What Factors Affect Bearing and Wear Resistance of High-Performance Plastic Components?
Semi-crystalline high-performance plastics such as PEEK and PPS as well as imidized amorphous polymers like Torlon polyamide-imide afford inherently good resistance to wear against mating surfaces under dynamic load. In addition, additives have been developed that enhance the load bearing and wear resistance of these and several other advanced polymers, such as Ultem polyether-imide. As a result, these plastics have replaced metals in many applications and provide the benefits of far longer service life, lower maintenance cost for repair and replacement, and greater productivity with fewer maintenance shutdowns. Practical and widely used test methods give engineers a good basis for ...
Read More →
Drake Plastics Advances Torlon PAI Heavy-Wall Injection Molding Technology
Cypress, Texas — Drake Plastics, a Solvay Certified Torlon® PAI Injection Molder, has developed technology for molding consistently porosity-free parts in the high-performance polymer at up to three times the wall-thickness of the historical maximum. The company routinely produces defect-free parts up to 50 mm (2”) thick, far exceeding even Solvay’s design and molding guidelines for maximum wall thickness of 15.9mm (5/8”) for the polymer. According to Steven Quance, DRAKE’s President, “The technical leap that makes Torlon PAI available in a far wider range of injection molded configurations was made possible by our team’s development of a unique process control ...
Read More →
What Are the Key Tribological Properties of Bearing and Wear Plastics, and How Are They Tested?
Tribological properties indicate how plastics perform when in contact with mating materials under dynamic conditions. They refer to the frictional and abrasive wear characteristics of a material. However, the properties are not always provided on resin suppliers’ data sheets, and must be obtained by testing under conditions specific to the application. Why are Tribological Properties Not Always Listed on Resin Data Sheets? It can be difficult to find tribological data, especially for high-performance plastics. Major resin producers typically do not provide data sheet values for bearing and wear properties other than coefficient of friction. The possible combinations of variables that ...
Read More →
Norsok Testing Confirms PEEK XT’s Capabilities at Elevated Temperatures
Solvay’s KetaSpire PEEK polymer family of products serves an array of automotive, aerospace, oil and gas, and manufacturing applications. The development of its high-temperature PEEK XT grades for injection molding and for extrusion into machinable shapes extends the polymer’s application range to higher operating temperature levels beyond the capabilities of traditional PEEK resins. PEEK XT has been purpose-developed for extremely high temperature and pressure environments like those found in offshore oil and gas applications. Previously, oil and gas fleets had difficulty sourcing a material that could withstand high temperatures and chemical attack simultaneously, and could be converted efficiently by melt-processing ...
Read More →
Drake Plastics Announces New Director of Business Development For Europe
Cypress TX – Drake Plastics is excited to announce that Axel Tilch is the new Director of Business Development in Europe. “Drake Plastics has experienced substantial growth in European markets,” said Steve Quance, President of Drake Plastics. “The addition of Axel helps us better serve our European partners,” Quance added. Tilch brings with him a long history of working within the polymer industry in Europe, giving him greater understanding of the marketplace and how best to meet our client’s needs in the unique market that is Europe. Tilch, a plastics engineer, also has a rich background in the ISO certification process, ...
Read More →
Drake Plastics LTD Co. Victrex CT™ 200
HOUSTON, TX – Drake Plastics LTD Co. is pleased to announce they currently have available inventory of Victrex CT™ 200 with short lead-times. “As companies grapple with global supply chain issues that are hindering both productivity and output, we are excited to offer Victrex CT™ 200 as a local, made in the U.S.A. polymer solution that is ready for immediate use,” said Steven Quance, President of Drake Plastics LTD Co. With the global supply chain still experiencing significant delays, materials like PCTFE or KEL-F are out of stock. Despite this challenge, demand for the material has not waned. In response ...
Read More →
Victrex CT™ 200 Is A Superior Alternative To PCTFE
Demand for cryogenic capable polymers is at an all-time high, from the oil and gas industry, medical devices and cryogenic valve seals for space flight. For years, the frontline material choice for these industry applications was PCTFE, often referred to by its former trade name Kel-F. Victrex CT™ 200 is comparable to PCTFE as a high performance alternative, designed for a variety of industries. Victrex CT™ 200 is the most promising among the alternatives and has only been commercially available since 2018. New to the market, Victrex CT™ 200 may not be on the radar for many oil and gas, ...
Read More →
DRAKE PLASTICS LTD. CO. GAINS AEROSPACE INDUSTRY AS9100D(2016) QUALITY SYSTEM CERTIFICATION
May 5, 2021, Cypress, TX – Drake Plastics Ltd. Co. has been awarded certification as a manufacturer of extruded shapes and precision parts under AS9100D(2016) Certification, an international quality management system that includes the ISO 9001:2015 standard and additional requirements for the aerospace industry. The achievement puts Drake Plastics in esteemed company. Of the million plus organizations worldwide that are ISO 9001 certified, less than 2% hold AS9100D certifications. “Our compliance enables us to meet the rigorous demands of aviation, space and defense clients worldwide,” states Drake Plastics President, Steven Quance. “It also elevates our quality systems and procedures to ...
Read More →
Drake Plastics Ltd. Co. Adds Precision Waterjet Cutting
Drake Plastics Ltd. Co., the global leader in ultra-performance polymer stock shape extrusion, is once again expanding its capabilities. To better serve machine shop and distribution customers, Drake has added precision waterjet cutting of blanks and 2D parts.
Read More →
What Is A Polyamide-imide?
Polyamide-imides (PAI) are high performance polymers that combine excellent high temperature strength with low temperature toughness and impact strength while offering exceptional chemical resistance as an amorphous polymer to a wide range of common chemicals. They are closely related to two other high temperature aromatic imide polymers, polyetherimides (PEI) and polyimides (PI). The most recognized polyamide-imide polymer is Torlon, which was introduced in the 1970s by Amoco as an extension of a low molecular polymer offered to enhance the adhesion of fluoropolymer in cookware such as Silverstone® and as wire coatings.
Read More →
