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PPSU replaces metal in battery charging case
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11/07/2003
14:37
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APPLICATIONS
News
PPSU replaces metal in battery charging case A thermally conductive, electrically insulating polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) from speciality compounder RTP Company has replaced aluminium in the production of a surgical battery charging case. The cases undergo repeated sterilization in a steam autoclave and therefore require a material that can withstand the heat and humidity involved. When looking for an alternative to aluminium, surgical equipment manufacturer Linvatec Corporation wanted a material that would have improved
dimensional stability at high temperatures and humidity, and would be both electrically insulative and thermally conductive. To avoid the need to alter existing tooling, RTP developed a proprietary PPSU compound for the application. RTP 1400 Series compound is specially formulated to improve the polymer's thermally conductive properties while maintaining its electrical insulation. Originally, Linvatec planned to replace the all-aluminium cases with ones made of unfilled PPSU, which had been success-
fully used in medical tray applications and is also compatible with sterilization. However, RTP says the PPSU showed unacceptable levels of dimensional variation and moisture build-up during sterilization. With an enhanced heat deflection temperature of 204°C at 1.82 MPa, RTP says the compound easily holds its shape and resists moisture build-up during repeated sterilization cycles. In fact, RTP claims the compound has more than doubles the through-plane thermal conductivity of the PPSU base resin.
PPSU battery charging case. Contact: RTP Company Tel: +1 507 454 6900 Fax: +1 507 454 2041 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.rtpcompany.com
Glass reinforced PA chosen for engine cooler BASF's Ultramid® A3WG7 glass reinforced polyamide (PA) 66 is being used in the air cooler of truck manufacturer MAN's latest diesel engines.
Glass reinforced polyamide air cooling component.
German automotive systems supplier Behr is using the compound for the lower plenum of the charge-air cooler of the D28 diesel units. The part operates at temperatures up to 110°C under a pressure of 2 bar, and BASF says the Ultramid grade provides the strength necessary for a long service life under these conditions. Ultramid A3WG7 is filled with 35% glass fibre. According to BASF, one of the main reasons why Behr chose this grade is
because it required a material with good flow properties to enable easy moulding and simple mould design. During manufacture, BASF says it is possible to fill the mould, which is nearly 1 m long, with molten resin from a single injection point without the injection pressure having to be increased as the resin starts to crystallize. The dimensional accuracy of the part allows it to be attached to the cooler's aluminium core with a simple gasket seal, adds the
company. Flexibility of design enabled other components to be integrated into the part. Attachment points, a dirt trap and other mountings are all moulded-in. The surface finish is also said to be of a good enough quality for use on visible components, such as cylinder head covers. Contact: BASF AG Tel: +49 621 60 0 Fax: +49 621 60 2 01 29 Website: www.basf.de
Masterbatches reduce VOCs A new range of masterbatches from Italian company Viba Group promises to greatly reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in plastics. Vibatan Anti-EmissionAdditive masterbatches contain active agents which reduce emissions by reacting chemically with VOCs or odour-forming chemicals to
make them less harmful, or by physically absorbing them. According to the company, the large variety of manufactured plastic compounds makes it impossible to produce a universal solution, so it tailormakes its products to suit individual applications. Solution packages can be supplied as a powder, masterbatch or combi-batch.
Applications include regeneration and compounding polymers, and compounding of polymeric blends for automotive components and drinking water pipes. According to the company, the additives and masterbatches can greatly improve product quality by reducing the formation of odours and VOC emissions. It says the improvements could
17
also open up new application areas, with processing made simple by easy dosing. Using combi-batches is a cost effective method of using the active agents, it adds, and the additives will not affect the mechanical properties of the polymer. Contact: Viba Group Website: www.viba.com
Plastics Additives & Compounding July/August 2003
11/07/2003
14:37
Page 17
APPLICATIONS
News
PPSU replaces metal in battery charging case A thermally conductive, electrically insulating polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) from speciality compounder RTP Company has replaced aluminium in the production of a surgical battery charging case. The cases undergo repeated sterilization in a steam autoclave and therefore require a material that can withstand the heat and humidity involved. When looking for an alternative to aluminium, surgical equipment manufacturer Linvatec Corporation wanted a material that would have improved
dimensional stability at high temperatures and humidity, and would be both electrically insulative and thermally conductive. To avoid the need to alter existing tooling, RTP developed a proprietary PPSU compound for the application. RTP 1400 Series compound is specially formulated to improve the polymer's thermally conductive properties while maintaining its electrical insulation. Originally, Linvatec planned to replace the all-aluminium cases with ones made of unfilled PPSU, which had been success-
fully used in medical tray applications and is also compatible with sterilization. However, RTP says the PPSU showed unacceptable levels of dimensional variation and moisture build-up during sterilization. With an enhanced heat deflection temperature of 204°C at 1.82 MPa, RTP says the compound easily holds its shape and resists moisture build-up during repeated sterilization cycles. In fact, RTP claims the compound has more than doubles the through-plane thermal conductivity of the PPSU base resin.
PPSU battery charging case. Contact: RTP Company Tel: +1 507 454 6900 Fax: +1 507 454 2041 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.rtpcompany.com
Glass reinforced PA chosen for engine cooler BASF's Ultramid® A3WG7 glass reinforced polyamide (PA) 66 is being used in the air cooler of truck manufacturer MAN's latest diesel engines.
Glass reinforced polyamide air cooling component.
German automotive systems supplier Behr is using the compound for the lower plenum of the charge-air cooler of the D28 diesel units. The part operates at temperatures up to 110°C under a pressure of 2 bar, and BASF says the Ultramid grade provides the strength necessary for a long service life under these conditions. Ultramid A3WG7 is filled with 35% glass fibre. According to BASF, one of the main reasons why Behr chose this grade is
because it required a material with good flow properties to enable easy moulding and simple mould design. During manufacture, BASF says it is possible to fill the mould, which is nearly 1 m long, with molten resin from a single injection point without the injection pressure having to be increased as the resin starts to crystallize. The dimensional accuracy of the part allows it to be attached to the cooler's aluminium core with a simple gasket seal, adds the
company. Flexibility of design enabled other components to be integrated into the part. Attachment points, a dirt trap and other mountings are all moulded-in. The surface finish is also said to be of a good enough quality for use on visible components, such as cylinder head covers. Contact: BASF AG Tel: +49 621 60 0 Fax: +49 621 60 2 01 29 Website: www.basf.de
Masterbatches reduce VOCs A new range of masterbatches from Italian company Viba Group promises to greatly reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in plastics. Vibatan Anti-EmissionAdditive masterbatches contain active agents which reduce emissions by reacting chemically with VOCs or odour-forming chemicals to
make them less harmful, or by physically absorbing them. According to the company, the large variety of manufactured plastic compounds makes it impossible to produce a universal solution, so it tailormakes its products to suit individual applications. Solution packages can be supplied as a powder, masterbatch or combi-batch.
Applications include regeneration and compounding polymers, and compounding of polymeric blends for automotive components and drinking water pipes. According to the company, the additives and masterbatches can greatly improve product quality by reducing the formation of odours and VOC emissions. It says the improvements could
17
also open up new application areas, with processing made simple by easy dosing. Using combi-batches is a cost effective method of using the active agents, it adds, and the additives will not affect the mechanical properties of the polymer. Contact: Viba Group Website: www.viba.com
Plastics Additives & Compounding July/August 2003