Strictly-Extrusion

The Ensinger Group, Germany, has further enhanced its position in one of the high-tech regions of the US. With the acquisition of Penn Fibre Inc., the Ensinger group has succeeded in acquiring a strong company with comprehensive skills in the production and development of composite materials. This traditional US company was founded in 1937 and is present with a wide range of materials for various product segments. It has made a name for itself as the biggest US producer of thin thermoplastic sheets, strips, coils and punched flat parts. Penn Fibre manufactures calendered sheets and coils from traditional thermoplastics such as polyolefins, polyamides, polyacetylenes, polyesters, high-temperature plastics and specialty composite materials. The products are available in standardised store sizes with thicknesses from 0.25mm to 4mm and widths of up to 1200mm.

Three Elexar styrenic thermoplastic elastomer compounds rated for continuous service at 125ÞC in appliance wire provide chemical resistance, low-temperature flexibility and a range of mechanical and flame properties, according to the Thermoplastic Elastomer Division of Teknor Apex. Two grades with high tensile strength, Elexar 8614 and 8623, are non-brominated and have UL-94 flame resistance ratings of V-1 and HB, respectively. These products enable users to meet recent European demands for elimination of bromine compounds. Brominated Elexar 8730 compound has a V-1 rating and is the softest grade. An accompanying table provides data on all three grades and illustrates performance advantages over thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) elastomers typically used in appliance wire. “Besides serving as non-plasticised alternatives to PVC in appliance wire, Elexar TPEs provide greater chemical resistance and low-temperature flexibility than thermoplastic olefin elastomers and cost less than urethane and polyester based TPEs,” said John Macaluso, Wire and Cable Market Manager for TPEs.

Berstorff, Germany, has developed a new shear and stretch mixing element for compounding TPEs and continuous mixing of rubber in co-rotating twinscrew extruders. The screw geometry chosen influences the shear and elongation flow so decisively that the dispersion in the compound is improved, whilst at the same time the heating of the compound is less. In addition, it optimises the phase inversion occurring simultaneously in dynamically cross-linked TPE-Vs. In this combination of shear and elongation mixing elements, the compound is led into a flow channel, which is closed on the one side by the screw flights and on the other by a shearing and stretching flight. The compound is forced to flow over this shear-stretch flight. „This ensures that every part of the compound receives virtually the same degree of work, the danger of undispersed components in the form of specks and gels is minimised and the subsequent optimal dispersion of the material is guaranteed,” explained Dr Reinhard Uphus, Head of Development for Rubber & TPE Technology.

A new Telcar (R) thermoplastic olefin (TPO) compound for flexible cord insulation has received an Underwriters Laboratories component recognition for wet-location uses, as has an established, harder grade of the same TPO, it was announced by the Thermoplastic Elastomer Division of Teknor Apex today at Wire Expo 2002 (Booth 528).

“These rubber-like compounds cost less per pound than styrenic, urethane, and polyester thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs),” said market manager Phil Scadding, “and because of their low specific gravity they are even cost-competitive with vinyl TPEs on a pound-volume basis. In addition, Telcar compounds exhibit low-temperature and heat-aged performance as good as or better than that of vinyl-based TPEs.”

The two TPO compounds are Telcar 3050 (with 75 Shore C Durometer rating) and the new, softer grade Telcar 3050-88 (88 Shore A). Tested in water for seven days at 65 deg. C, the 3050 grade retained 99% of original tensile strength and 103% of original elongation, with weight change and volume swell of +0.38% and +0.34%, respectively. The same grade exhibited a -60 deg. C brittle point (ASTM D-746).

READER INQUIRY INFORMATION: Address all mail inquiries to Teknor Apex, 505 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02861 U.S.A. Tel:1-401-725-8000. Tel. from U.S. only: 1-800-556-3864. Fax: 1-401-728-5680. E-mail: [email protected]

Paints and bonding compounds adhere poorly to polyolefins because of their intrinsic non-polar chemical structure and as a result these materials require pre-treatment before bonding or finishing to improve their adhesive properties. The most advanced and successful methods of surface treatment are based on a principle of high voltage discharge in air. The Electrical Surface Treatment (EST) process — also known as corona treatment — can be created by two different technologies: Low Frequency (50 to 2,000 Hz) using fixed high voltage for partial treatment at low speed; High Frequency (20,000 to 30,000 Hz) using high voltage from 10 to 56Kv for uniform treatment of large and/or moderately shaped products at high speed. Both technologies can be applied on- or off-line. Tantec’s vacuum or plasma treatment equipment utilises the high frequency EST in a custom-built low-pressure chamber for batch treatment of products with a typical cycle time of 45 - 75 seconds. The result of EST can be measured by either contact angle (Þ) or surface energy (mN/m2) using a contact angle metre or calibrated dyne solutions respectively. Tantec A/S in Denmark offers a complete line of tailor-made equipment for surface treatment of all kinds of shaped products, cables, webs and pipes, etc.

A new line of platinum-cured silicone rubber compounds offering improved mechanical performance and more accurate cure rates than peroxide-cured rubber is available from Dow Corning.
Silastic brand Rapid Cure silicone compounds are ready-to-use High-Consistency Rubber (HCR) products offering 33% enhanced elongation and 60% greater tear resistance in extrusion applications, nice, non-sticky surfaces when cured, improved accuracy in cure rates, and a shelf life similar to that of typical peroxide cured materials. These silicone rubber products are particularly suited for extrusion applications since they eliminate pre-mixing steps associated with alternative two-part platinum cured materials.
The improved performance of Silastic brand Rapid Cure compounds is due to a new platinum-complex curing system, which acts as a catalyst that cures the compounds quickly even at room temperature. It features proprietary stechiometric addition-curing technology designed to ensure an accurate, consistent cure speed, an inhibitor that makes the compounds stable and manageable at room temperature, and an active ingredient to initiate very fast cross-linking. The platinum catalyst reduces bubbles in deep-section profiles and eliminates blooming on non post-cured products, which cuts out a secondary manufacturing step to bake off any un-reacted peroxide on the surface of the finished product. www.dowcorning.com/rubber.

The time is now ripe for Darlet Marchante Technologie, France, to consolidate its leadership position and put its development on a permanent footing. This is how CEO Jean-Pierre Darlet explains the “capital expansion” process which is scheduled for completion in 2003 and will take the form of either an IPO or, more probably, the arrival of a financial partner or industrialist already active upstream or downstream in the sector. The two company founders, Jean-Pierre Darlet and Innocente Moreno Marchante, hold the majority of the DMT´s capital, and the company is France´s sole producer of turnkey production lines for biaxially oriented plastic film (enhanced strength and transparency). The company, which exports 98% of its production, needs to find a new basis for managing its global leadership. There is even a certain degree of urgency involved, since DMT, with 55% of the global market and ranking ahead of the German Bruckner company (30 to 35%) and a division of Mitsubishi, has the capacity to double its production on this market which has seen annual growth of 10% for more than 20 years. Jean-Pierre Darlet does not consider a sales target of EUR 80m to 82m to be unrealistic. The company reported sales of EUR 50m last year, with net profits running at EUR 2m, and currently has orders worth EUR 120m on its books, including an ExxonMobil contract worth USD 20m. Sales are expected to reach EUR 60m in 2002. DMT´s growth, at around 25% per year, stems primarily from its innovative capacity (the company has taken out a dozen or so patents). The plastic film produced on DMT machines is widely used for food packaging and is experiencing strong development in the emerging nations and China. Turkey and Iraq have just introduced legislation for the compulsory packaging of food. DMT has branches in Washington, Canton and in Korea and is also opening an office in Brazil.

Rapra Technology, one of Europe’s leading independent polymer specialists, is inviting organisations in the medical, automotive, food processing and general manufacturing industries to join a project to predict kinking in plastic tubes. Launching the project Mark Gaddes of Rapra commented, “Current design guidelines are restricted to a small number of materials and are typically simple ‘rules of thumb’. We are going to conduct an empirical study and deliver simple guidelines for the specification of plastic tubing to avoid kinking.” David Ingles, Sales Manager at Rapra Technology said, “The project will be of interest to any organisation involved in the design, use or manufacture of plastic tubes. Amongst others, the Medical sector will benefit from this work where some tubing applications are safety critical.” The scope of the project will reflect the interests of the participants and will be discussed at a Meeting at Rapra’s headquarters on Tuesday 18th June 2002.

Dr. Robert S Brookman, internationally renowned for his achievements in the vinyl industry, has received the Vinyl Institute’s Roy T. Gottesman Leadership Award for outstanding service. In a 43-year career spent entirely in the field of vinyl, Dr. Brookman has been a corporate president, chief executive of resin and compound production, director of business development, initiator of international ventures, polymer scientist, and activist for the advancement of vinyl.

Finish Biaxis, a joint venture between Nichimen Europe plc, UK, and the Wihuri group, Finland, has announced plans for a capacity expansion for co-extruded biaxially oriented polyamide (BOPA) films at its Lahti site in Finland. With the expansion, to be in place by Q2 2003, Biaxis, will be able to produce 7,000 t/y of the films. The new capacity will be used in part of high value-added products such as high oxygen barrier films. The expansion makes Biaxis one of the leading suppliers for BOPA films in Europe.