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].

Eastman Chemical Co. and the environmental non-profit GreenBlue said Eastman's 168 SG non-phthalate plasticizer has been approved for listing in GreenBlue's CleanGredients database.

The firm said Eastman 168 SG is the first plasticizer to be listed in CleanGredients that meets the criteria of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice program. All current ingredient listings have been specific to cleaning products, but Eastman 168 SG presents a new category of CleanGredients not specific to cleaning applications, broadening the reach of the Safer Choice program into new industries and applications, Eastman said.

Eastman 168 SG is a non-phthalate plasticizer that the company said is recognized and accepted by authorities, regulatory agencies and private organizations as an alternative to phthalates in applications such as flooring, wall-coverings, toys, medical devices and other applications that require flexible vinyl. Eastman 168 SG also can be used in some waterborne adhesives and in some rubber formulations, and has several U.S. FDA and European food-contact clearances in adhesive and plastics applications.

CleanGredients is an online database of chemical ingredients whose formulations have been pre-approved by the U.S. EPA for use in Safer Choice-labeled products.

For more information, go to www.eastman.com.

FocalSpec, Inc. has launched its non-contact wire, cable and filament surface roughness measurement system, the MicroProfiler MP 900.

The company said the MP 900 is based on its line confocal imaging (LCI) technology that enables accurate in-production roughness measurement from a fast moving surface of any type and color. The system scans and analyzes a product's surface profile at the rate of 512,000 points per second, the company claims. The maximum line speeds is 150 m/min (500 ft/min) and products with diameter of 1 mm (0.04 inches) to flat can be measured.

Roughness of the product is displayed in real time, FocalSpec said, and operators are alerted with abnormal process changes enabling corrective actions. According to the company, all roughness results from the length of each produced reel are stored in the system's database for certification and production reporting purposes.

The company said other benefits include improved product quality, reduced scrap, faster process startups and changeovers, and reduced labor needed in quality control activities.

FocalSpec, a supplier of optical high-precision 3D scanning sensors and solutions, can be contacted at 770- 713-0837, via email at [email protected], or at its website, www.focalspec.com.

Michael Smith Engineers Ltd. said it has released an internal gear pump that can be driven by standard electric motors, without the need for a gearbox.

The Viking Motor Speed pump is designed to run at higher speeds and deliver increased flows resulting in a more cost-effective pumping solution requiring less space and at reduced cost, the company said.

The company said these pumps can be driven by standard electric motors at either 720, 960 or 1450 rpm, without the need for a reduction gearbox. According to the company, it will enable smaller pumps to be run faster providing higher flows in many applications.

Michael Smith Engineers said the Viking pump head incorporates idler and rotor speed grooves to improve axial feed, a liquid directing step to reduce turbulence, a modified crescent to boost radial feed and improved port geometry to optimize flow paths.

The pump rotor's profile has also been increased and, on larger models, the standard idler material is hardened steel case hardened to 39 Rockwell C to reduce the effects of cavitation, the company said, allowing the pumps to be operated at higher speeds than before, improving flow from a smaller pump. Other features of the Motor Speed Series include a pressure lubricated idler pin and bushing to enhance the pin and bushing life, sealed, anti-friction bearings eliminating the need for re-lubrication, a behind the rotor seal that means the drive shaft and bearings are not exposed to the pumped media, and a threaded one-piece bearing housing that allows for end clearance adjustment, the company claimed.

Viking Motor Speed pumps are available in a close-coupled and long-coupled drive options for motor speed operation and with gearboxes, or speed reducers for reduced speed operation, the company said.

Michael Smith Engineers said the new Motor Speed pumps are designed to meet demands of heavy-duty, industrial pumping applications, in the challenging environments. Typical applications will be transferring refined fuels such as diesel and biofuels, crude oil, edible oils, lubrication and hydraulic oils as well as chemicals including solvents, glycols and refrigerants.

For further details go here.