Linking East and West through Quality and Value http://www.mideastplast.com Copyright Rapid News Publications en-gb Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:18:02 GMT 123 104 http://www.mideastplast.com http://www.mideastplast.com/img/feed-logo.gif Leading international heating systems specialist and manufacturer Ceramicx is investing in an extensive programme of new branding and promotion for its next generation of infra red and quartz heating elements and systems. Managing Director Frank Wilson explained: "By the time we exhibit at next year's international plastics industry fair in Dusseldorf, we shall have badged 75% of our factory output with our full Ceramicx brand and with traceability know-how and internet back up. There's both a push and a pull element to our branding move and our raised profile: After sixteen years of building markets and constructing a formidable body of proprietary know-how, we feel that our product and our name needs both more protection and more profile and promotion throughout the 63 countries that we export to worldwide." Wilson said that, in recent years, Ceramicx products — both industrial componentry and consumer products — have been tested by independent laboratories in Europe and in Asia and have been found to be the best of their kind. Ceramicx heating technology is used extensively in plastics thermoforming lines and for other industrial and consumer uses. This fact has not escaped the attention of some re-suppliers and distributors in industry who have been simply repackaging and reselling Ceramicx-quality products as their own. Wilson commented: "Through our branding and product marking activities, we are now set to make sure that we retain and get optimum return from our investment in Ceramicx product excellence. Ceramicx is now deploying new systems of product laser marking, coding and product traceability and will be further investing in these and expanding the systems over the next few weeks. The next decade will see us making many new strides in our Intellectual Property (IP) issues — and we are well placed to take equivalent steps in protecting and promoting these issues." Ceramicx's chief product lines are infrared heaters, infrared ovens, quartz heaters and ceramic heaters. http://www.mideastplast.com/x/guideArchiveArticle.html?id=175 http://www.mideastplast.com/x/guideArchiveArticle.html?id=175 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT The socket thermoforming processes of plastic pipes use several and different heating, forming and cooling techniques. Heating with short-wave infrared heating elements, IR-SW ovens, has progressed considerably. This method, combined with new and efficient cooling systems with internal refrigerating cycle (Sica patent), are in the immediate future a new technical concept for the socketing machines, thanks to an optimal combination of quality, price, and machine dimensions. These systems are used in socketing machines for both PVC-U and PP or HDPE pipes; they are adapted and optimised according to the specific processing technologies necessary for the different materials. Their combination has been installed recently in Sica machines. However, after verifying feasibility, the new systems can be applied on BA/CA socketing machines already installed in customers' existing extrusion lines. The most evident advantage among those listed below is the reduction of the number of heating stations while maintaining the same production capacity, which means a smaller socketing machine, simplified operating management, and better operator accessibility. In this way, a single-oven socketing machine can attain output equal to or higher than those of traditional double-oven socketing machines. http://www.mideastplast.com/x/guideArchiveArticle.html?id=181 http://www.mideastplast.com/x/guideArchiveArticle.html?id=181 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT A new 17% glass fibre-reinforced nylon 6 compound provides a combination of strength and stiffness required for injection molded applications that undergo challenging dynamic forces, it was announced today by Chem Polymer, a unit of Teknor Apex Company. Chemlon 217 GI exhibits the high levels of stiffness, flexural strength, and tensile strength called for in dynamically challenging applications like office chairs, outdoor power equipment, outboard motor covers, and gun stock components. The compound is impact modified and UV stabilised, making it suitable for outdoor and low-temperature environments. "Chemlon 217 GI provides the practical toughness that rugged-use applications require, and it yields an excellent surface even though it is a glass-filled formulation," said Todd Bresson, National Sales Manager. "Its outstanding flow characteristics make it suitable for large parts." Bresson noted that a customised formulation of the compound has been used commercially for the one-piece moulded inner shells of office chairs, where exactly the right balance of flexibility and stiffness is needed to combine structural strength with user comfort. http://www.mideastplast.com/x/guideArchiveArticle.html?id=221 http://www.mideastplast.com/x/guideArchiveArticle.html?id=221 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Because of their very precise injection speed and pressure control, BOY injection moulding machines are ideally suited for the production of complex technical parts. Depending on the type, material structure (PEK, PEEK, PEKK, .......), and filler, polyetherketons are processed at barrel temperatures between 350°C and more than 400°C. To be able to constantly achieve the good material properties with these partially crystalline plastics, it is necessary to work with a constant high mould temperature in the range of just above 200°C. Apart from the high temperatures, PEEK can be processed similar to polyamides. With PEEK, too, a high percentage of glass fibre reinforcement is usual. Mainly, the user will have to take into consideration the high temperatures. Pressures and injection speeds are in the range of those for PA. The injection moulding machine has to be equipped with high performance heaterbands (optional). Depending on the material throughput, high wear-resistant plasticising units are recommended. With a very low throughput, like for example with screw diameters below 18 mm, the abrasive effect of reinforcing material is practically negligible if the feed zone of the barrel is operated with as high a temperature as possible. The mould can practically always be operated with electric heating, as ambient heat reflection surpasses the energy generated by the plastic material. On a BOY XS with 14 mm plasticising unit, small bearing sleeves were made from nonreinforced PEEK. The part weight was 0.023 g, shot weight with three cavities and one runner was 0.26 g. Barrel temperature was set to 355°C; a heated sprue bush in the mould regulated to 375°C. Mould temperature was 185°C. With an injection time of 0.22 seconds, the maximum injection pressure was approximately 690 bar. Polyetherketon must be thoroughly predried before processing. Residual moisture should be below 0.05%. Surface quality and dimensional accuracy of the bearing sleeves with a maximum wall thickness of 0.5 mm are faultless. Apart from the high processing temperatures, the material can be processed like the typical, partially crystalline plastics. http://www.mideastplast.com/x/guideArchiveArticle.html?id=197 http://www.mideastplast.com/x/guideArchiveArticle.html?id=197 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Quadrant's range of enhanced PTFE materials available in full production sizes has been broadened with the addition of two new grades: Fluorosint HPV and Fluorosint MT-01. FDA compliant Fluorosint HPV is a mica-filled high performance bearing grade that can deliver a pressure velocity (PV) performance improvement of more than 40% over other PTFE materials according to in-house tests conducted by Quadrant. Parts made of Fluorosint HPV can withstand higher load and velocity while delivering better wear resistance, enabling longer part life compared to existing FDA compliant PTFE-based materials. The product was especially developed to meet the demands of high performance bearing applications where other, low-tech PTFE formulations would exhibit premature wear or can not perform. These characteristics together with FDA compliancy for food and pharmaceutical applications open up interesting new options for engineers and manufacturers. Dr. Stephan Glander, Global Director Research & Market Development Quadrant EPP commented: "Simply put, parts machined from Fluorosint HPV last longer than those made from many of the alternative filled PTFE materials on the market today. Fluorosint HPV can replace bronze, steel and powdered metal parts and deliver performance gains in wear life and system performance. Typical applications include thrust washers, wear guides, seals and food processing and preparation equipment." The second new grade addition, Fluorosint MT-01, is a unique material that combines exceptionally high temperature resistance with low deformation and low CLTE (Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion). "Engineers often need to balance compliance of PTFE, its ability to both deform and retain rigidity, with precise control, even at elevated temperatures. Fluorosint MT-01 is perfectly suited to perform under these conditions," Dr. Glander added. http://www.mideastplast.com/x/guideArchiveArticle.html?id=171 http://www.mideastplast.com/x/guideArchiveArticle.html?id=171 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT 3-layer pipes made of PP-R with a glass fibre reinforced middle layer are an interesting alternative to conventional heating and sanitary pipes for hot and cold water transport in buildings. The Viennese machine manufacturer Cincinnati Extrusion GmbH offers a tailor-made engineering solution to meet the special requirements of the task of producing them. The pipes consist of two outer PP random polymer layers and a middle layer made of PP homopolymer filled with a 10% to 20% weight component of short glass fibre. The normal distribution of layer thicknesses in the three-layer pipes varies between 25/50/25% and 33/33/33%. The main advantage of these pipes, an increase in stability and e-module, is achieved by glass fibre reinforcement. In contrast to conventional pipes, the glass fibre content reduces the lengthwise expansion of the pipes especially in hot water transport and consequently lessens their deflection. This again allows the installation of heating and sanitary pipes with larger intervals between fixtures, which considerably facilitates their laying. For the production of these pipes, Cincinnati Extrusion recommends an extruder combination consisting of two Talos single-screw extruders. While the extruder for the inner and outer layers is equipped with a 30 D processing unit including a grooved feed section, the extruder for the middle layer has a length of only 25 D and a smooth processing unit with special anti-wear protection for processing PP with glass fibre content. The die, an IRIS 25-3 coex triple spiral mandrel die, is suitable for all pipe dimensions from 16 mm to 250 mm and can be adapted very easily to different layer thickness distributions. http://www.mideastplast.com/x/guideArchiveArticle.html?id=135 http://www.mideastplast.com/x/guideArchiveArticle.html?id=135 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT