Injection Molded PFA in the Lithium Ion Battery

December 17, 2021  |  , , , ,

The Lithium Ion Battery industry has begun using more and more plastic parts in their manufacturing processes. Most batteries intended for light vehicle usage now have 50% more plastic materials than they did even 10 years ago.  Some batteries have entirely plastic formulations ranging from the electrolyte (polymeric electrolytes) to the casing.  This is due to the very low weight of plastics as compared to metals. Plastic incorporation in batteries increases the electrolyte efficiency if used in polymeric electrolytes.

Commercially available lithium-ion batteries also use plastics. Plastic components incorporated in batteries include separators, gaskets, and casing components. Plastics have good shock absorbing characteristics and prevent damage to the basic cell unit from minor accidental shocks. Also, plastics such as Teflon® PFA, Ultem® PEI, and PPSU have high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and are electrical insulators so they are excellent at preventing short-circuit and “rapid disassembly.”

There has been a major shift from metal to resins in gasket manufacturing. Gaskets can be made from Ultem®, Ryton PPS and Fluoropolymers (PFA plastic) because of high heat resistance, chemical resistance, and ability to mold thin walls (.012”). Plastic parts may also lower the cost of production of batteries and may eventually replace most metallic components of batteries.

Performance Plastics is highly skilled at designing and molding high performance materials such as FEP/PFA, Ultem®, Torlon®, PEEK, POM, and PPS.  We work with our customers to solve technically challenging problems.   We can propose materials to implement part functionality in the design stage of development. We offer manufacturing solutions such as a clean room, the ability to offer direct gating of fluoropolymers, high volume production, visual inspection and automated facilities.

For more information and solutions, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at 513-321-8404 or email [email protected]

 

 

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Torlon (PAI) Polyamideimide for Medical Applications

December 7, 2021  |  , ,

Torlon (PAI) Polyamideimide is one of the highest performing, melt-processable thermoplastics.  Its compressive strength is double that of PEEK when unfiled, and about 40% higher than ULTEM PEI.  Torlon is frequently used in medical applications due to its high strength and resistance to deformation.  It’s wear resistance adds up to long product life for peristaltic pump rollers and bushings for prosthetics.

Parts manufactured from Torlon plastic will exhibit high levels of tensile and compression strength that ensure good mechanical capability. Additionally, Torlon material provides elevated levels of toughness and rigidity.

In its medical grades, Torlon (PAI) offer high modulus, radiolucency, sterilization-compatibility and high wear resistance, making it ideal for components. PAI’s extremely low coefficient of linear thermal expansion and high creep resistance deliver excellent dimensional stability over its entire service range.

At Performance Plastics, we are experts in injection molding, specializing in high performance plastics.  Torlon® is a reactive polymer, which can cause complications during the injection molding process. A specific set of conditions, equipment, and processing procedures must be followed to effectively injection mold Torlon®. Our proprietary tool design software, processes and equipment enable us to injection mold components having complex geometries made from challenging ultra, high-performance thermoplastic materials, and reinforced compounds.

We utilize a unique combination of extensive material knowledge, mold flow analysis, a design system and process expertise to eliminate or minimize the need for secondary operations. Our expertise in process control allows us to effectively injection mold Torlon® in parts with extremely tight tolerances. This gives us the ability to provide an injection molded part made from the highest strength and stiffness of any commercial thermoplastic.

Torlon® is one of the many high performance polymers Performance Plastics specializes.  For more information on Performance Plastic’s capabilities, please contact Rich Reed, our Vice President of Sales and Marketing at 513.321.8404 or email at [email protected].

 

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EnduroSharp® Products now available 24/7 on our Ecommerce Website

December 2, 2021  |  , ,

Performance Plastics – Problem Solved – has updated our EnduroSharp® website with a 24/7 ecommerce portal that makes finding and ordering your EnduroSharp® products even easier.

Performance Plastics is a leader in high performance plastics engineering.  Our customers include many of the industry’s leading companies in aerospace, medical and industrial applications.   We execute mission critical projects where failure is not an option.

“We’re in the age of eCommerce,” said Chris Lawson, COO of Performance Plastics.  “Many B2B companies have accelerated their digital strategy following the onset of the pandemic.  COVID 19 has fundamentally altered purchasing behaviors and our buyer’s needs and timelines.  We want to provide options that exceed their expectations”.

Our goal with this imitative was to ensure our customers’ experience on our site rivals the best eCommerce sites today.  We believe we have achieved that goal.  Our mission at Performance Plastics is to bring innovation and value to your business.  Our eCommerce platform is going to deliver both these propositions to our customers.

Our updated website is built on a flexible platform that allows you to find what you need quickly. You can search your items by product name or number, read descriptions and view videos of your products in action before your buy.

And now through January 31, 2021, all ecommerce customers will be entered into our drawing for a $100 Amazon gift card.

 

For more information on EnduroSharp® please visit our website at www.performanceplastics.com/endurosharp.

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Why Use Torlon®/ PAI for your Applications

November 17, 2021  |  , , ,
Torlon Performance Plastic component

Custom Torlon Performance Plastic Component

Torlon® is a high performance amorphous (non-crystalline) engineering thermoplastic that possesses exceptional physical and chemical qualities.   It is recognized as the highest performing thermoplastic that is still melt processible. Torlon®/PAI is a Polyamide-imide, which are either thermosetting or thermoplastic, amorphous polymers that have exceptional mechanical, thermal, and chemical resistant properties.

Torlon’s® exceptional properties are the result of being transformed from a thermoplastic to a cross-linked thermoset during a curing process. Torlon® is available in glass reinforced and carbon fiber reinforced grades which offer even greater stiffness and enhanced thermal expansion properties. The wear grades offer unmatched performance over a wide range of temperature and PV conditions.

Torlon® can be extruded into shapes and injection molded into intricate custom geometries. It performs well under severe conditions and at continuous temperatures as high as 500° F.  Torlon® possesses remarkable resistance to wear, creep and chemicals, including acids and most organics, which make it ideal for severe environments. Torlon® also has superior electrical and structural strength at high temperatures, excellent radiation resistance, an extremely low coefficient of linear thermal expansion, and exceptional dimensional stability.

Torlon® is the superior choice when applications require extreme high or low temperatures, such as bearings and seals.  PAI polymers offer superior compressive strength and high hardness characteristics that are critical in many applications that demand a high level of wear performance.

Torlon®/PAI polyamide-imides also offer superior toughness or impact strength.  PAI has a high heat deflection temperature and retains higher strength and stiffness at elevated temperatures. With PAI having superior stiffness and a lower coefficient of thermal expansion, this means that PAI has the advantage of better dimensional stability at elevated temperatures. However, PAI does absorb moisture, therefore, this also needs to be considered relative to the potential limitations a lack of humidity control could present with regard to dimensional stability.  PAI has higher tensile and compressive strength in the unreinforced extruded grade which has advantages in some applications.

For more information on Torlon® or other Performance Plastics products, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at [email protected] or call 440-785-7122.

 

An assortment of Torlon Parts

An assortment of Torlon Parts

 

An EnduroSharp(R) Scraper Blade & Holder Kit with Torlon(R) Blades

 

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Product Spotlight – EnduroSharp® Torlon® Gap Filler Removal Discs (GFRD)

November 11, 2021  |  , , ,

EnduroSharp® has changed the way aerospace maintenance professionals remove sealants and adhesives from substrates and fasteners. EnduroSharp® tools are made from Torlon®, a high strength polymer, creating a non-metallic tool that will not damage composite structures during use. The EnduroSharp® lineup consists of a variety of scraper blades, gap blades, reamers, cutters, bits, and discs for removal of adhesives on aircrafts. The product line also includes a variety of kits containing a selection of parts and sizes.

Traditionally, aerospace maintenance professionals removed sealants and adhesives from  gaps utilizing solvents and/or abrasive scraper tools.  Solvents are very dangerous in that they may dissolve unintended materials, and produce hazardous fumes.  Abrasive scraper tools are often hard to control and may cause unintended substrate damage.

EnduroSharp® Torlon® Gap Filler Removal (GFRD) Discs are designed for use with a pneumatic tool. The tools provide aerospace maintenance professionals with an effective method of safely removing flexibilized epoxy gap materials as well as cutting or scoring thick elastomeric coatings without damaging composite substructures.

EnduroSharp® Torlon® Gap Filler Removal (GFRD) Discs are shipped 4 parts per box.

The EnduroSharp® Torlon® Gap Filler Removal Discs are just one of the many different items offered in the EnduroSharp® product line. Contact Rich Reed our Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at (513) 321-8404 or [email protected],  for more information on our EnduroSharp® kits and products.

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What is a High Performance Plastic?

November 4, 2021  |  , , ,
Ultem PEI Polyethermide thermoplastic component

Ultem PEI Polyetherimide thermoplastic component

High performance plastics are plastics that meet higher requirements than standard or engineering plastics. Generally, they are used in smaller amounts for critical applications such as aerospace, defense, medical or industrial applications. They represent about 1% of the plastics manufactured worldwide. High performance plastics differ from standard plastics primarily by their higher thermal stability, outstanding chemical resistance, and superior product quality.

There are many names for the term high-performance plastics, such as: high temperature plastics, high performance polymers, high performance thermoplastics or high tech plastics. The term “polymers” is often used instead of “plastics” when referring to a high performance plastic. Performance plastics are often achieved by the addition of stabilizers and reinforcing materials such as glass and carbon fibers to increase the degree of polymerization.

When it comes to thermal stability, high performance plastics generally have an operating temperature over 300ºF. One material, PEEK, can hold a continuous operating temperature of 500ºF, while another called Celazole® PBI has a continuous service capability of 750ºF. High performance plastics won’t deform or degrade in high temperature applications and maintain their superior mechanical properties.

High performance plastics also offer outstanding chemical resistance. PPS, FEP/PFA and PAI are resistant to a broad range of chemicals while Teflon® (PTFE) is almost entirely chemically inert and highly insoluble in most solvents or chemicals.
High performance plastics offer superior product quality in terms of machinability, durability, reusability, and recyclable qualities. They are used in a wide range of multi-use applications and durable applications and are frequently used to replace other materials such as metal, wood, and glass. Nearly all high performance plastics are recyclable.

The superior product quality of high-performance plastics (specifically their high heat resistance and strength/stiffness) can make them difficult to process, often requiring specialized machinery and talent. This, combined with their higher material cost, generally restrict their use to specialized applications. However, their capabilities and outstanding performance make high-performance plastic parts well worth the cost. For more information on high performance plastics or other Performance Plastics services, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at [email protected] or call 440-785-7122.

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Achieve Better Bonding using the Nutplate Abrasive Tool (NAT)

October 20, 2021  |  , , ,

 

Nutplates are commonly used on aircraft to allow installation and removal of components and panels for maintenance and repair. The use of bonded nutplates over riveted ones reduces manufacturing complexity and leads to weight savings.

Preparation of these bond surfaces is often accomplished through a manual abrasion process or by using chemical solvent wipes. These methods are difficult to control and can lead to variation in the performance of bonded nutplates. Successful installation of bonded nutplates requires the generation of a highly clean and active bonding surface.

That’s why Performance Plastics in conjunction with the University of Dayton Research Institute developed the EnduroSharp® Nutplate Abrasion Tool “NAT”.   The NAT consists of six components: 1 each upper handle (top), 1 each lower handle (base) and 4 each nutplate base inserts.

An alternative to traditional abrasion methods, the “NAT” was specifically designed to allow maintainers to quickly abrade the bond surface of CR series nutplates. The tools radially abrade the bond surface of the nutplate, ensuring that 100% of the bond surface is abraded uniformly in a manner of minutes.

This new technology eliminates interfacial bond failures while increasing pushoff strength and torque-out strength when compared with manual abrasion. Furthermore, the device has been shown to reduce preparation time, decrease variability and lower the instances of nutplate failures both in manufacturing and in the aircraft service environment.

The NAT is available with or without a convenient carrying case. For more information on the Nutplate Abrasive Tool or any other Performance Plastics product, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Performance Plastics at [email protected] or call 440-785-7122.

 

Operation of the Nutplate Abrasion Tool

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What is Torlon? – Performance Plastics

October 13, 2021  |  , , , ,

Performance Plastics’ Senior Design Engineer, Brian Black, walks through the key points of injection molding Torlon®.

Torlon

PAI (Polyamidimide) Torlon®

Torlon® is a high strength, high performance, melt processable plastic material. It’s ability to perform under severe stress combined with its resistance to elevated temperatures makes it ideal for various applications across many industries

Solvay Torlon® features superior creep resistance and mechanical strength over a wide range of temperatures and a very low coefficient of linear thermal expansion. It is an amorphous material with a glass transition temperature of 537°F.  Torlon’s resistance to chemicals, high-energy radiation, hydrolysis, and UV combined with its ability to maintain physical properties under extreme temperatures make Torlon® ideal for applications exposed to severe environments.

Torlon® is optimal for parts that need to perform under conditions generally considered too severe for thermoplastics. Typical applications include aircraft hardware and fasteners, automotive transmission and powertrain components, and oil & gas exploration and recovery equipment. The material’s excellent electrical insulating properties have made it a common choice for semiconductor fabrication and testing as well as electrical and electronic components.

Typical Applications Include:

  • Semi-conductor machinery parts
  • Aerospace components
  • Pump and Valve parts
  • Compressor Components
  • High Temperature Insulators

At Performance Plastics, we are experts in injection molding, specializing in high performance plastics.  Torlon® is a reactive polymer, which can cause complications during the injection molding process. A specific set of conditions, equipment, and processing procedures must be followed to effectively injection mold Torlon®. Our proprietary tool design software, processes and equipment enables us to injection mold components having complex geometries made from challenging ultra, high-performance thermoplastic materials, and reinforced compounds.

We utilize a unique combination of extensive material knowledge, mold flow analysis, a design system and process expertise to eliminate or minimize the need for secondary operations. Our expertise in process control allows us to effectively injection mold Torlon® in parts with extremely tight tolerances. This gives us the ability to provide an injection molded part made from the highest strength and stiffness of any commercial thermoplastic.

Torlon® is one of the many high performance polymers Performance Plastics manufacturers.  For more information on Performance Plastic’s capabilities, please contact Rich Reed, our Vice President of Sales and Marketing at 513.321.8404 or email at [email protected].

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EnduroSharp® Kits Make Preventive Maintenance Quick & Efficient

October 7, 2021  |  

Adhering to a preventive maintenance plan is the number one recommendation of most experts. The current business atmosphere has idled many military, commercial and business aviation programs.  Travel restrictions have caused a huge decline in flying, with many planes put in extended storage. However, best practices dictate that preventive maintenance should not be postponed, even during a pandemic.

In general, the experts recommend keeping aircraft ready to fly in case needs arise such as increased demand, humanitarian flights or other needs They emphasized the importance of storing the aircraft properly, out of the elements in proper working condition.

Experts urge maintainers to review OEM guidance on flight-ready and long-term storage, saying that just walking away from the aircraft probably does not comply with manufacturers’ maintenance instructions.

When storing an aircraft, experts suggest the following preventive maintenance::

  • Use pitot tubes and engine covers, as appropriate, to keep insects, birds and rodents out of those orifices
  • Remove and replace adhesives and sealants regularly to prevent leakage.
  • Exercise the aircraft regularly by conducting a preflight check and normal start-up procedures
  • Allow the aircraft to run long enough to check all systems, update databases, etc.

Performance Plastics, in partnership with various suppliers, has developed a suite of tools packaged in convenient cases for aircraft maintainers to assist in the quick and efficient removal of adhesives/sealants on aircraft structures.

The EnduroSharp® line of non-marring maintenance tools are ideal for use in regular preventive maintenance.  Our ABNIR and ABNIR Fly Away Kits are designed for routine maintenance and are recommended by OEMs for their ability to complete the task without harming the substrates.

The entire line of EnduroSharp® maintenance tools are competitively priced and are designed to be economical and reusable.  From scraper blades, reamers, and gap blades, EnduroSharp® tools offer a proven solution.

For more information on the EnduroSharp® line of non-marring maintenance tools, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at [email protected].

 

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Performance Plastics is pleased to announce the promotion of Taylor LaValley to Production Control Manager.  

September 29, 2021  |  , ,

Performance Plastics is pleased to announce the promotion of Taylor LaValley to Production Control Manager.   Taylor has been with Performance Plastics for over 3 years, most recently as a Tooling Engineer, and will have responsibility overseeing the production schedule of our plant.

“Taylor has been with Performance Plastics through our recent growth and has brought a fresh perspective to our operations,” said Chris Lawson, Chief Operating Officer.  “Shifting Taylor to this new role is a statement of our commitment to expand our capabilities, increase team efficiency provide and improve overall lead times.   We are excited that Taylor has accepted the challenge of a new role.”

Taylor LaValley is a native of southeastern Ohio and attended Shawnee State University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Polymer/Plastics Engineering.  He brings to Performance Plastics previous experience as a plant manager for a packaging company in Texas.  He has acquired experience by working with many departments within our organization as a tooling engineer and possesses valuable knowledge of the workings of our proprietary processes.

Taylor stated, “I am excited for the new challenge of working with our staff to reduce lead time and increase overall customer satisfaction” stated La Valley.  “I plan to work with all the members of our team to explore and implement new process improvement strategies and technologies”.

Performance Plastics, located in Cincinnati, OH  is a custom injection molder of high performance, tight tolerance thermoplastic components for markets where failure is not an option, including Medical, Energy, Aerospace/Defense, and Industrial.

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