A weekly look at new products, innovations

Editor's Note: Each week, Rubber & Plastics News will take a look at some of the rubber industry's new products and innovations on www.rubbernews.com. Does your company have a new product or new innovation? To be considered for inclusion in this recurring feature, email [email protected].

Lanxess Corp. has expanded its range of high-modulus with two highly reinforced polyamides, the Durethan BKV 60 XF and Durethan BG 60 X XF.

Lanxess said polyamides and polybutylene terephthalates are reinforced with a glass fiber content of 50 percent and are more ideal for applications in lightweight construction due to their strength and stiffness.

They are frequently a lightweight and economical alternative to sheet molding compounds and other reinforced thermosets, as well as to metals such as steel, aluminum and die cast zinc, the company said. Lanxess has been adding variations regularly to its injection molding materials in this segment, including these two new polyamide 6 grades.

Durethan BKV 60 XF is an advancement of Durethan DP BKV 60 H2.0 EF, Lanxess said, which already is established in mass production for articles such as lightweight front ends, spare wheel recesses and large transmission oil pans. The new product is also reinforced with 60 percent glass fibers, but with a comparably high-quality set of mechanical properties, it displays better melt flow by 30 percent, Lanxess claimed.

The new polyamide results in smooth surfaces with virtually no protruding glass fibers, Lanxess said, which is based on an optimized crystallization process and higher injection rates. Another advantage of this engineering material is its improved resistance to thermal aging. For example, the tensile stress at break of test samples was still above 200 MPa after over 3,000 hours of hot-air aging at 180 °C, Lanxess said.

The Durethan BG 60 X XF is reinforced with 60 percent of a special mixture of glass fibers and glass microspheres. Its stiffness and strength are similarly high to those of Durethan DP BKV 60 H2.0 EF, Lanxess said. Initial manufacturing trials with mass production molds already have confirmed that the material can deliver these advantages, the company claimed.

Dymax Corp. has introduced the SG-200 Super-Flow Spray Gun System, designed for masking and coating applications where significantly higher flow rates are required.

With achievable flow rates of 2.5 – 20 oz. per minute, the company said the system helps operators maximize productivity in high-volume and large-part masking and coating applications.

Dymax Corp. said the system is ideal for dispensing fluids with viscosities between 5,000 cP and 80,000 cP and provides a flow rate that is five to 10 times higher than other spray guns on the market.

The SG-200 utilizes a normally closed, stainless steel needle valve to control fluid flow and a dual-acting air cylinder to provide immediate start/stop functionality. Dynax claims the system's dual-port atomizing nozzle design ensures symmetrical delivery of materials across a wide range of viscosities.

Typical spray applications include masking turbines, metal substrates and medical implants prior to surface treatment, coating large parts with grease or other lubrication before assembly, and spraying solvents for cleaning part surfaces, Dymax said.

For additional information, visit www.dymax.com.

Best Process Solutions Inc. has manufactured vibratory feeders that are designed to convey products smoothly. According to the company, flow of material is adjustable and can be variable or fixed.

BPS said its heavy-duty vibratory feeders are available in electric or air-operated models and are designed with above-, below- or side-mounted drives. They can be arranged for base mounting or overhead suspension and can come in custom vibrating trough lengths with special trough designs available upon request.

Several basic models are available including air-operated light duty, air-operated heavy duty, twin-motor vibrating pan and grizzly feeders, electromagnetic, twin motor and special application feeders. Options include the BPS Inertial Isolation System that is designed to eliminate the transfer of vibratory energy to support structures and buildings, the company said.

For more information, visit www.bpsvibes.com.