 registered company along with its two sister companies, HTP-Meds, and Hi-Tech Molds. Together, the HTP family of companies delivers quality, real-world solutions from concept to reality through rapid prototyping and short lead times.

Hi-Tech Profiles is exited to announce that they now stock black Nylon Hollow Rod and Black Acetal Hollow Rod. HTP is also excited to announce their part to GO GREEN, since July they have started to do Electronic Invoicing. Electronic invoicing allows you to have your statement instantly. Please contact Judy Silver at jsilver@hitechprofiles.com for more information. Hi-Tech Profiles specializes in the extrusion of all engineered thermoplastic materials in sizes ranging from 0.50” to 2.5” OD. HTP offers an extensive, high-quality line of tubing, hollow rod, and bushing stock in Nylon and Acetal that is in stock and available for immediate shipment. Custom sizes are available with over twenty different materials to choose from including; ECTFE, Polycarbonate, PVDF and Polysulfone. Custom cutting and printing are also available as well as co-extruded tubing with two and three layer construction, in sizes ranging from up to 1” OD.

For more information, contact Brian McGregor, Hi-Tech Profiles, Inc., 15 Gray Lane, Ashaway, RI 02804, 800-342-5495, Fax: 401-377-2423, E-mail: info@hitechprofiles.com, Web: www.hitechprofiles.com.

Warren Polymer Solutions International (WarrenPSI) was founded in 2009 by stock shape extrusion industry veteran Jeff Warren. His goal was to offer customers a friendly and easily accessible source for high performance thermoplastic materials and also provide those users with the detailed technical information necessary for their application in industry.

Today, WarrenPSI continues to grow and it is internationally recognized as a premier manufacturer of premium quality extruded shapes for fabrication from a wide range of thermoplastic engineering materials including PC, PVDF, PEI, PSU, PES, and PEEK.

Warren stated, “We are not one of the big guys in our industry and we don’t pretend to be. What we offer our customers is straightforward and extremely knowledgeable answers to their technical questions and cutting edge manufacturing capabilities. Our team is comprised entirely of degreed engineers who have an average of 33 years of industry experience. We definitely have the knowledge and experience to fulfill our customer’s most challenging thermoplastic requirements and we strive to make sure that we are the easiest company to do business with.”

The manufacturing equipment and processes at WarrenPSI have been custom designed to offer optimal material properties, reasonable manufacturing costs and quick turn around times at even the smallest production quantities. For the custom extrusion of polymers with fillers like glass fibers, carbon fibers or PTFE, customers frequently find that WarrenPSI offers the best value available.

WarrenPSI manufactures plate in widths up to 24” and thickness up to 4”. Rod and tubular bar products are available up to 12” lengths and 8” in diameter.

For more information, contact Jeff Warren, Warren Polymer Solutions International, LLC, 925 Schwab Road, Suite #2, Hatfield, PA 19440, 215-362-5111, E-mail: sales@warrenpsi.com, Web: www.warrenpsi.com.

Petro Extrusion Technologies (PET) manufactures HYLAR® PVDF tubing available from stock in eleven sizes. HYLAR thermoplastic fluoropolymer is strong and tough as exhibited by its tensile and impact strength. Compared to many thermoplastics, HYLAR has excellent resistance to creep and fatigue. It is non-toxic, tasteless and odorless. It is the engineering grade thermoplastics material of choice for applications requiring high purity and exceptional corrosion resistance properties.

Stock tubing is extruded from the highest quality Hylar 460 Polyvinylidene Fluoride resin that is an extremely versatile engineering fluoropolymer with a unique balance of physical, chemical and electrical properties.

Other stock products available from PET include acrylic profiles in 6 sizes from stock and NYLAGLIDE GR® Profiles - MDS-filled Nylon 6 profiles available from stock in 17 standard shapes.

For more information, contact Robert Petrozziello, Petro Extrusion Technologies, Inc., P.O. Box 99, 490 South Ave., Garwood, NJ 07027, 800-229-3338/908-789-3338, Fax: 908-789-0434, E-mail: rpetro@petroextrusion.com, Web: www.petroextrusion.com.