Acrylic:
Domestic cell cast acrylic provides low distortion and will not yellow after prolonged exposure to sunlight. It is an excellent material for applications that require superior optical and physical properties. Cast acrylic is available in sheet, rod and tube. Primary grades include general purpose, MIL specification grades, abrasion resistant, UV resisting, UV transmitting, patterns and bullet resistant. Colors and patterns are also available.
ADVANTAGES
- 10 times more impact resistant than glass.
- 50% lighter than glass.
- Can expand and contract 8 times as much as glass.
- Can be easily cut, drilled, routed, polished, cemented, laser cut and thermoformed.
- 92% light transmittance on clear sheets.
- Withstands exposure to sun, extreme cold, sudden temperature changes and salt water.
- Will not deteriorate, crack, discolor or become brittle after many years.
- Maximum continuous service temperature is approximately 180°F to 200°F, depending on the application and grade.
- Breaks into large pieces which reduces injury.
- FDA, USDA and NSF compliant.
- Meets many local, city, state and government regulatory building codes.
LEADING MARKETS
- Aerospace
- Bath & Sanitary Ware
- Construction
- Glazing
- Manufacturing
- Marine / Aquariums
- Medical
- Optical
- Point-of-Purchase / Displays
- Retail
- Security
- Transportation
|
ABS
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a common thermoplastic made by polymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene, making ABS stronger than pure styrene. The styrene imparts a shiny, impervious surface and the butadiene provides a resilient surface even at low temperatures.
PROPERTIES
ABS has the combined advantage of strength and rigidity from the acrylonitrile and styrene polymers plus the toughness of the polybutadiene rubber. Also, by changing the proportions of these components, ABS can be created in varying grades. ABS for extruded Sheet Rod & Tube with high and medium impact resistance. ABS would have useful characteristics within a temperature range of 50 to 176° F (10 to 80° C).
APPLICATIONS
The light weight of ABS extruded Sheet, Rod & Tube make it a valuable base material in the manufacture of such items as drain pipe, musical instruments, gold club heads, automotive trim components electronic assembly enclosures, protective headgear, canoes, luggage and protective carrying cases, small kitchen appliances and even toys (Lego bricks).
|
ACETAL
Acetal is the common name for Polyoxymethylene. It is easy to machine, holds tight tolerances, and is readily available in a variety of shapes, sizes and formulations.
PROPERTIES
Acetal provides good strength and stiffness, coupled with dimensional stability and good wear properties. It's low moisture absorbtion rate makes it a preferred choice over Nylon in many wet environments. The chemical composition, regular molecular structure and high degree of crystallinity result in a unique combination of outstanding characteristics:
- High mechanical strength and rigidity
- Toughness and high resistance to repeated impacts
- Long-term fatigue endurance
- Excellent resistance to moisture, gasoline, solvents, and many other neutral chemicals
- Excellent dimensional stability
- Good resilience and resistance to creep
- Natural lubricity
- Wide end-use temperature range
- Good electrical insulating characteristics
APPLICATIONS
Automotive
- Fuel system components (gas caps, floats, pump housings, senders)
- Heavy load-bearing gears (window lifts, windshield wipers)
- Fasteners
- Window/door hardware
- Safety system components (buckles, seatbelt hardware, spools, guidetracks, clock springs)
- Loudspeaker grilles
- Control switches
- Interior trim
- Steering components
- Pillar loops
Industrial Equipment
- Wear surfaces: bushings, bearings, cams, pulleys
- Gas meters
- Gears: spur, cluster, helical, bevel, worm
- Conveyors: flat top conveyor chain, wear strips, conveyor links
- Pump impellers: submersible, gear, centrifugal, proportioning, reinforced diaphragms, jet well
- Fan and blower blades
- Pumps and beverage valves
- Farm machinery
- Irrigation sprinkler components
- Shower heads
- Hose couplings
- Water meter components
|
ACETATE
Acetate film is a thin, clear or translucent, and flexible plastic sheet or strip that will accept printing ink. It is also known for its wrinkle resistance, greaseproofness, water resistance, dimensional stability, high gas permeability, good electrical insulation properties, resistance to fogging and medium water vapor transmission.
PROPERTIES
Acetate film is a thin, clear or translucent, and flexible plastic sheet or strip that will accept printing ink. It is also known for its wrinkle resistance, greaseproofness, water resistance, dimensional stability, high gas permeability, good electrical insulation properties, resistance to fogging and medium water vapor transmission.
APPLICATIONS
Acetate is used for the production of overlays, camera-ready proofs, and other types of graphics. The material is also used in the preparation of sequences in animated films. It is also used extensively in the food industry for prepackaging produce, packaged bakery products. Also for window cartons, window envelopes, laminates, electrical insulation.
|
POLYCARBONATEPolycarbonates, known by the trademarked names Lexan, Makrolon, and others, are a particular group of thermoplastic polymers. They are easily worked, moulded, and thermoformed. Because of these properties, polycarbonates find many applications. Polycarbonate is the first commercially useful thermoplastic material which incorporates the carbonate radical as an integral part of the main polymer chain. PROPERTIESPolycarbonate derived from BPA is a very durable material. Although it has high impact-resistance. The characteristics of polycarbonate are quite like those of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, acrylic), but polycarbonate is stronger, usable in a wider temperature range. This polymer is highly transparent to visible light and has better light transmission characteristics than many kinds of glass. Unlike most thermoplastics, polycarbonate can undergo large plastic deformations without cracking or breaking. As a result, it can be processed and formed at room temperature using sheet metal techniques, such as forming bends on a brake. Even for sharp angle bends with a tight radius, no heating is generally necessary. This makes it valuable in prototyping applications where transparent or electrically non-conductive parts are needed, which cannot be made from sheet metal. Low water absorption high heat resistance, thermal stability and good electrical properties and very high impact strength are among the many desirable properties that Polycarbonates possess. APPLICATIONSElectronic components - Being a good electrical insulator and having heat and flame resistant properties, it is used in myriad products associated with electrical and telecommunications hardware. It is used as dielectric in high stability capacitorsConstruction materials - The second largest consumer of polycarbonates is the construction industry, e.g. for domelights, flat or curved glazing, and sound walls.Data storage - A major application of polycarbonate is the production of compact discs, DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs. The blanks are produced by injection molding.Typical products of sheet/film production include applications in advertisement (signs, displays, poster protection).Automotive, aircraft, and security components - In the automotive industry, injection moulded polycarbonate can produce very smooth surfaces that make it well suited for direct (without the need for a basecoat) metalised parts such as decorative bezels and optical reflectors. Its uniform mould shrinkage results in parts with greater accuracy than those made of polypropylene. However, due to its susceptibility to environmental stress cracking, its use is limited to low stress applications. It can be laminated to make bullet-proof "glass", although "bullet-resistant" is more accurate for the thinner windows, such as are used in bullet-resistant windows in automobiles. The thicker barriers of transparent plastic used in teller's windows and barriers in banks, are also polycarbonate. So called "theft-proof" large plastic packaging for smaller items, which cannot be opened by hand, is uniformly made from polycarbonate. The cockpit canopy of the F-22 Raptor jet fighter is made from a piece of high optical quality polycarbonate, and is the largest piece of its type formed in the worldNiche applications - Many kinds of lenses are manufactured from polycarbonate, including automotive headlamp lenses, lighting lenses, sunglass/eyeglass, lenses, and safety glasses. Other miscellaneous items: MP3/Digital audio player cases, Ocarinas, computer cases, riot shields, visors, instrument panels. Many toys and hobby items are made from polycarbonate parts, e.g. fins, gyro mounts, and flybar locks for use with radio-controlled helicopters.The fact that polycarbonates has exceptionally high impact strength suggest its use in applications where toughness is a requisite, such as housings for business machines, communication equipment, automotive, aircraft and security components.
|
STYRENE
Styrene, also known as vinyl benzene, is an organic compound. This cyclic hydrocarbon is a colorless oily liquid that evaporates easily and has a sweet smell, although high concentrations confer a less pleasant odor. Approximately 15 billion pounds are produced annually. Styrene is named after the styrax trees from which sap (benzoin resin) can be extracted. Low levels of styrene occur naturally in plants as well as a variety of foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, beverages, and meats.
PROPERTIES
Styrene-based materials offer unique characteristics of toughness, high performance, versatile design, simplicity of production, andeconomy. They provide excellent hygiene, sanitation and safety benefits. And many styrene-based products offer superior insulation qualities foruse in building construction where they provide energy conservation. They have the ability to be recycled where collection systems are available. In manycases, styrene helps create products for which there are few, if any, substitutes.
APPLICATIONS
The presence of the vinyl group allows styrene to polymerize. Commercially significant products include polystyrene, ABS, styrene-butadiene (SBR) rubber, styrene-butadiene latex, unsaturated polyesters and others. These materials are used in rubber, plastic, insulation, fiberglass, pipes, automobile and boat parts, food containers, and carpet backing.
|
|
|
