Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: POM (part2)

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

POM (part2)

Copolymer and homopolymer acetal plastic differences:

One of the most important differences between homopolymer acetal (POM-H) and copolymer acetal (POM-C) is porosity. Acetal homopolymer may contain a lower-density or porous center. Porosity in a plastic means it may contain small bubbles or voids. These allow gases and liquids to seep into the plastic. Copolymer acetals have little or no porosity at their centers. This makes them the preferred acetal type for food contact or medical applications.

Homopolymer vs copolymer

Copolymers have less outgassing

Homopolymers have better creep resistance

Copolymers have better dimensional stability

Copolymers are less porous in extruded shapes

Homopolymers have higher Rockwell hardness ratings

Copolymers have slightly better overall chemical resistance

Homopolymers have about 10% to 15% higher tensile strength

Homopolymers have slightly higher operating temperature limits

Homopolymers are stiffer at room temperature and high temperatures

Homopolymers have higher impact strength at room temperature and low temperatures

Food grade acetal plastics

Acetal (POM) copolymers and homopolymers are available in formulations suitable for contact with food. These include compliance with FDA, USDA, NSF, Canada AG and 3-A Dairy material standards. While most acetals used for these applications are natural (white) color, there are compliant colorant additives available that can provide color options.

There are also acetal plastics with metal detectable additives. These are made for the food processing and food packaging industries. Metal detectable additives makes it easier to spot plastic particle contamination using conventional metal detection systems.

Glass-filled and glassreinforced acetal plastics:

One other type of acetal plastic that is sometimes used to make flow control parts is glass filled or glass reinforced acetal. The glass used in glass filled and glass reinforced acetal plastics is actually chopped glass fibers. While the terms glass filled and glass reinforced are often used in the same way, there are actually some significant differences between the two.

For glass filled acetals, the glass fibers act as a filler and make the parts stiffer but not necessarily stronger. Fiber reinforced acetals use glass fibers that have been sized and chemically treated to help them stick to acetal plastic. Glass reinforcement provides both stiffness and strength.

Glass filled acetals:

Glass filler adds stiffness but not strength

Intended for general industrial applications

No chemical bonding of the glass fibers with the acetal plastic

Glass reinforced acetals:

Glass fibers provide high stiffness and strength

For parts requiring high or very high stiffness and strength

Glass reinforced acetal is always stronger than glass filled acetal

Requires chemical bonding or coupling of the glass fibers with the acetal plastic

Source:industrialspec.com

#engineeringplastics #pom #acetal

SeaBubbles taxi

Back in 2019, SeaBubbles debuted a foiling electric water taxi in Miami. Following successful certification, the company has now announced the first commercial service of the Bubble in France in collaboration with the Grand Annecy.

The commercial operation is part of a sustainable transport project operating near the picturesque Lake Annecy in the south east of France. This includes an electric shuttle service, free seasonal buses and self-service bicycles, with the SeaBubble now joining the mix for the next couple of months.

The 5 x 2.5-m (16.4 x 8.2-ft) battery-electric water taxi can carry up to four passengers per trip, who sit face to face inside the automotive-inspired Bubble. The cabin can remain closed, or the mid-roof lifts up in two sections and the side windows open to soak in the surroundings.

Initially, the hull cuts through the water like a normal boat, but once it passes 7 knots (8 mph) it rises out of the water on hydrofoils in just a few seconds and motors towards a cruising speed of 13 knots (15 mph) for the promise of “an exhilarating journey as they glide smoothly across the water.” An onboard computer receives data from various sensors and instructs actuators to automatically adjust for roll, pitch and yaw.

“We are proud of the trust placed in us by the Grand Annecy urban community to set up the pilot line,” said Virginie Seurat, SeaBubbles CEO. “With this new eco-friendly, zero-carbon shuttle service, we intend to offer users of the line and residents of the conurbation not only a different relationship with the privileged natural setting of Lake Annecy, but also future options for easing traffic congestion on the shores of the lake.”

The company also offers its foiling water taxi in hydrogen fuel cell configurations, as well as a model that can accommodate between eight and 12 passengers.

Source:seabubbles/jeccomposites

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#composites #boats #electric #hydrogenfuelcell #seabubbles #zerocarbon #shuttleservice

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: POM (part 1):

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

POM (part 1):

What is Acetal Plastic?
Acetal is a plastic that is generically referred to as polyacetal and polyoxymethylene (POM) and is a general purpose, semi-crystalline, engineered thermoplastic. Acetal is commonly used for parts that need to be very stiff, have low surface friction and good dimensional stability. Dimensional stability is the ability of a plastic part to maintain its original dimensions when it is exposed to changes in temperature and humidity.

What is an engineered plastic?

Engineered plastics have better mechanical properties and handle heat better than commodity plastics. This makes them tougher and more suitable for extreme environments. Commodity plastics are simply not as tough. Some familiar commodity plastics are PVC, polyethylene and polypropylene.

What are semi-crystalline plastics?
Semi-crystalline plastics have a very organized molecular structure and sharp melting points. They will not gradually soften as their temperature increases. Instead, they stay solid until their melting point is reached. When they are hot enough, semi-crystalline plastics quickly change from solids into low viscosity or thin liquids that flow easily.

The temperature range in which Acetal, with a melting point that varies by its type, can operate effectively is between -40F to 180F (40C to 82C).

Copolymer and homopolymer acetal plastics:
Acetal is made in slightly different formulation variations sold under various trade names. Each trade name acetal plastic is also usually made in a range of recipes that are adjusted to improve specific properties. One thing that all acetal plastics have in common is that they are either a copolymer acetal or a homopolymer acetal. The differences between copolymer and homopolymer acetal plastics are relatively small but they are measurable.

Some of the better-known acetal plastic trade names:
Acetron® - copolymer and homopolymer acetals made by Mitsubishi
Celcon® - copolymer acetals made by Celanese
Delrin® - homopolymer acetals made by the DuPont™
Duracon® POM - copolymer acetals made by Polyplastics
Hostaform® - copolymer acetals made by the Celanese
Kepital® POM – copolymer and homopolymer acetals made by KEP (Korea Engineering Plastics)
Sustarin® C – copolymer and homopolymer acetals made by Röchling
Tecaform® - copolymer and homopolymer acetals made by Ensinger
Tenac™-C - copolymer and homopolymer acetals made by Asahi Kasei
Tepcon® - copolymer acetals made by Polyplastics
Ultraform® - copolymer acetals made by BASF

(to be continued )
Source:industrialspec.com


#plastics #engineeringplastics #pom #acetal

HOFFMANN MINERAL Launches Eco-friendly Filler for Adhesives

HOFFMANN MINERAL launches Sillitin® N 75, a filler for adhesives. Sillitin® N 75 is a functional filler that is eco-friendly and manufactured in Germany.

Suitable for Construction and Chemical Industries:

It is used for adhesives in polishing- & protective agents, welding electrodes, construction and chemical industries.

In the field of elastomers, Sillitin® N 75 is excellently suited for all technical rubber articles and enables a low-compression set, a high-rebound resilience and a good matting effect.

Sillitin® N 75 is characterized by good dispersion properties, relatively low-yield point (even with high solids content), high-abrasion resistance and good matting effect.

Source: Hoffmann Mineral/specialchem

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#adhesives #filler #silica #kaolinite #extender #dispersion #polishing #chemicalindustry #protective #construction

Master Bond Introduces Thermally Conductive Epoxy for Encapsulation

Master Bond launches Master Bond Supreme 3DM-85, a no mix, non-solvent based, one component epoxy. This thixotropic paste material was formulated to serve as the damming compound in dam-and-fill encapsulation applications.

Suitable for Bonding & Sealin:

Master Bond Supreme 3DM-85 can also be utilized for bonding and sealing, especially where no flow is needed since the material cures in place and will not run or slump. The compound requires a relatively low heat cure of 85°C for 2-3 hours, is thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive.

“Master Bond Supreme 3DM-85is designed for heat sensitive components that cannot withstand high temperatures for curing. The fact that it is not premixed and frozen gives it an advantage in production situations where freezer storage may not be practical. Also, there are no special shipping requirements.

Resists Rigorous Thermal Cycling:

As a toughened system, Master Bond Supreme 3DM-85 resists rigorous thermal cycling. It is a reliable electrical insulator and features a thermal conductivity of 5-10 BTU•in/ft2•hr•°F [0.72-1.44 W/(m·K)]. It plays an important role in facilitating effective heat dissipation and preventing overheating, especially in densely packed electronic assemblies. The epoxy maintains a Shore D hardness of 75-85, offers excellent damp heat resistance and has a good physical strength profile.

Master Bond Supreme 3DM-85 forms strong bonds with an extensive range of substrates commonly found in electronics and semiconductors. Substrates include metals, composites, ceramics, silicon, and a wide array of plastics.

As a single part system, it is easy to handle and offers unlimited working life at room temperature. It is opaque black in color and can be applied manually or automatically. Serviceable from -100°F to +350°F [-73°C to +177°C], Supreme 3DM-85 is available for use in syringes and jars.

Source: Master Bond/Specialchem

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#composites #epoxy #thermal #encapsulation #semiconductors #temperature

Shell Seeks to Exit Petrochemicals in Singapore

Production assets may be up for sale, repurposing, or closure as the oil major targets net zero by 2050.

As Shell proceeds with its Energy Transition initiative that will see it become more of a natural gas giant than an oil major, its petrochemical assets in Singapore have come under the spotlight, with talk of divestiture, “repurposing,” or even closure if a suitable buyer or buyers cannot be found.

Shell operates or has stakes in multiple petrochemical plants producing ethylene, propylene, butadiene, styrene, benzene, polyols that can be used to make polyurethanes, and ethylene glycol, among other products. It also has an equity stake in The Polyolefin Company (TPC), a leading regional producer of polypropylene (PP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). TPC is particularly strong in random copolymer and terpolymer grades of PP for sealant film applications and solar module encapsulant film grades of EVA.

Beyond steam cracking:

Shell is targeting net zero emissions by 2050 and, like other petrochemical and plastics suppliers, it sees reducing its dependence on these two energy-intensive product groups as a way to shrink its carbon footprint. The company’s Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam was launched in July 2022, creating opportunities for others to join in finding solutions to the world’s energy challenges. One such project is a collaboration between Shell and Dow to electrify steam cracking furnaces with renewable energy. Steam cracking is one of the most carbon-intensive processes in petrochemical production. E-cracking furnaces operated using renewable electricity have the potential to reduce Scope 1 emissions from steam cracking by up to 90%.

The issues with petrochemical and plastics operations in Singapore, however, are the space restrictions and unfavorable wind patterns that give the city-state little scope to establish renewable energy resources such as wind and solar. There had been talk of transmission of solar-generated electricity from Australia to Singapore over a distance of 2,800 miles, but the project collapsed. An exit from petrochemicals and plastics in Singapore, thus, appears to be the easiest solution.

Mitsubishi Chemical to reduce petrochemicals and plastics exposure:

Shell is not the only company looking to reduce its petrochemicals and plastics exposure on the road to 2050 carbon neutrality. In December 2021, under the leadership of its first foreign CEO Jean-Marc Gilson, Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical said it would spin off its petrochemical and carbon operations by March 2024. The company did not clarify if the businesses would be sold to a third party or become its subsidiaries.

Source:Plasticstoday

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#shell #petrochemicals #netzero2050 #singapore