Drake Plastics proprietary melt process yields Seal Segments™ with superior physical properties over compression molded materials. The two-piece split segment construction improves performance and reduces cost. Seal Segments™ by Drake Plastics are available in all Torlon and PEEK Grades.   Cypress, Texas, February 2016—Drake Plastics’ Product & Process Development team recently developed a process to produce Seal Segments™ for finish machining into split or segmented seals, bearings, labyrinth seals and thrust washers. Seal Segments™ can be made from 12” (300 mm) minimum up to 200” (5,000 mm) maximum diameter. Seal Segments™ enabled Torlon 4301 to be used in a dynamic ...

Drake Plastics is pleased to offer AvaSpire® PAEK machinable shapes and injection molded parts. AvaSpire is complementary to Drake’s Torlon and PEEK materials, solving performance gaps in addition to offering improved aesthetics and economics. CYPRESS,TX January 2016—Drake Plastics is pleased to announce the addition of Solvay’s AvaSpire® PEAK, a hybrid PEEK product to the array of high-performance machinable shapes and injection molded products offered by Drake. “AvaSpire is complementary to our Torlon and PEEK based materials and bridging the performance gap between PEEK and Torlon,” says Commercial Director, Mike Oliveto. AvaSpire, the newest addition to Solvay’s portfolio of Ultra Polymers ...

An electrical component used on the F-22 fighter required a heavier cross-section than had previously been produced in Torlon 5030. Drake designed and built tooling, developed the process, and delivered this new size within six weeks.  

Precision machined Torlon poppets, seats and spools operate at 5000 psi (34 Mpa) and extend service life. Increased operating pressures enable significant system cost savings and weight reduction.  

Drake’s Seamless Tube® capability has been used to solve dimensional stability and service life problems in the printing of two-piece aluminum cans. Drake is working in close cooperation with North America’s leading fabricator of can mandrels, Blair Machine and Tool Co.  

Drake’s unique ability to produce Seamless Torlon Tube® has enabled many new applications to be served with Torlon. Further refinements in our process are underway to produce on final size as well as thin wall sections.  

Drake Plastics has recently developed a process to extrude Torlon to a .050″ (1.27 mm) size. The initial applications include precision all and journal bearings.  

Torlon 4435 offers unmatched wear performance at high PV’s without external lubrication (see figure). In addition to its groundbreaking wear performance, Torlon 4435 offers excellent mechanical properties, including high strength and heat resistance.  

Drake Plastics developments like this 130 mm Torlon Seamless Tube® is enabling technology for future aircraft generators, where more output is required from smaller, lighter weight units.  

The Ferrari race team Risi Competizione has upgraded to Torlon 4435 suspension bushings supplied by Drake Plastics. Each car has 8 upper and 8 lower bushings. Factory bushing material wears out and has to be changed between every race. The Risi Team engineers were seeking a solution before running the Daytona 24 Hours, where the car becomes very sloppy due to worn bushings during the race. Torlon 4435 was proven at the very rough track at Sebring with excellent results. Richard Taylor of the Risi Team said “The Torlon 4435 bushings have shown no wear throughout the season. It looks ...