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Reinforced compound makes a point
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Reinforced compound makes a point A carbon fibre-reinforced nylon compound from Chem Polymer, a business of Teknor Apex Company, has been used by an international supplier of darts to enhance the reliability and prolonged the performance lifetime of its products. German company Evolution DartTechnologie has used Beetle® 66CF4, a 20% carbon fibrefilled nylon 66 compound, to injection mould 34 and 44 mm (1.3 and 1.7 in.) shafts that are lighter than widely used metal counterparts and exhibit greater resistance to breakage than conventional thermoplastic shafts. “The perpendicular forces generated in the dart as it strikes the target are great enough to pose a real challenge for other all-plastic shafts,” notes Roland
Kühn, owner of Evolution, “but the outstanding tensile and flexural properties of the Beetle compound make our new shafts better capable of withstanding the considerable stresses imposed on them in repeated use by intensely competitive dart players.” There are four components in a dart. These include the tip, the barrel (gripped by the player), and the flight (fins that stabilize the dart as it moves through the air). The fourth component is the small but critical shaft, which connects the barrel and the flight. The shaft is threaded at one end and screws into the barrel; the flight is affixed to the shaft by rings or other fasteners. Different lengths are available to vary dart performance. The shaft can be made of metal, plastic, or
A carbon fibre-filled nylon 66 compound has been used in dart shafts. a combination of plastic and a threaded metal segment. “The high stiffness impawrted by the carbon fibre reinforcement in the Beetle compound has enabled Evolution to completely replace metal in the shaft, saving weight while providing the dimensional stability required for an accurate and secure connection between the flight and the barrel,” said Dr. Inge
Würtz, Chem Polymer sales manager. “At the same time, the carbon fibres provide greater flexibility than comparably filled glass fibre composites, which are more brittle and less capable of withstanding repeated stresses without breakage.” Contact: Chem Polymer Email: [email protected] Website: www.teknorapex.com
Compounder develops new recycling process for PP strapping UK compounder Luxus has developed a new ‘closed loop’ custom processing service to recycle post industrial scrap packaging strapping into reusable polymer, which is reducing landfill and saving raw material costs, says the company. Developed for Plastic Extruders Ltd, part of the UK-based Plastex group of companies, Luxus says that the process uses the latest melt reclamation technology and technical laboratory services to underwrite quality. The company explains that the strapping is extruded from polypropylene homopolymer with an advanced process stabilization package. Developed
especially for extrusion, blow moulding and injection moulding, the material also includes additives that reduce water absorption. Luxus receives baled strapping waste from Plastic Extruders’ Wickford, Essex plant and undertakes a series of tests and processes that convert the material into a polymer to an agreed specification. Protection of the stabilization and water carrying properties of the material is critical for this product. Luxus adds that its technical centre evaluates the feedstock before suitable compound is developed. If required FTIR
Plastics Additives & Compounding March/April 2008
(Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) tests can be undertaken to confirm polymer type and identify the presence and composition of any additives. The technical centre also monitors the quality of every product and material processed on site. The strapping material is checked for contamination and then processed in a melt reclamation plant. At this stage any volatiles or water are driven off and if required any masterbatch or additives can be dosed into the melt to produce the necessary physical characteristics required to meet specifications. During processing
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the plant’s temperature, pressure and screen changes are monitored closely. Pellet quality is also checked and moulded test samples, produced in Luxus’ technical centre, undergo melt flow and tensile tests. On completion of compounding each batch of the self coloured material is uniformly blended to ensure colour consistency. Recycled material is delivered back to Plastic Extruders in 1000kg bulk bags and reused either with prime polymer, recyclate or at 100% addition rate to produce various grades of strapping. Contact: Luxus Limited Website: www.luxus.co.uk
News
Reinforced compound makes a point A carbon fibre-reinforced nylon compound from Chem Polymer, a business of Teknor Apex Company, has been used by an international supplier of darts to enhance the reliability and prolonged the performance lifetime of its products. German company Evolution DartTechnologie has used Beetle® 66CF4, a 20% carbon fibrefilled nylon 66 compound, to injection mould 34 and 44 mm (1.3 and 1.7 in.) shafts that are lighter than widely used metal counterparts and exhibit greater resistance to breakage than conventional thermoplastic shafts. “The perpendicular forces generated in the dart as it strikes the target are great enough to pose a real challenge for other all-plastic shafts,” notes Roland
Kühn, owner of Evolution, “but the outstanding tensile and flexural properties of the Beetle compound make our new shafts better capable of withstanding the considerable stresses imposed on them in repeated use by intensely competitive dart players.” There are four components in a dart. These include the tip, the barrel (gripped by the player), and the flight (fins that stabilize the dart as it moves through the air). The fourth component is the small but critical shaft, which connects the barrel and the flight. The shaft is threaded at one end and screws into the barrel; the flight is affixed to the shaft by rings or other fasteners. Different lengths are available to vary dart performance. The shaft can be made of metal, plastic, or
A carbon fibre-filled nylon 66 compound has been used in dart shafts. a combination of plastic and a threaded metal segment. “The high stiffness impawrted by the carbon fibre reinforcement in the Beetle compound has enabled Evolution to completely replace metal in the shaft, saving weight while providing the dimensional stability required for an accurate and secure connection between the flight and the barrel,” said Dr. Inge
Würtz, Chem Polymer sales manager. “At the same time, the carbon fibres provide greater flexibility than comparably filled glass fibre composites, which are more brittle and less capable of withstanding repeated stresses without breakage.” Contact: Chem Polymer Email: [email protected] Website: www.teknorapex.com
Compounder develops new recycling process for PP strapping UK compounder Luxus has developed a new ‘closed loop’ custom processing service to recycle post industrial scrap packaging strapping into reusable polymer, which is reducing landfill and saving raw material costs, says the company. Developed for Plastic Extruders Ltd, part of the UK-based Plastex group of companies, Luxus says that the process uses the latest melt reclamation technology and technical laboratory services to underwrite quality. The company explains that the strapping is extruded from polypropylene homopolymer with an advanced process stabilization package. Developed
especially for extrusion, blow moulding and injection moulding, the material also includes additives that reduce water absorption. Luxus receives baled strapping waste from Plastic Extruders’ Wickford, Essex plant and undertakes a series of tests and processes that convert the material into a polymer to an agreed specification. Protection of the stabilization and water carrying properties of the material is critical for this product. Luxus adds that its technical centre evaluates the feedstock before suitable compound is developed. If required FTIR
Plastics Additives & Compounding March/April 2008
(Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) tests can be undertaken to confirm polymer type and identify the presence and composition of any additives. The technical centre also monitors the quality of every product and material processed on site. The strapping material is checked for contamination and then processed in a melt reclamation plant. At this stage any volatiles or water are driven off and if required any masterbatch or additives can be dosed into the melt to produce the necessary physical characteristics required to meet specifications. During processing
14
the plant’s temperature, pressure and screen changes are monitored closely. Pellet quality is also checked and moulded test samples, produced in Luxus’ technical centre, undergo melt flow and tensile tests. On completion of compounding each batch of the self coloured material is uniformly blended to ensure colour consistency. Recycled material is delivered back to Plastic Extruders in 1000kg bulk bags and reused either with prime polymer, recyclate or at 100% addition rate to produce various grades of strapping. Contact: Luxus Limited Website: www.luxus.co.uk