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Composites meet snowboarding challenge
APPLICAT
Composites meet snowboarding TO PROVIDE the performance required of today’s snowboards, Avalanche Snowboards Inc has decided to use glass reinforced polyurethane resin instead of aluminium in a critical part of its boards’ connection system. US firm Avalanche, based in Benicia, California, had previously specified aluminium for the rotor disc, a circular part several centimetres in diameter which is screwed to the board and serves as the connection between the board and the binding system linking the rider and the board. The bindings must be strong enough to endure the stresses and low temperatures experienced during use. The rotor disc is the
challenge Dow Plastic’s glass-filled polyurethane resin has replaced aluminium in the rotor disc of Avalanche Snowboards’ products.
most stressed component of the binding system. The replacement of anodized aluminium with Dow Plastics’ Isoplast lOlLGF40, a 40% long glass fibre-filled polyurethane grade, in the moulding of the rotor disc is said to have reduced overall costs by at least 50%, while also significantly increasing the rate of production. In addition, Isoplast resins reduced the weight of the part, while providing the toughness and rigidity required to properly control the board. “We wanted to replace aluminium because it didn’t offer the strength and rigidity needed for the discs, and because of its higher cost,” explains
Chris Sanders, co-owner of Avalanche. “We specified glass-filled Isoplast resins for the application because they have excellent abrasion and impact resistance, particularly at low temperatures.” Isoplast resins were recommended for evaluation to Universal Bindings, the company manufacturing Avalanche’s binding systems, by General Polymers, a division of Ashland Plastics. Alexandra Dow
Von Holz-
Europe; tel: + 41-l- 728-2155; Bev Sanders, Avalanche Snowboards; tel: + I70 7- 746 6982. ing,
DO YOU REQUlRE SUPPORT WITH SECTlONAL OR ONE PIECE TANKS, HOUSINGS, ENCLOSURES OR ROOF PANELS? From
product design to full turnkey projects SMC, LPMC, RTM or Open Moulding
Designers,
Risk Assessors, Structural Facilities and Staff Training.
With sound competitive
knowledge answers
and experience for competitive
Testing
we offer products.
ALAN POW ASSOCIATES You/ditch Barns l Peter Tavy Near Tavistock l Devon PL19 9LY England UK Tel: +44 (0)1822 810187 Fax: +44 (0)1822 810189 Reinforced Plastics July/August 1997
GIt-iC;Lt 3.28
UN
HUVtK
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with
Composites meet snowboarding TO PROVIDE the performance required of today’s snowboards, Avalanche Snowboards Inc has decided to use glass reinforced polyurethane resin instead of aluminium in a critical part of its boards’ connection system. US firm Avalanche, based in Benicia, California, had previously specified aluminium for the rotor disc, a circular part several centimetres in diameter which is screwed to the board and serves as the connection between the board and the binding system linking the rider and the board. The bindings must be strong enough to endure the stresses and low temperatures experienced during use. The rotor disc is the
challenge Dow Plastic’s glass-filled polyurethane resin has replaced aluminium in the rotor disc of Avalanche Snowboards’ products.
most stressed component of the binding system. The replacement of anodized aluminium with Dow Plastics’ Isoplast lOlLGF40, a 40% long glass fibre-filled polyurethane grade, in the moulding of the rotor disc is said to have reduced overall costs by at least 50%, while also significantly increasing the rate of production. In addition, Isoplast resins reduced the weight of the part, while providing the toughness and rigidity required to properly control the board. “We wanted to replace aluminium because it didn’t offer the strength and rigidity needed for the discs, and because of its higher cost,” explains
Chris Sanders, co-owner of Avalanche. “We specified glass-filled Isoplast resins for the application because they have excellent abrasion and impact resistance, particularly at low temperatures.” Isoplast resins were recommended for evaluation to Universal Bindings, the company manufacturing Avalanche’s binding systems, by General Polymers, a division of Ashland Plastics. Alexandra Dow
Von Holz-
Europe; tel: + 41-l- 728-2155; Bev Sanders, Avalanche Snowboards; tel: + I70 7- 746 6982. ing,
DO YOU REQUlRE SUPPORT WITH SECTlONAL OR ONE PIECE TANKS, HOUSINGS, ENCLOSURES OR ROOF PANELS? From
product design to full turnkey projects SMC, LPMC, RTM or Open Moulding
Designers,
Risk Assessors, Structural Facilities and Staff Training.
With sound competitive
knowledge answers
and experience for competitive
Testing
we offer products.
ALAN POW ASSOCIATES You/ditch Barns l Peter Tavy Near Tavistock l Devon PL19 9LY England UK Tel: +44 (0)1822 810187 Fax: +44 (0)1822 810189 Reinforced Plastics July/August 1997
GIt-iC;Lt 3.28
UN
HUVtK
I IblNb
with