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| SABIC Innovative Plastics’ resins optimize water valves  Because of their exposure to static or fluctuating pressure, high temperatures and various chemicals, water valves have traditionally been made from metals such as brass. However, today's engineering thermoplastics can replace metal, delivering not only high performance but also the benefit of enhanced design freedom. SABIC Innovative Plastics' portfolio of advanced specialty materials, combined with the scientific expertise of its Fluid Engineering Center of Excellence in Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands, offers customers new choices for water valves that can ensure a high level of efficiency, durability and performance."SABIC Innovative Plastics has led the industry in leveraging the huge potential of engineering thermoplastics for fluid handling," said Frank Heessels, leader for the Fluid Engineering Center of Excellence. "To be certain that a resin can withstand the demanding environments that water valves are subjected to, long-term performance data is needed. Therefore, we made a major investment in the Fluid Engineering Center to ensure that our materials will deliver high performance over long life spans. Using our sophisticated testing and measurement technologies, we can assure customers that these materials will meet their toughest requirements." The design simplicity and innovation of a water valve can significantly influence its final performance. Compared to metal, which requires the mechanical assembly of multiple parts, thermoplastics, such as SABIC Innovative Plastics' Noryl and Ultem resins, allow multiple components and functions to be integrated into a single part. Advanced and proven manufacturing technologies expand the possibilities of plastic valve designs. For instance, a smooth and chemically resistant inner surface can be overmolded with a structural external housing in one process step, saving time and money by eliminating secondary operations. Knowing how various plastic materials perform when manufacturing plastic valves is important to ensuring good performance of the final part. SABIC Innovative Plastics uses structural and processing simulation tools to help predict the performance of applications. The success of this approach will strongly depend of the quality on the data provided. In addition to design optimization, the staff of the Fluid Engineering Center tests the following critical material properties of resins targeted for use in water valves: - Static Strength - Long-term Creep Displacement and Strength - Fatigue - Water and Chemical Resistance Some semi-crystalline resins such as polyamide and polyphenylene sulfide have better resistance against many chemicals than amorphous resins such as polyphenylene ether and polystyrene. However, SABIC Innovative Plastics' Noryl polyphenylene oxide (PPO) resin, while amorphous, nonetheless provides better hot water resistance than other resins with otherwise similar performance. Further, glass-fiber-reinforced resins may show some strength reduction in hot water because of degradation of the interface between the resin and the glass fiber. SABIC Innovative Plastics has developed a wealth of understanding about these effects for a wide range of different plastic resins, and how they interact in a complex shape like a valve. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Construction News :: home page |