EnduroSharp® Surface Preparation Tools to achieve the best Adhesive Bond

August 3, 2023  |  ,

Torlon Sealant Removal Cutter

Using adhesives for connection technology has many benefits. It is cost-efficient, and fast, and allows homogeneous stress distribution between the bonded surfaces.

Adhesively bonded surfaces consist generally of two joined components and a layer of adhesive between them. The most important part of the bond is the adhesive itself, followed by the preparation process that precedes the application of the adhesive. The adhesive bonding process requires its own special process, which involves three main aspects: qualified methods/processes, trained operators, and dedicated tools.

The benefits of adhesive bonding include:

  • Expresses weight savings with the elimination of rivets or other stress concentrations
  • More evenly distributed stresses
  • Excellent fatigue resistance
  • Increased compliance with critical tolerances
  • Enables joining of dissimilar base materials.

Any professional who works with adhesives knows surface preparation is the most vital element of achieving high bond strength and optimizing durability and lifespan.  Different substrate materials require different types of preparation, but all must remove intermediate surfaces cleanly and thoroughly.

Patented EnduroSharp® Torlon® maintenance tools, exclusively from Performance Plastics, are the correct, dedicated tools for surface preparation.  They are non-metallic scraper tools that quickly and effectively remove silicone, sealants, adhesives, and coatings while keeping an effective edge and not damaging underlying materials.

 

Developed from Torlon® polyamide-imide, EnduroSharp tools hold a superior edge, are resharpenable, remove unwanted materials and protect expensive projects.

For more detailed information about the EnduroSharp® line of tools and how they can save you time and money in maintenance, please reach out to Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at [email protected] or visit our website at www.performanceplastics.com/endurosharp.

 

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Introducing the new EnduroSharp® TSR Cutter

July 12, 2023  |  ,

Introducing the EnduroSharp® TSR Cutter, specifically designed for larger aircraft maintenance applications. Made from resharpenable Torlon®, the SR Cutter is the newest addition to the EnduroSharp® line of tools.

EnduroSharp® TSR Cutters are specially engineered to handle challenging tasks such as the removal of sealants and adhesives from aircraft wing fuel tanks and around fasteners like rivets, hi-loks, and bolts. Unlike competitors’ tools made from simple plastic, the EnduroSharp® TSR Cutter is crafted from resharpenable Torlon® PAI, allowing for multiple uses and extended durability.

The EnduroSharp® TSR Cutter is a Torlon® rotary cutting tool that effectively eliminates sealants, adhesives, and coatings without causing abrasion to underlying substrates, paints, primers, or metal surfaces. It achieves a thorough cleaning without the need for chemical solvents, thereby reducing chemical waste and minimizing exposure risks.

For more detailed information about the EnduroSharp® Torlon® TSR Cutter and how EnduroSharp® tools can save you time and money in aircraft maintenance, please reach out to Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at [email protected] or visit our website at www.performanceplastics.com/endurosharp.

Equip yourself with the EnduroSharp® TSR Cutter and experience a cutting-edge solution for efficient and effective aircraft maintenance.

 

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Endurosharp® Torlon® Tools vs Traditional Metal Scrapers

June 15, 2023  |  , ,

Correctly and efficiently performing aircraft maintenance requires the correct tools.  Patented EnduroSharp® Torlon® aircraft maintenance tools, exclusively from Performance Plastics, are the correct tools.  They are non-metallic scraper tools that quickly and effectively remove silicone, sealants, adhesives, and coatings while keeping an effective edge and not damaging underlying materials.

At the time of development, many nonmetallic scrapers were available and approved for various material removal applications. But, the effectiveness of the existing tools varied, and the tools were generally inefficient & short-lived. Some even pose a great risk to the underlying structures.

Under contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials Integrity Branch (AFRL/RXSA), the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) developed the EnduroSharp® line of Torlon® material removal tools.

After sampling available tools on the market for material and design, the material Torlon® by Solvay was chosen, along with a spiral-fluted design for the GFR Bit. Torlon® is a polyamide-imide (PAI) resin that is a high-end niche material that proved to be ideal for the application.  Initially, three types of tools were developed:

  • Gap Filler Removal Bits (GFR Bit)
  • Torlon Scraper Blade (TSB)
  • Torlon Gap Blade (TGB)

All three tools were extensively tested and summarized. It was concluded that Torlon® was indeed a great material for the application.  The material offered significantly less damage potential than other often-used tools.  It offered faster material removal rates and required less operator effort.  Additionally, the material proved to be resharpenable.

At the request of our users, EnduroSharp® is soon to release our new TSR Cutter, The Torlon Sealant Remover Cutter (TSR) is a rotary cutter designed to safely remove thick layers of sealants and adhesives from larger areas, such as fuel cells, without damaging the underlying coatings and surfaces.

The EnduroSharp® line is offered by over 100 organizations and is under evaluation for 11 weapons systems at 10 DoD locations.

For more information on the EnduroSharp® line of products, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at [email protected], or visit our website at www.performanceplastics.com.

 

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Gain an edge with EnduroSharp® Scraper Blades

May 9, 2023  |  , ,

When using a tool for maintenance, it is important to use the right tool to perform the task the right way.  Using the incorrect tool wastes time, reduces efficiency, and puts the maintainer at risk of injury. Take for example a tool as basic as a scraper blade.  Not all scraper blades are made of the same material and provide the same functionality.  Some of the most common types of scraper blades on the market include Phenolic, Celcon®, Glass Filled Nylon, and Torlon®.

 

Phenolic Scraper Blades

Phenolic scraper blades come in assorted shapes, colors, and sizes.  Phenolic scrapers are commonly used for removing sealants, adhesives, stickers, labels, grime, and more.  Phenolic materials are the result of polymerization between layers of paper, canvas, linen, or glass cloth impregnated with a synthetic thermosetting resin.  It offers high resistance to flexing but does not offer the ability to be resharpened.  It will curl, peel and melt when attempting to resharpen.  Additionally, Phenolic may cause irritation to the skin, eyes, nose throat, and nervous system, so it is not ideal for use in incremental or heated material removal.

 

Celcon® Plastic Scraper Blades

Celcon® plastic scraper blades are currently approved by several MROs and are made of semi-crystalline thermoplastics that offer high tensile strength, stiffness, and toughness and may retain a sharp edge.  They are resistant to hot water and some solvents and are useful for sealant application, removal, and paint removal.  They are not, however, useful with newer aviation adhesives, or high-heat applications as they melt easily.  Celcon® dust may cause irritation in the upper respiratory tract when used at normal processing temperatures.

 

 

Glass-Filled NylonScraperBlades

Glass-filled nylon scraper blades are thermal polymers that hold a very sharp and hard edge.  It is far less likely to mar surfaces, but it is not categorized as non-marring.  Can sometimes often be reshaped, but edges tend to wear when prying.  Can not be re-sharpened. Resists chemicals and solvents with minimal degradation.  While adding glass to the nylon makes it substantially stronger, with superior tensile strength it is also substantially more brittle, abrasive, and heavier.

 

Torlon Scarper Blades

Torlon® scraper blades hold a superior edge, remove unwanted materials, and protect the underlying substrates.  Torlon® is a non-marring, high-strength, high-temperature polymer and is cured to produce a thermoset polymer.  As a thermoset, it is resharpenable, lightweight, chemically resistant, and safe for people under normal conditions.

EnduroSharp® offers a full line of Torlon® Aircraft Maintenance Tools that make the removal of sealants and adhesives more efficient.

For more information on the new EnduroSharp® Gap Blade & Scraper Blade kit, or any of our EnduroSharp® product lines, please contact Aileen Crass at [email protected] or visit our website at www.performanceplastics.com/endurosharp.

 

 

 

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Product Spotlight – EnduroSharp® Gap Blade & Scraper Blade Kit with Pneumatic Tool

April 4, 2023  |  , ,

EnduroSharp® has changed the way aerospace maintenance professionals remove sealants and adhesives from substrates and fasteners.

After receiving feedback from aircraft professionals,  EnduroSharp® has combined two of our most popular kits into one consolidated kit.  This kit offers the full selection of the EnduroSharp® gap blades, and EnduroSharp® scraper blades, packaged in one convenient carrying case.  We even included the sharper in the kit, so our maintainers would have all the tools they need in one handy case!

Traditionally, aerospace maintainers removed adhesives and sealants using tools that weren’t designed for the job.  Patented EnduroSharp® Torlon® aircraft maintenance tools were specifically designed for this task.  EnduroSharp® Tools are non-metallic scraper tools designed specifically to remove silicone, sealants, adhesives, and coatings.

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 new EnduroSharp® Gap Blade & Scraper Blade kit, or any of our EnduroSharp® product lines, please contact Aileen Crass at [email protected] or visit our website at www.performanceplastics.com.

 

 

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Product Spotlight – EnduroSharp® Nutplate Abrasion Tool “NAT” Kit

January 19, 2023  |  , ,

 

Now Offered With and Without the Case

With Case ESNAT 1C
Without Case ESNAT 1NC

 

 

EnduroSharp® has changed the way aerospace maintenance professionals remove sealants and adhesives from substrates and fasteners.

Adhesively bonded nutplates are increasingly being utilized in the manufacture of aerospace structures, with extensive use in securing removable maintenance access panels.

Traditionally, aerospace maintenance professionals prepared nutplates using manual methods such as abrading files or grinders.  This proved very inefficient because the abrading was often uneven, leading to adhesively bonded nutplate failure.  While rotary abrasion tools (RATs) were better, they were often bulky and expensive.

That’s why EnduroSharp® developed the Nutplate Abrasion Tool (NAT).   Precisely designed to work with adhesively bonded nutplates, the product consists of an aluminum upper and lower handle and 4 nutplate base inserts.  The product is packaged in a convenient, rugged case which is handy for transporting.

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 EnduroSharp® Nutplate Abrasion Tool or any of our EnduroSharp® product lines, please contact Aileen Crass at [email protected] or visit our website at www.performanceplastics.com.

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EnduroSharp® Awarded GSA Contract with the Federal Government

October 4, 2022  |  , , ,

Performance Plastics is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule Contract with the federal government for our EnduroSharp®   Torlon® non-marring aircraft maintenance tools. The GSA is the centralized authority for the acquisition and management of federal government resources. GSA Schedule Contracts assist federal employees in purchasing products and services.

To be approved for a GSA contract, companies must go through a rigorous process of review that takes months, if not years. The requirements include that the company meet some basic standards of strength and reliability. It must have been in business for at least two years, must be able to demonstrate financial stability, must have successful past performance under its belt, and must be compliant with the Trade Agreements Act.

Additionally, a Dun & Bradstreet Open Ratings Past Performance Evaluation report must be done. This report is an in-depth review of a company’s past performance, which uses Dun & Bradstreet’s own data and analytic resources together with direct customer survey responses to compile a full picture.

Performance Plastics is proud to say that our proposal was approved and can now make our EnduroSharp®  tools available to the federal government’s various agencies and employees.

“We are thrilled to have received this contract with GSA and view it as an opportunity to expand our business into new, but not unfamiliar, areas,” said Rich Reed, VP of Sales & Marketing.  “PPL has supported federal projects for many years.  Through this GSA contract, we now can extend that support even further within the Government sector.”

Our offerings will now be available on the GSAAdvantage! federal online catalog, making them accessible to hundreds of federal customers, including federal and executive agencies, the Department of Defense, the government of the District of Columbia, government contractors authorized to spend federal dollars, and other institutions and organizations that support the federal government.

 

 

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Get to Know Performance Plastics

September 1, 2022  |  , ,

You know Performance Plastics for our EnduroSharp® Non-marring Aircraft Maintenance Tool, but did you know that Performance Plastic is also an expert in tight tolerance custom injection molding?

For four decades, Performance Plastics has been delivering the highest quality custom plastic injection molding solutions in the industry for our customers. We take a highly specialized and consultative approach, working closely with our customers to develop the solutions needed to solve the most complicated issues.

We have the experience to take a project from concept to production in-house. Every step of the process, from design and engineering, to tooling, protype, and full production, is done under the supervision of our experienced team. We produce complex, tight tolerance custom molded products of all types for the aerospace, medical and diversified industrial sectors.

We are technical specialists in collaborating and executing advanced, custom solutions for our customers. Injection-molded product fabrication is a complex process, especially when dealing with parts that are the size of a pin.  Our process is comprehensive and efficient to ensure that custom solutions can be delivered quickly and cost-effectively. High performance materials include PFA, FEP, PEEK, ULTEM, and Torlon.

With the ability to injection mold shot sizes as small as .015 grams with a wall thickness as thin as .008 of inch, Performance Plastics is anything but typical.  We are one of the leaders in tight tolerance, highly detailed medical parts.

For more information on how Performance Plastics can solve your tight tolerance molding challenges, please contact Rich Reed, VP Sales & Marketing at 513.321.8404 or [email protected].

 

 

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EnduroSharp® Torlon® Aircraft Maintenance Tools – Why Use a Pneumatic Tool

July 27, 2022  |  , , ,

EnduroSharp® has improved the way aerospace maintenance professionals remove sealants and adhesives from substrates and fasteners.  EnduroSharp® resharpenable, non-marring tools are made from Torlon®, a high strength polymer, creating a non-metallic blade tool that will not damage composite structures during use.

Many of our EnduroSharp® tools can be used in conjunction with a pneumatic tool.  A pneumatic tool is one that’s driven with the assistance of compressed air rather than electricity.  Pneumatic tools rely on air compressors to provide a burst of air to perform its operation. A pneumatic tool can operate indefinitely as long as the attached air compressor can deliver the required volume and pressure without interruption.

Pneumatic Tools are very strong air powered tools and provide the user with a tremendous amount of labor and time saving torque.

Pneumatic tools provide many advantages:

  • Main advantage is they are far less expensive than their electric alternatives.
  • Provide a degree of safety in wet areas where electric motors can be dangerous.
  • Lighter in weight than their electric counterparts.
  • Pneumatic tools can deliver large amounts of torque or operate for long durations of time.
  • More flexible than electric – nearly all air-driven tools use the same ¼” quick connect fittings.

Generally, pneumatic tools are smaller, more versatile, easy-to-use and safer than traditional electric tools.  Since pneumatic tools are usually lighter, the user is able to have better control and experience less fatigue and strain.  They are also able to withstand various elements such as dust, heat and water better than electric tools.

The EnduroSharp® Pneumatic Tool for Scraper Blades is just one of the many products offered in the EnduroSharp® Product line. Contact Rich Reed,  Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at (513) 321-8404 or [email protected], for more information.

 

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EnduroSharp®Nonmetallic (Torlon®) Aircraft Maintenance Tools

June 30, 2022  |  , , , ,

EnduroSharp® has changed the way aerospace maintenance professionals remove sealants and adhesives from substrates and fasteners. EnduroSharp® resharpenable tools are made from Torlon®, a high strength polymer, creating a non-metallic blade tool that will not damage composite structures during use.

The lack of reliable and effective nonmetallic material removal tools available to maintainers drove the continued use of unapproved tools and/or methods for removing materials from aerospace vehicles. The use of metallic tools has resulted in damage to vehicles, both short term and long term, causing the need for expensive repairs and reduction in vehicle availability.

Because of this need, The University of Dayton Research Institute under contract to the Air Force Research Laboratory developed a series of nonmetallic material removal tools under the “EnduroSharp” trademark manufactured from Torlon thermoplastic manufactured by Solvay Engineered Plastics and produced by Performance Plastics of Cincinnati OH.

Attached is the published white paper outlining the development of the “EnduroSharp®” line of Torlon® non-metallic aircraft maintenance tools.  In this paper you will find:

  • Abstract
  • Background
  • Prototype Development Path
    • Gap Filler Removal Bits
    • Torlon Scraper Blades
    • Torlon Gap Blades
  • Results
  • Conclusions

To review the white paper in full, please click here.

EnduroSharp® Products are currently approved for use by numerous governmental and corporate defense organizations including the USAF, USMC, USN, USCG, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Dassault.

EnduroSharp® Products are now available as individual components, tools and consumables or as Aviation Kits.

For more information on the EnduroSharp® line or Torlon® Aircraft Maintenance Tools, please contact our Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at (513) 321-8404 or visit our website at www.performanceplastics.com/endurosharp.

 

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