Ultem® Use in Aerospace Applications

June 1, 2022  |  , , ,

Ultem PEI Polyetherimide thermoplastic component

Ultem Polyetherimide is a material widely used in the aerospace industry.  It is often applied to aircraft components for weight reduction in place of metal parts.  Additionally, since it has a high thermal resistance rating, polymer components have the benefit of evading radar detection in military aircraft.

ULTEM is among the few resins approved for use in the aerospace sector. It outperforms comparable thermoplastics when it comes to resisting creep and does not degrade under repeated mechanical stress. It also holds up well when brought into contact with various fuels, coolants, and lubricants. Its flame-resistance ensures that it meets FAA regulations for flammability.

ULTEM has one of the highest dielectric strengths of any thermoplastic material. It works very efficiently as an electrical insulator. ULTEM also has one of the lowest rates of thermal conductivity, allowing parts machined from ULTEM to act as thermal insulators. ULTEM offers excellent long-term heat resistance with its mechanical and physical properties remaining stable at elevated temperatures.  It is also flame resistant with extremely low smoke generation. ULTEM is FDA and NSF approved for both food and medical contact resistance act and therefore is an excellent choice for aircraft galley equipment such as ovens, microwaves and hot or cold beverage dispensing systems.

Ultem is now widely used in:

  • Personal Service Units
  • Oxygen Panels
  • Ventilation Systems
  • Connectors
  • Cable Ducts
  • Latches
  • Hinges
  • Food Tray Containers
  • Door Handles
  • Interior Cladding Parts

Ultem offers exceptional balance of flame retardancy, low smoke emission and low smoke toxicity making it an excellent candidate for aerospace and aircraft applications.

At Performance Plastics, we are experts in injection molding, specializing in high performance plastics. Ultem® is an amorphous material, 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 Ultem®. 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.

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

 

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Performance Plastics is pleased to announce the promotion of Lear Jackson to Quality Manager
May 24, 2022  |  ,

Performance Plastics is pleased to announce the promotion of Lear Jackson to Quality Manager

 CINCINNATI, OH, May 23, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ — Performance Plastics is pleased to announce the promotion of Lear Jackson to Quality Manager. Lear has been with Performance Plastics for over 8 years, most recently as a Quality System Coordinator, and will have responsibility overseeing the quality operations of our plant.

“Lear 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 Lear to this new role is a statement of our commitment to expand our capabilities, increase quality satisfaction and improve overall lead times. We are excited that Lear has accepted the challenge of a new role.”

Lear Jackson is a native of southwestern Ohio growing up in Hamilton and attending Hamilton High School. She is married and has one son, Jelani. She currently has CQIA, CQT and CIA designations, and plans to pursue additional credentials. She brings to this new role extensive knowledge of all our proprietary processes and the operations of our organization.

“I am excited for the new challenge of working with our staff to improve quality standards and increase overall customer satisfaction,” stated Jackson. “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, Aerospace/Defense, and Industrial.

Related Link:
https://performanceplastics.com

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Fluoropolymers Are A Great Choice For Parts That Must Perform In Unique Conditions

May 19, 2022  |  , , ,

When you need parts that can withstand extreme operating conditions, fluoropolymers may fit the bill. Parts like roofing membranes, fuel tubes, biomedical devices, and wires are all common applications of fluoropolymers.

FEP Fluoropolymer:

Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP resin) is a melt-processable fluoropolymer. FEP has low gas and permeability properties, can be extruded in long continuous lengths, and possesses excellent UV transmission rating. FEP is also suitable for use in a biomedical setting and is gamma sterilizable.

All of these attributes make FEP an ideal fluoropolymer for a diverse range of applications from environmental monitoring equipment to medical devices and electronics. Because it is a thermoplastic, FEP is also easily heat-formed, tipped, tapered, flared, and flanged.

PFA Fluoropolymer:

Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA resin) is a melt-processable fluoropolymer that combines many of the best traits of PTFE and FEP. At 500 °F (260 °C), PFA has a higher service temperature than FEP and maintains its mechanical integrity in extreme temperatures even when exposed to caustic chemicals. PFA has greater tensile strength than PTFE and a smoother surface finish than both PTFE and FEP.

PFA’s is a top choice in semiconductor, chemical, oil and gas, aerospace, automotive, pharmaceutical, and medical industries. This fluoropolymer has excellent lubricity, clarity, flexibility, and chemical resistance, making it a versatile choice.

FEP vs PFA Fluoropolymers

FEP and PFA are injection moldable, highly inert, compatible with most organic compounds, have good barrier properties and high continuous use temperatures. They are virtually impervious to chemical, enzyme and microbiological attack and stiffer than PTFE. The non-stick properties of these polymers can also be useful to reduce liquid, gel and powder adhesion. Fluoropolymers in general, have good dielectric properties and are resistant to atmospheric degradation.
While significantly less expensive than PFA, FEP is very difficult to mold due to its low viscosity. However, Performance Plastics has developed proprietary tooling and processes enabling the injection molding of small, thin-walled, complex FEP parts.

• More transparent than PTFE (not injection moldable)

• Better gas and vapor permeability properties than PTFE
• Maximum working temperature 400°F
• Approximately 1/3 the cost of PFA

PFA is significantly easier to mold than FEP, however, it is significantly more expensive.

• Higher continuous service temperature than FEP
• Maximum working temperature 500°F
• Difference in molecular structure gives PFA improved flow, creep resistance and thermal stability.

At Performance Plastics, we are experts in injection molding, specializing in high performance plastics. 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. For more information on Performance Plastic’s capabilities, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at 513.321.8404 or email at [email protected]

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Performance Plastics Key Capability –  Net Shape Thermoplastic Peek Seals

May 11, 2022  |  , , , , ,

 
Mating parts providing a fluid or gas seal are critical components in most mechanical systems. We commonly think of them in valves and connector assemblies, but they are also found in pressure vessels, compressors, pumps, motors, engines, transmissions, and almost all mechanical power trains. Seals, especially those that mate to moving parts, have a demanding set of quality requirements. Each application has its own specific needs, but all seals are characterized by tight dimensional tolerances and excellent surface finish.

Our customer wanted to improve the usable life and leakage profile of a valve without absorbing any increase in component cost.  The sealing surface specifications were tightened to 0.0005 inches (12.7 µ) which was key to accomplishing the performance improvements.

The previous supplier of this component was unable to meet the more stringent sealing surface dimensional tolerances “out of the mold” necessitating a finish machining operation to bring the part into tolerance.  However, machining the sealing surface removed the resin-rich surface of the part creating micro-cracks in the surface and exposing reinforcing fibers. Both of these unavoidable consequences of machining negatively impacted component performance, useful life and cost.

Solution

Performance Plastics knew eliminating the machining operation would improve strength, reduce trapped impurities, and lower manufacturing cost.  Our engineering team focused on producing a “true net shape” part directly out of the mold.   Key to accomplishing the customers goals involved leveraging our proprietary, iterative tool design process.  It required making a 3D CT scan of preliminary molded parts measuring, in this case, approximately 1 million critical part dimensions.  This analysis identified minute distortions.  Utilizing internally developed proprietary software, PPL integrated the CT scan data with CAD/CAM software to make exacting mold modifications eliminating the out of tolerance conditions.  This process contributed to producing a best in class “out-of-mold” conforming part.

The manufacturing process also had to be optimized to produce the desired performance results.  Although the material posed molding challenges, PPL decided to direct gate the part at the top to ensure symmetry of material flow throughout the cavity, critical in achieving roundness to the sealing surface.

The results of development program surprised everyone. Performance Plastics was able to achieve  “out of mold” net shape parts with a seal surface capable of meeting sealing ranges of 100 psi to 3,000 psi, with no porosity and consistently meeting dimensional tolerances of 0.0003 inches, or 7.62 µ. Eliminating the need for subsequent finish machining dropped the leakage rate for the valve by 50%, from 1.0 scfm to 0.5 scfm.

At Performance Plastics, we are experts in injection molding, specializing in high performance plastics.  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. For more information on Performance Plastic’s capabilities, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at 513.321.8404 or email at [email protected]

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Ultem® Use in Medical Applications

April 20, 2022  |  , , , ,

Ultem Polyetherimide is a material widely used in the medical industry.  It is a highly sought-after thermoplastic for its weight saving characteristics and for its use in reusable autoclave sterilization components.  Thermoplastic resins become more pliable at warmer temperatures which combined with strength characteristics, thinner walls and larger inner diameters make it a great option for medical tubing such as medical devices.

Thermoplastic polyurethanes dominate the catheter market and are used in some diagnostic and guiding designs. Extruded thermoplastic or thermoset materials are often used in cardiology or interventional radiology.   Polyamides and polyamide block copolymers dominate the percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty catheter market. They are the polymer of choice for balloon catheters and for stent delivery catheters.

 

Thermoplastic urethanes and polyether block amides are perhaps the most used thermoplastic elastomers in applications such as catheter tubing, balloons, wound dressings, surgical drapes, storage bags, strain reliefs and numerous other medical device applications.

Ultem is now widely used in:

  • Structural Medical Components
  • In Vitro Diagnostics
  • Medical Respiratory Devices
  • Infusion Pumps
  • Radiation Therapy Systems

Ultem has exceptional dimensional stability and machinability which makes it suitable for intricate medical devices. It can be molded with different materials like glass fibers, minerals, carbon fibers, etc. to enhance the mechanical strength of the products.

At Performance Plastics, we are experts in injection molding, specializing in high performance plastics. Ultem® is an amorphous material, 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 Ultem®. 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.

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

 

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Come See Our New EnduroSharp(R) ABNIR “Lil ABNIR” Essential Surface Prep Kit at MRO Americas 2022

April 13, 2022  |  ,

Performance Plastics – Booth 4940

MRO Americas – Dallas, TX – April 26th thru April 28th

EnduroSharp(R) 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 non-metallic tools that will not damage composite structures during use.

The new, ABNIR “Lil ABNIR” Essential Surface Prep Kit features a selection of commonly used tools with an improved design. Featuring a smaller, lighter case, it is easier to store and is an efficient tool kit for aircraft maintenance. The tools are ideal to remove adhesives, sealants and coatings from aircraft structures.

The patented EnduroSharp® lineup consists of a variety of scraper blades, gap blades, reamers, cutter, bits, and discs for removal of substances on aircraft, windmill blades, boat/marine and automotive.

Performance Plastics is a custom precision injection molder of high performance, tight tolerance thermoplastic components. We specialize in geometrically complex precision parts that consist of chemically inert materials. Our expertise led to the development of our patented EnduroSharp® line of Aircraft Maintenance Tools.

For more information on the Enhanced EnduroSharp® “Lil ABNIR” ABNIR Surface Prep Kit, or any of our EnduroSharp® product line, please contact Rich Reed at [email protected] or our website at www.performanceplastics.com.

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Why use Ultem® in your Applications

April 6, 2022  |  , ,
Ultem PEI Polyethermide thermoplastic component

Ultem PEI Polyetherimide thermoplastic component

Ultem Polyetherimide is a material widely used in the aerospace industry.  It is a material with high thermal resistance, high dielectric strength and excellent durability.  Since it has a high thermal resistance rating, components have the benefit of evading radar detection. It is often used in military aircraft components for weight reduction in place of metal parts.

High performance thermoplastic materials such as Ultem are in increasing demand in industrial manufacturing applications.  As a lightweight alternative to metal, it is increasingly being utilized in automotive, medical and semiconductor applications.

Ultem is now widely used in:

 

 

  • Medical instrument components
  • Medical devices
  • Manifolds
  • Electro-hydraulic control valves
  • Semiconductor components

Ultem has exceptional heat resistance, performing continuously to 340° F.  It is hydrolysis resistant, extremely resistant to acidic solutions, and can easily tolerate repeated sterilizations for reusable devices.  It is also used in semiconductor components because of its arc resistance, and is well suited for applications that require deposition, removal, patterning, and modification of electrical properties.

At Performance Plastics, we are experts in injection molding, specializing in high performance plastics. Ultem® is an amorphous material, 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 Ultem®. 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.

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

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The Tools That Should Be In Your Maintainer’s Toolboxes

March 30, 2022  |  , ,

Look in any aircraft maintainer’s toolbox and you’re sure to find a few items that aren’t offered in any aviation supply catalog. You’ll probably find a sharpened putty knife, scribe, or utility blade that the maintainer uses to remove gap materials, sealants and adhesives from aircraft substrates and fasteners.

While these items may offer a short-term solution, there are two basic problems with these items.  One, they simply don’t work very well and require a lot of muscle (and time) to use. The second is that the ones made of metal greatly increase the risk of damaging many aircraft substrates.

What aircraft mechanics need for these jobs are tools that are hard enough to hold an edge and that can be re-sharpened readily, but which won’t damage the underlying surface. That’s why Performance Plastics partnered with high-performance polymer supplier Solvay Specialty Polymers, the Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Systems Support Division (AFRL/RXS) and the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) to develop the EnduroSharp® line of aircraft maintenance tools.

EnduroSharp™ aircraft maintenance tools are expertly designed and molded from a high-performance polymer, Torlon® polyamide-imide (PAI) resin. These tools prevent the kind of damage to metallic and nonmetallic components or substrates that improvised metal tools can cause.

EnduroSharp tools are approved for use on USAF, USMC, USN and other foreign military aerospace systems. They are well suited for removing elastomeric coatings, boots, tapes, sealants, adhesives, gap fillers and tape residue from fiber-reinforced composite, plastic, glass, ceramic or metal substrates and fasteners. To remove material faster, the blades can also be used with heat- or chemical-assisted skiving processes, in which materials are carefully removed one thin layer at a time.

For more information and to see our EnduroSharp® tools in action, please visit the EnduroSharp section of our website or watch our demo EnduroSharp Demo on YouTube.

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Performance Plastics partners with Ohio Valley Goodwill

March 16, 2022  |  ,

Performance Plastics partners with Ohio Valley Goodwill

Performance Plastics designs and produces technically advanced, custom molded plastic components from Torlon® aircraft maintenance tools to PFA and FPA medical implants and prosthetics. While we cater to a worldwide audience, we feel it is important to participate in our local community.

Performance Plastics believes in giving people in our community opportunities and has employed disabled individuals and veterans from the Ohio Valley Goodwill for over 10 years.  They assist us in routine jobs, such as assembly and packing.

It has been our experience that the employees from Goodwill are among some of our most dependable.  They come to work every day with a positive attitude, and they really enjoy the work that they do for us.

Last year, Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries served almost 3000 individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment and placed 580 into competitive community jobs.  Typically, Goodwill serves more than 3000 people annually, and helps more than 1000 to get jobs in the community.   In 2020, Goodwill’s Veterans Services program served over 400 veterans

Ohio Valley Goodwill is a valuable community partner, and we are proud of our long partnership in helping individuals to attain employment and our commitment to being an inclusive employer in the Greater Cincinnati community. For more information on Performance Plastics and/or our partnership with Goodwill, please visit our website at www.performanceplastics.com.

 

 

 

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Performance Plastics Acquires A New Paint Booth

March 2, 2022  |  , ,

Performance Plastics – is pleased to announce the addition of a new piece of equipment – A Global Finishing Solutions Industrial Spray Paint Booth.

Global Finishing Solutions® (GFS) Paint Booths are high-quality, cost-effective solutions for industrial manufacturers that need to paint high quantities of finished parts. Pre-engineered models and standard options are fully ETL and ETL-C listed and meet or exceed industry safety standards.

The investment in this new piece of equipment expands our capacity to produce a higher volume of finished parts more quickly for our customers.  We partner with our customers to help them to exceed their customers’ expectations and delivery times.

The new, self-contained paint booth contains a number of features that help with efficiency and a better finished product.

  • Energy efficient LED lights for optimum brightness and precision.
  • Fan & Motors supply optimal airflow for a cleaner and better paint job,
  • Non-pressured electromechanical control panel to control exhaust, safety interlocks and lights to provide better finishes.

Performance Plastics specializes in the  injection molding thermoplastics of high performance resins featuring tight tolerances and thin-walled part geometries.

We work with our customers to design solutions utilizing the capabilities of thermoplastic resins including Peek, Torlon®, Ultem®, EXTEM®, PFA, FEP, PVDF and ETFE.  The industries we serve include aerospace/defense, medical and industrial applications. For more information, please visit our website at www.performanceplastics.com.

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